Zodiaque Dance Company (ZDC) kicked off its 51st season with their Fall Concert this past weekend at UB Center for Arts in the Drama Theatre.
The fall concert was co-directed by Kerry Ring and Michael Deeb Weaver, two professors in the Department of Theatre and Dance. The duo’s shared direction shaped the creative vision for the concert that celebrates the world of dance through various themes, while highlighting the company’s diverse cast of dancers.
“Our dance program model here is versatility matters,” says Ring, the Artistic Director of the ZDC, who hopes this vision is shared between the dancers and the audience. “My job as one of the directors is to pull different styles together so that we can really push the dancers in the company to grow in new ways and [also] for the audience to have a show that’s very versatile.”
Across eight routines split into two acts, the show was a cultural experience in the art of dance studies. Highlights of the concert include “Groupthink,” a contemporary jazz piece that explores the psychological nature through playfulness, “Step Up to the Front,” a funk fiesta where dance is openly embraced and “Queen Bee,” another jazz number that embodies the glitz and glamor of live performance.
Dancers twisted, leaped, spun and tapped their way across the stage beaming with hues of multi-colored stage lights. Illustrated through each performance, the ZDC pushes dancers to grow as performance artists as well as develop their skills in different areas of study in dance.
“It’s a more rigorous process,” says Audree Woods, a senior dance major and musical theater major. She appeared in two pieces, one hip-hop, “Homecoming of the Queens” and one tap,“Step Up to the Front,” where she felt challenged by how fast she had to pick up the tap choreography. “It was great to do something I love but also pushed in the process … I used to be fearful in rehearsals … now I feel so much more comfortable.”
For Nathan Eck, a senior dance major, the opportunity to work with a wide range of people has remained central throughout his experience. “You can get so many capacities and performance opportunities,” he says. “You get grounded in so many different styles that you really just have the opportunity to grow in so many different genres.” Eck appeared in 3 pieces: “Step up to the Front,” “Groupthink” and “DRIVEN.”
When passion meets performance, you can expect high quality performance from the ZDC who will continue their efforts throughout the year heading toward their Spring Concert.
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com
