Dance ensemble presents concert

Members of the dance ensemble at LSMSA were excited to present their eighth dance concert, “Refraction,” March 30-April 1 in the Black Box located in the Center for Performance and Technology.

“My and the dance ensemble’s wish was for the audience to embrace the experience,” said Audra Allen, choreographer and instructor of dance at LSMSA. “As they watched the performance and were affected by the movement, lighting, costumes and music, they were open to how their interaction influenced their understanding of what the performance was about.”

Loosely defined, refraction is the bending of light rays as they travel from one medium to another. The setting of the performance space with the fabric over head was the imagery Allen had for this concert from the beginning.

“The fabric does not have any one meaning and means something different for each dancer, for each performance,” she said. “As a choreographer, the artistic challenge and creative opportunity to perform in the Black Box this semester has allowed me to grow and present this evening-length work.”

According to Allen, the rehearsal process was organic, with movement being explored and created in the studio with little to no preparatory work taking place. This allowed the choreography to evolve and take a natural shape on the dancers, as it was influenced by them and their movement vocabulary.

Members of the dance ensemble are Jared Hulsey, a senior from Dodson; Larke Tyler, a senior from Calhoun; Heather Soileau, a senior from Lafayette; Samantha Wright, a junior from Crowley; Gabbi Blanchard, a junior from Houma; Lauren Copeland, a junior from Baton Rouge; Edouard Ferrell, a junior from Natchitoches; and Abigail LeBlanc, a sophomore from Fordoche.

Members of the production crew are Ben Bordelon, a senior from Mandeville; Beth Fontenot, a senior from Ville Platte; Caitlin Foster, a junior from LaPlace; Emily Ann Dart, a junior from Bossier City; Ruby Kharod, a junior from Opelousas; Charlie Roppolo, a junior from Denham Springs; Triniti Bulliard, a senior from New Iberia; and DJ Picolo, a senior from Destrehan.