Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble to Perform Nov. 29-Dec. 2

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University at Buffalo will present performances by Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 in the Black Box Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. The company is directed by William E. Thomas.

Performances will be held at 8 p.m. on Nov. 29, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 2.

The Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble program will explore the landscape of original choreography. The works will range from the dramatic to the abstract. The audience will be the first to view this evening of premieres. Themes encompass everything from the joy of moving to the pain of loneliness and the imagery of casino gaming to exploring new relationships. The concert will be performed by a mix of established faculty choreographers and invited student choreographers, with music ranging from electronic to percussion, and as diverse as Ramin Djawadi, Nada, and John Hanks.

Faculty choreographers include Joyce Lichtenberger and Kerry Ring. Lichtenberger will present a jazz/modern fusion piece using imagery from casino games and set to electronic music by Nada. Ring's work "Carpe Diem" will be set to two pieces of French music from Putomayo presents Paris: "Quelqu'un M'a Dit" by Carla Bruni and "Carpe Diem" by Aldebert. The dance reflects the quality of the music and lightly tells the story of "seizing the day" and following a true love.

Four student choreographers will be showcased in the performance. Nicole Pavone's "Body's Pain" is about how pain can come in different forms, such as emotional and physical pain. The contemporary orchestra music was written by Craig Armstrong. Michael Deeb combined the music of Michael Andrews and Frou Frou, in a work which deals with the inner turmoil of the end of a relationship. A woman's thoughts, represented by other dancers, are torn between wanting a former lover and wanting to stay away from him. Timothy Goodman's piece will feature two contrasting sections: an upbeat section set to "A Clue", a song by Ramin Djawadi, and a relaxed acoustic section set to Idina Menzel's song "Heart On My Sleeve." The piece will be about finding strength in oneself and leaning on others during and after a tumultuous relationship.

Tickets for Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble are $8 general admission. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS.