The Redfern Art Center is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Keene State Theatre and Dance Department’s Evening of Dance.
“Dressed in Blue – The 50th Anniversary of Evening of Dance” is a collaboration between Keene State’s past and present student-dancers and Concert Band featuring live performances including George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and an original score composed for the event by Music Professor Dr. Heather Gilligan.
The recital will be held in the Redfern Arts Center Main Theatre from April 11-13, with an opening reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery on opening night.
When Associate Professor of Dance and Evening of Dance Director Cynthia McLaughlin began planning this performance, she discovered “Rhapsody in Blue” was also celebrating its anniversary of 100 years.
“It was probably four years ago when I was thinking, How are we going to commemorate this event? … Finding Gershwin’s “Rhapsody,” knowing that it was [its 100th] anniversary, just talk about something for a big event. It felt like it was meant to be,” McLaughlin said.
According to McLaughlin, an incredible amount of collaboration is going into this year’s performance.
“Everything is collaboration and conversation, it was really a theme for the whole event, moving away from the sort of ego and more, How do we make things together? What happens when we make things together?” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said she was grateful for the opportunity to have alumni come back to Keene State to collaborate on this event.
“Our students get to dance with some alumni and have that exciting piece that’ll be completely different every night,” McLaughlin said. “There’s 20-something alumni that are performing in it on closing night and every other night there’s at least five to 10.”
Music Professor Dr. Heather Gilligan composed an original score for the recital, according to previous reporting by The Equinox.
“My work is always in [composition], in terms of classes, but also in terms of the work that I do… I’ve been composing for the department and I sometimes have commissions that take me out of the area. I have to travel to have my pieces performed, but I also have my grounding here as well,” Gilligan said.
Concert Band Director Dr. John Hart said the recital will showcase the creativity of the dancers and musicians.
“The musical side of things has been evolving and changing to meet the needs of the dancers, especially in regards to what it means to express oneself through dance, said Hart.
Hart said the dancers and musicians have been building off each other through the rehearsal process.
“The dancers are learning from us too, and certain musical elements are being adjusted to through the choreography to adapt to the live ensemble,” said Hart.
Hart said he is proud of KSC’s ability to platform original music created by composers from marginalized populations.
“Keene is becoming known as a haven for the creation and performance of new music, especially by composers who have been under-represented in the field. Women composers such as Dr. Gilligan, as well as many other marginalized groups, have historically been repressed, and that’s something we’re trying to change,” said Hart.
Hart said representing marginalized identities through the performing arts is important.
“I can’t stress enough the importance of seeing yourself and your identity represented through music of this caliber of study,” added Hart.
Coordinator of Keyboard Studies Dr. Christina Wright-Ivanova will be playing piano for the recital.
“Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ is iconic. It’s the anthem of the American dream. The piano is a focal point of this piece, and intrinsically linked with American identity. Dr. Gilligan’s piece is her interpretation of Gershwin’s Rhapsody and what the American dream means today through a melting pot of different dance rhythms, cultures and musical elements,” said Wright-Ivanova.
First-year Music Education major Hailey Taylor will be playing the euphonium in the Concert Band, and said the collaboration between music and dance students has been an inspirational experience so far.
“The energy and passion we all bring to our own crafts has been amazing to witness,” Taylor said. “That’s why music and dance and the arts are so important, and near and dear to our hearts. I don’t think I could have found this kind of artistic community anywhere else, and being involved with something that means so much to all of us is really special.”
Taylor added, “ I’m excited for our larger community to come out to the show and see what I mean.”
McLaughlin said audiences should attend a performance because “Live performance is crucial to our humanity … There is something about the communal experience of live performance that I think really feeds our spirit as humans. I can absolutely guarantee to anyone coming there will be a really special energy to this show.”
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
rpacheco@kscequinox.com
Nicole Dumont can be contacted at
ndumont@kscequinox.co
