The full cast wrapped up the evening with a live rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell.” Lily Merritt
By Nicholas Ketchum
Deputy Editor
Students from WCC’s advanced performance dance class performed original routines in front of a live audience at Morris Lawrence’s Towsley Auditorium on Tuesday, April 16.
The event, entitled “Periodic Table of Movement: A Dance & Music Showcase,” drew roughly 50-70 attendees.
Thirteen performers took part in a total of 11 acts during the evening. Ten acts took place live on stage; one act, entitled “Vy,” was pre-recorded as a video and projected onto a screen.
Laurice Anderson, professional faculty of performing arts, helped to organize and host the event. She said this event would be one of her last before she retires in July.
After the event, some performers discussed the inspiration for the various routines.
Alexis Lee, who performed a solo piece entitled “Sober,” said her routine was partly an expression of her personal struggles and frustrations, although not necessarily—for herself—with drugs or alcohol.
“It was a nice way for me to express the frustration that goes along with all sorts of things—such as addiction and the process of recovery—it’s a long road and you have to keep up with it,” said Lee. “There’s a great quote: you can never get enough of what you don’t really want.”
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- Michelle Lanuti performing her piece, “Nocturnes.” Lily Merritt | Washtenaw Voice
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- Sammie Anderson Magiera performing her piece, “Bound By Society.” Lily Merritt | Washtenaw Voice
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- After students performed, audience members got the opportunity to ask questions to receive a deeper understanding of each piece. Lily Merritt | Washtenaw Voice
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- Dancers and musicians answering audience questions after the performance. Lily Merritt | Washtenaw Voice
Some dancers said they just wanted to lighten the mood and raise spirits.
In one such piece, entitled “Nocturnes,” Michelle Lanuti moved gracefully to a live melody played by pianist Andres Bilbeche.
“I wanted to do something really happy. I wanted to evoke pure happiness,” Lanuti said in response to a question from the audience. “I just wanted to make all of you happy.”
Other dancers tried to cast a light on perceived injustices or societal challenges.
Sammie Anderson Magiera found inspiration in recent words uttered by Michelle Obama promoting the place of women and girls in society.
Magiera said, “[The song] spoke to me as a woman because women have so many expectations: how we’re supposed to dress, how we’re supposed to act, and how we’re treated, really…. It was really powerful for me; hearing the part of Michelle Obama’s speech where she said that a ‘society’s greatness is determined by how it treats their women and girls.’”
The event ended dramatically as the full cast moved to a live rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell,” which concluded with boisterous applause and cheering from the audience.
Anderson concluded the event, saying, “Anything creative you add to this world is never wasted.”
