Bloomsburg University’s Dance Ensemble will take center stage in the Kehr Union Ballroom on Sunday, November 15 at 7 p.m. Every spring the dance ensemble puts on its dancing shoes and showcases their talents at the Haas Center. So what makes November 15 so special? This showcase will be the ensemble’s first ever fall dance show.
The fall dance show was added to the ensemble’s calendar this year in hopes of promoting the spring show. As the first ever fall showcase, the November 15th performance will act as a teaser to the larger show in the spring. Dance Ensemble Co-President, Shannon Stahl, says, “So many people go to the see the show at the end of the year we thought it would be a great idea to give them another opportunity to see what the dance ensemble does ahead of time.”
Those who attend the performance will see a one to one and a half minute dance performance from each class in the ensemble. Each class will perform a choreographed dance on stage. With 15 styles of dance, there is sure to be something for everyone: hip-hop, Latin, musical theatre, ballet, African, tap, modern, jazz, Irish soft and hard, acro, competition, Country, and couples country.
With 160 members involved, the Dance Ensemble is one of the largest student run organizations on campus. Stahl uses the ensemble as a place to hang out with friends while doing what she loves. Stahl says, “Dancing has always been a part of my life and I love that I have had the opportunity to continue it here at college.” She helps to run all meetings and organize events the ensemble takes part in. Along with the duties of being president, Stahl also teaches Advanced Jazz, is in the Latin and Ballet classes, and competes with the competition team.
The university’s competition team is composed of a group of 20 committed girls from the ensemble that compete every year at the Garden State Invitational. For the past two years, the BU team has taken home first place at this competition, as well as a “Most Crowd Appeal” award at last year’s event. In addition to the invitational, the team has performed at the Special Olympics and in the Homecoming parade. In upcoming weeks they will perform at Treefest, a local charity event that donates trimmed Christmas trees to less fortunate families.
If two competition titles and a “Most Crowd Appeal” award cannot convince you to come to the show, then maybe some brownies will! In addition to the dances at this fall showcase, the ensemble plans to raise funds by selling baked goods and Bloomsburg University Dance Ensemble t-shirts on the night of the performance. Come out and enjoy the music and performances Sunday, November 15, at 7 pm in the Kehr Union Ballroom!
Front page photo courtesy of http://organizations.bloomu.edu/dance/
Check out this video from last year’s spring showcase!
