By Terran Warden, Guest Writer
Dance programs offered by Pacific Lutheran University give students a glimpse into a magical world of dance. Students are offered opportunities to audition for the Dance Team and Dance Ensemble, as well as minor in Dance.
Dance Team 2014-2015
Photo Courtesy of Molly Maloney
This year’s Dance Team promises to be an amazing group this year, based off auditions for the team were held on Friday, Sept. 12.
“There is so much talent in the team selected this year,” Dance Director Maureen McGill said.
The team is led by three captains: senior Elizabeth “Molly” Maloney, junior Amy Arand and junior Miranda Winter.
“The captains have outstanding leadership and talent,” McGill said. “The keen leadership of the three captains will surely promote creative and challenging performances.”
New members of the team, such as Lauren Castle, are excited to dance as a part of this team.
“The captains this year are so nice,” Castle said. “I am so excited for the year!”
Team captains are proud of their selections.
“I am incredibly excited as it is my last year on Dance Team… The other captains and I are so proud of this talented group of dancers who bring a diverse set of strengths and styles to the team,” Maloney said.
The captains of the team, along with Dance Director McGill, will be working on performances throughout the year in a variety of styles, including jazz, funk and modern. The team plans to perform six to seven routines this year, but the styles have yet to be determined. The hip-hop and pom routines will be new additions to the team’s repertoire.
“The new styles should be an exciting challenge for us,” Maloney said.
The 2013-2014 Dance Team competed in its first dance competition last year and is still discussing competitions for later in the 2014-2015 season.
The team will perform throughout the year at Men’s Basketball games, Fall Preview Day on Oct. 5 and Global GetDown on Nov. 21.
The Dance Team’s second anunal Winter Showcase will be held held in the black box theater on Dec. 5.
Dance Ensemble 2014-2015
PLU’s Dance Ensemble is an opportunity for students to perform without being on the Dance Team and to choreograph their own routines, bringing their artistic visions to life in the community.
The creative journey of the Dance Ensemble culminates with a final formal performance at the 2015 Spring Dance Concert.
To help create the exciting choreography for the final show, the PLU Dance page states Dance Ensemble will have help from dance faculty, alumnae and professional choreographers. The Dance Team is also involved and helps bring leadership and experience to the work of the Dance Ensemble.
Audiences of every technical dance level are invited to audition and participate. Auditions will begin on Nov. 7 in the Columbia Center Studio for student choreographers. Auditions for dancers will be held the first Friday of spring semester in the Columbia Center Studio.
“To anyone interested in choreography, bring your music, dance phrases and ideas,” McGill said.
The Spring Dance Concert
At the end of the Dance season, the Dance Team will join the Dance Ensemble for a final showcase. The show will be directed by Dance Director McGill and will showcase the student dancers, student choreographers and professional choreography of the 2014-2015 Dance season.
“The 2015 Spring Dance Concert promises to be a stellar one with so much incoming dance talent in the university,” McGill said. “A variety of styles, music and ideas will wow the audience!”
For more information on Dance at PLU, contact Dance Director Maureen McGill via email at mcgillma@plu.edu.
