UB’s Zodiaque Dance Company (ZDC) held its 51st Spring Concert this last weekend with four shows spread across the three days. The show was directed by the Artistic Director of Zodiaque Dance Company, Teaching Professor Kerry Ring and Assistant Teaching Professor Michael Deeb Weaver, with help from Graduate assistant, MFA dance candidate Alyvia Christensen and Undergraduate assistant senior dance majors Nathan Eck and Grace Wythe. The show was dedicated to UB’s Women’s Club.
The show consisted of eight performances split evenly between two acts. Act 1 started with a contemporary dance named “Layers,” choreographed by UB Alumni Bekka Bennet featuring music by Antonio Vivaldi, Daniel Hart and Rosalía. The next performance was a love letter to the ritual of a morning ballet class called “Beauty of a Thousand,” choreographed by Ring. The music for the performance was composed and played live by Dr. Kevin McFadden, another UB alumnus.
The third performance of the first act was a tap-dance number called “In Our Words,” choreographed by Ali Dietz. This piece was designed to take a look back in history at how dance helped break down social barriers. The performance featured jazzy music by artists such as Count Basie and Kurtis Sprung.
The last performance of the first half kept the energy with a more modern dance experience, featuring Darude’s iconic song “Sandstorm.” Weaver choreographed the piece and aimed to evoke feelings of the Y2K Era.
After a quick 15-minute intermission, Act 2 started with a lesson in the Blues with a performance called “Blues Medicine Vol. 1: The Wreckage,” choreographed by UB alumnus Chanon Judson. The piece kept in theme with a mix of tap, jazz and contemporary dance with Rock and Roll and Electric Blues music by artists such as Buddy Guy and Stevie Wonder.
The next dance, “Homecoming of the Queens,” featured music from Beyoncé’s live performance at Coachella with intent to highlight the power of live music. It was choreographed by Arianna Dixie and performed by a group composed fully of female dancers.
The seventh total performance featured classical music by Christoph Willibald Gluck and Johann Sebastian Bach. The title of the performance was “Palimpsest,” which, in definition, means “something having usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface.” The piece was choreographed by Roberto Villanueva, another UB graduate.
Finally, the last performance of the night was the “Z’Bows,” — a signature movement of the company to present all of the dancers to the audience and acts as a curtain call. Choreographed by Tom Ralabate, this piece includes the 11 graduating seniors: dance majors Eck, Wythe, Lauren Guarna, Jenna Hartke, Grace Rezin, Adriana Vetcha, Audree Woods, and psychology and dance majors Mario Liguori, Selena Pereyra, Ariana Parsons, and Jasmine White.
Seven of the 21 dancers are also given costuming credits for the show.
The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
