WashU Dance Collective: UnTethered
April 5 & 6 at 8 p.m.
UnTethered: Freeing the imagination to soar, through an unbound exploration of inspiration, ingenuity, and creativity. We welcome you to join us as we explore the forces and ideas that bring us together in a world which, in many ways, seems to want to pull us apart.
Now in its third year as the Performing Arts Department’s repertory dance company, WUDance Collective (WUDC) is comprised of dancers who have distinguished themselves on the basis of ability, technical skill, and performance acumen. Under the artistic direction of Cecil Slaughter, the dancers work with faculty, community, graduate and undergraduate student choreographers, as well as perform throughout the St. Louis community.
This year we welcome Guest Collaborators Mia Sitterson and Henry Palkes. Senior Mia Sitterson worked with choreographer Ashley Yang on her piece entitled Life of a Couch. An anthropology major with minors in writing and dance, Sitterson has previously danced with Washington University Dance Theatre. Composer Henry Palkes, has re-worked his score to the Tennessee Williams’ play “Street Car Named Desire” for the piece entitled, SUITE Desire which was choreographed by Slaughter. Palkes, a Lecturer in the Performing Arts, recently returned from the two-year National Tour of “An American in Paris.” Henry has composed scores for several dramatic plays including “Elephant’s Graveyard” and “Macbeth” for the Performing Arts Department at Washington University.
The WUDance Collective’s resident choreographers include Artistic Director, Cecil Slaughter, professor of practice in dance and WashU Alum Ryadah Heiskell who currently works in University College. Heiskell’s choreography has been performed for The American College Dance Festival 2012, The Young Choreographers Showcase, Black Anthology, the Slaughter Project and WUDance Collective. Resident student choreographers include junior Gabrielle Samuel, who is currently studying dance at the University of Ghana during the spring semester. She is a double major in dance and archaeology with a minor in African and African-American studies. Sophomore Sarah Sterling is dancing for the second year with WUDC, she is a double major in dance and philosophy-neuroscience-psychology with a minor in Spanish. This is junior Ashley Yang’s, third year to choreograph for the show. She is a double major in dance and biology and is currently studying abroad at the University of Aukland. All three student choreographers are members of WUDance Collective.
Free admission to WashU Students!
As the Performing Arts Department’s repertory dance company, WUDance Collective comprises student dancers who have distinguished themselves on the basis of ability, technical skill, and performance acumen. Under the artistic direction of Cecil Slaughter, the dancers work with faculty, community, graduate and undergraduate student choreographers as well as perform throughout the St. Louis community. They are often invited to participate in local dance festivals and showcases.
The mission of WUDance Collective is to provide a forum for students to pursue their passion for dance by engaging in dynamic, inspiring and creatively challenging works of choreography. This group of dancers are dedicated to their craft, committing to twice weekly rehearsals during the academic year. During this time together they pursue the Collective’s goals of citizenship through group endeavor, while developing leadership, responsibility, cooperation and diligence. Throughout the year the Collective presents performances on and off campus. Each spring the dancers are given the opportunity to choreograph, apprentice and perform in an Edison Theatre main-stage performance.
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