Elon University's department of performing arts annual “Dancing in the Landscape” glided through main campus, on Sunday Sept. 27.
The performance featured all twelve of the first-year BFA dance students as well as a few members of the junior and senior class.
“Dancing in the Landscape” is an tradition that was celebrating their eighth year this Sunday.
“It happens every year around this time, for family weekend, so the families can come and not only see their sons and daughters dance, but also get a chance to get to know the Elon campus,” said choreographer and assistant professor of dance Renay Aumiller.
Aumiller co-directed the show with Sara Tourek, part-time professor or dance, with help from their assistant directors, senior Fiona Koch and junior Hallee Bernstein.
The event served as the inaugural performance for the newest addition to Elon’s dance program —the class of 2019.
Freshmen dancer Monica Steefey, said the performance was a very monumental moment for her as a freshmen.
Steefey was featured in the first of four pieces performed in the 30-minute program, which began at the Love Terrace overlooking Lake Mary Nell.
The four directors introduced the production with a dedication to Jane Wellford, professor of dance and choreographer for the Elon Dance Company.
To everyone’s satisfaction, the rain held out for the program, but you wouldn’t have been able to tell by the six girls who were featured in the first piece all wearing raincoats in anticipation for the expected bad weather. Although the weather was dry for show time, freshmen Ana Thue said dress rehearsal was not as lucky.
“It was pretty much a downpour, and we had to dance outside in it,” she said
But Aumiller said it was all part of the experience.
“I thought it was great, it’s a part of dance on the landscape — you go with the elements, when it rains we get wet,” she said.
Each dance number lasted under five minutes, and ended with the dancers giving some indication that they were finished and that it was time to move on to the next location, since there was no music accompanying the performance. Steefey remembers that a lot of the chorography was improvisation.
“We would teach it to other people and put it all together and she [Aumiller] would tweak it,” Steefey said.
The performance then moved to the pavilion outside of Lakeside Dining Hall. The group of dancers, all seniors, danced through and around the tables and chairs and archways, which were incorporated into the choreography.
Each of the four pieces had a different choreographer, which was apparent in the different emotions and style portrayed.
A ledge outside of the Koury Athletic Center was the stage for the third piece. This dance was the most engaging because of the use of the ledge within the piece. A lot of the movement was done behind the wall so that only a limb or face, was visible causing various illusions throughout the dance.
The juniors in the dance program, consisting of only five dancers, performed the final number under the archways outside of the Alumni Gym.
The show attracted an audience of mostly parents of the performers with a few friends and interested students scattered throughout.
“I also just like to go to cultural events on campus, just so I can be more cultured…and experience more art,” said freshmen Bridgett Agbozo, who came to support her friend.