CSU Dance Department Holds Informal Showing – The Cauldron

During finals week, the Dance Department at Cleveland State University held an informal studio showing. This event consisted of pieces set on CSU Dance Company and CSU Dance Group, along with guest dancers.

Martin’s piece. Photo by Stevens

The opening piece was choreographed by Visiting Guest Artist Chrissy Martin. This piece was performed by CSU Dance Group and CSU Dance Company and featured original music by CSU accompanist Bryan Tysl. This piece, in three sections, explores the use of breath and the dancers’ relationship with one another. 

After the performance of the piece, Martin opened up the floor for discussion with the audience and invited viewers to participate in Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process. The critical response process includes sharing statements of meaning, artist questions, and permission opinions.

The second piece shared was a work-in-progress by Sarah Villanueva, titled “Super Nova, “featuring three guest dancers. Villanueva taught Kinesiology at CSU this past semester and also teaches at the Somatic Center in Cleveland. Villanueva stated that the inspiration for this piece came from the idea of light patterns and vibrations.

Villanueva’s piece. Photo by Stevens

The final piece was a quartet set on CSU Dance Company and Dance Group members Daulente Turnipseed, Joshua Estock, Brian Ward, and Crystal Thompson (along with understudy Delaney Slavin). The dancers moved well as a unit. Choreographer Tyler Ring incorporated ballet lines along with a varied mix of movement styles. When asked to comment on what they had taken away from the process, the dancers shared the following:

Ward: “Spacial movements, differences in tempo and levels.”

Slavin: “Unison.”

Thompson: “Moving out and slurping up.”

Turnipseed: “Moving with intention.”

Estock: “Deciding for yourself the reason why you are moving.”

Ring’s piece. Photo by Stevens

Both Martin’s and Ring’s works will be performed in CSU’s Spring Dance Concert. The concert will take place in Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre on March 11 & 12. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Villanueva’s piece can be seen in the group’s upcoming June performance. Details TBA.