Dance ensemble to perform Feb. 10-13

Faculty and student choreographers will be featured in the annual concert by the Valparaiso University Dance Ensemble.

The Valparaiso University Dance Ensemble will perform Feb. 10-11 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 12-13 at 2 p.m. in the University Theatre at Valpo’s Center for the Arts. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for senior citizens and students and may be purchased by calling the Valpo Box Office at (219) 464-5162 or online at http://www.valpo.edu/vuca.

The talents of campus performers are combined with participation from invited dancers from the region. A variety of dance styles are juxtaposed to create a program full of energy, creative and original costume, lighting design and music to inspire.

Ann Kessler, associate professor of theatre and director of Dance Ensemble, has professional design credits that include other universities in the Midwest, European Repertory Company – Chicago, Shattered Globe Theatre – Chicago, and the Flint Youth Ballet – Michigan.

Dance Ensemble annually performs original compositions featuring ballet, jazz, pointe, tap, ballroom and modern dance styles. Works are choreographed by Kessler and Valpo students.

This year, alumnus and professional lighting designer Sam Doty will be lending his expertise to the performance. Doty has been involved in the planning and building of nearly every domestic and international ice, stage and circus show to date. He has most recently served as the Lighting Designer for “Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey,” “Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show” among many others.

Valpo’s mainstage productions during the rest of the 2010-2011 season include “The Universal Wolf” an adult themed and contemporary re-telling of “Little Red Riding Hood”; and “Floyd Collins” a musical filled with raw human emotion that is based on a true story from 1925. For more information about upcoming productions or to purchase tickets, call the Valpo Box Office at (219) 464-5162 or visit the Department of Theatre website at http://www.valpo.edu/theatre.