Dancers ‘Connecting...’ with Concertgoers

Westmont’s Fall Dance Concert features choreography from students, faculty and alumni on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., all in Porter Theatre. Tickets to “Connecting…” cost $10 for general admission; $7 for students, seniors or children, and may be purchased online at westmont.edu/boxoffice or by calling (805) 565-7140.

Susan Alexander, Westmont adjunct dance professor, directs the concert and has choreographed several pieces for the show, including “Slant,” which showcases five dancers constantly changing patterns in space while moving through and around each other. In Alexander’s “360º,” three dancers vigorously change direction to the rhythmic music composed by Jeff Russo and performed by the USC Drum Corps. “Party of One” is an energetic solo that will be performed by Kyndal Vogt ’17.

Melanie Bales, Westmont theater arts instructor, has created a piece with five dancers that echoes the mournful, yet lilting music of the 17th century Scottish ballad “Joy to the Person of My Love.”

Student choreographers include Brenna Humphrey ’18, who choreographed a solo piece. “My goal was to make it graceful, entertaining and enjoyable for everyone,” she says. Sisters Sarah ’17 and Bethany Sutherland ’12 have choreographed pieces for the program, including a hip-hop piece that Bethany created for dancers from the Dance Network in Santa Barbara.

The student hip-hop ensemble NSTEP will perform a piece choreographed by several of its members.

Miranda Wittrock ’16 and Mackenzie Ellis ’16, and Kendall Songer ’18 and Wittrock both perform duets choreographed by Songer.

Ellis choreographed two dances for the concert that communicate love, yearning, loss and frustration, and the effort it takes to stay alive throughout it all. “The choreography comes from a place inside me where a tension between my desire to grow and the experiences that push me away dictates my every step,” he says.