Archived News | Return to News Center

October 24, 2008

Fall Fusion 2008 gives attendees a “Passport to the World” Nov. 20

The University of Louisiana Monroe Repertory Dance Ensemble will offer attendees a “Passport to the World” at this year’s Fall Fusion Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Brown Auditorium. The dance concert is free and open to the public.

Fall Fusion is a mix of invention and discovery in which dance faculty members and guest artists choreograph, creating moving art. Eclectic forms of dance are fused in a single concert, appealing to every kind of music and dance lover.

Audiences will enjoy classical dance along with more contemporary styles such as jazz, tap and hip-hop, according to Robin Stephens, director of dance at ULM. “Passport to the World brings various dances together. Dance is the international language. Throughout the world, you can communicate through dance, it has such power. Giving our students and audience members this kind of gift is really like giving them the world.”

The new ULM Dance Department assistant professor Tina Mullone agreed. “Dance and music travel faster than words. We as a world communicate faster through movement and rhythm than language. Our students learn about various cultures through dance.” Fall Fusion features include:

• “Southern Migration” by Stephens. Set to music by Annie Lennox, “Southern Migration” is an ensemble piece inspired by the natural world.
  
  
• “Moulin Rouge (The Red Mill)” by Stephens. Inspired by the paintings of Toulouse Lautrec, placed in Paris at the end of the 19th century. It brings the time, place, people, and dances of that era to life.
  
  “BiPolar” by Mullone (premiere work). Set to the music of Vikter Duplaix, this ensemble work explores the metaphysical emotions of light, wind, sun, and water through Caribbean movement.
  
  “That Special Day” by Mullone. Performing to the vocals of Etta James, this dance-theatre work shows a woman in love. However, she realizes her true love is not what he seems...
  
  
• “Ear Training” by Loris Anthony Beckles. Beckles is a former member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Ailey III, a training and performance ensemble; and Ailey II, a performance ensemble. He also choreographed for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He is the artistic director of Beckles Dancing Company of Dallas, Texas. “Ear Training” is a text/dance work exploring the outside versus the inside personas of day-to-day life. Text is provided by the late spoken word artist, Sekou Sundiata.
  
  
• “Lei Awapahi” by Gretchen Jones (premiere). This work is inspired by the music, the song “Lei Awapahi” and culture of Hawaii.
  
  
• “Never Give Up” by Dianne Maroney. Maroney is a former member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Ensemble and is artistic director of Orchesis Dance Ensemble at Grambling State University. An uplifting spiritual piece, “Never Give Up” speaks on a personal and universal level about life.
  
  
• “Broadway tribute to Gower Champion and Bob Fosse” by Robin Stephens, including “This Joint is Jumpin',” “Jasper's Lament,” “We're in the Money,” “Chicago,” and “Anything Goes.” This work is dedicated to the innovators of the musical theater. ULM alumni, Adavion Wayne will perform "This Joint is Jumpin'" from “Ain't Misbehavin'” with accompanist Julien Jones.

For more information, call the VAPA Box Office at (318) 342-1414.

PLEASE NOTE: Some links and e-mail addresses in these archived news stories may no longer work, and some content may include events which are no longer relevent, or reference individuals and/or organizations no longer associated with ULM.