UB Department of Theatre and Dance to present Zodiaque Dance Ensemble in Cool Hunting

ZDE presents choreography by UB Dance faculty Jeanne Fornarola, Kerry Ring, and Danielle Sheather. Fornarola’s choreography explores the classic pantomime and choreographic patterns steaming from the traditional roots of the Romatinc Ballet and manipulates them to create a contemporary “cool” look. Choreographer Kerry Ring explores “cool” through a new terrain where music and movement meet during each live performance. The music composed and performed by the dance department’s accompanist, Kevin McFadden, is a live response to the movement.  The movement reflects an expression of one’s inner fire – and reinforces the idea that an artistic experience can stoke an internal passion. Danielle Sheather’s contribution to the production examines the expression of time and asks the genuine question of “Who Knows Where the Time Goes?”

Zodiaque Dance Ensemble continues to be an innovative force, advancing its inspired talents through stimulating collaborations and creative investigations. ZDE presents work by respected dance makers and offers experiential learning opportunities for students in the Theatre & Dance Department. ZDE welcomes its first MFA candidates Michael Lambert and Mary Grace Sullivan as contributing choreographers. Lambert’s choreography takes the audience on a journey to find something or somewhere better than our own reality in an effort not to settle for what is. Mary Grace Sullivan’s piece includes a cast of women finding common ground by snapping their fingers and clapping their hands, making audible rhythm together that punctuates the movement of solo dancer and/or duet dancers. One rhythm creates a new rhythm while the dancers control the speed, timbre and syncopation of the sound score.

Emerging Undergraduate Choreographers include Senior Dance Majors Rachel Latke, Jessica Levin, Jessica Caraciolo, and Lilibeth Javier. The choroegraphc team of Latke and Levin offer a piece that has a “cool” vibe inspired by the #MeToo and #Timesup movements with the goal of creating choreography that embodies girl power, standing in solidarity, unity and leadership. Jessica Caraciolo’s piece looks at the past “cool” innovations of Louie Fuller and the exploration of the effects of light on fabric. Lilibeth Javier’s choreography explores pathways of the human heart to reach a deeper understanding of how and when our heart rates change.  Kennedy Jordan is the Student Assistant to the Director and Ariel Kriegel is the Student Lighting Designer. All student designers and choreographers are faculty mentored.

The UB Department of Theatre & Dance 2017-18 season takes inspiration from one of the five named UB 2020 themes, Innovation.

Tickets can be purchased either online through http://www.ubcfa.org/tickets and ticketfly.com
or by visiting the Center for the Arts Box Office in the main lobby of the CFA on the University at Buffalo’s North Campus. (Tues – Fri, 12-6 PM & 90 Minutes prior to the performance)