In the hiatus from home football games, organizations have taken it upon themselves to schedule their own events during the upcoming weekends.The Virginia Dance Company has jumped on the bandwagon along with others, making certain not to miss their opportunity.
The Virginia Dance Company will be presenting their fall show this Sunday at 8 p.m. The performance, "Dance Away With Me," will take place in Old Cabell Hall. Tickets will be sold on the Lawn today and can also be purchased at the door for $5.
Each semester the company holds auditions and then begins practicing for the end-of-the-semester show .
"Each routine gets an hour and fifteen minutes of rehearsal time per week," third-year College student and company president Nicole Klett said.
According to Klett, the company is unique in that the dancers choose which routines they wish to perform.
"You can choose any routine you want to participate in and after a semester can start to choreograph," Klett said. "Everyone can be involved to the extent that they want to be."
Prior to this weekend's performance, the 28 active dancers have been circulating around Charlottesville visiting local retirement homes to give performances. Their travels serve a dual purpose: To practice for the show as well as display their work to the greater Charlottesville area.
Because the company is a student-run organization, all of the dances are choreographed by members of the company themselves. Genres of dance range from ballet and lyrical to tap and jazz. Klett admits that although being a choreographer is greatly rewarding, there were some challenges that had to be overcome with this semester's show.
"The show is normally much later in November, but due to conflicts we had to have it earlier this year," Klett said. "We didn't have as much time to prepare, but I feel like it is still up to the same level as always. Everyone really pulled through."
In addition to their semester performances the group is also working to promote a dance environment in general around Grounds.
"In the spring we have a dance explosion. We invite dance organizations around Grounds to come together and do one massive performance in the amphitheater," Klett said.
Klett commented that she enjoys the gathering because it brings people together who love dance as much as those in the company.
This spring they also plan on providing dance workshops open to all University students. According to Klett, by bringing in choreographers and dancers from different areas, people can participate in classes and see if they want to pursue dance further in the future.
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