Fresh off a powerhouse performance at the American College Dance Association Northwest Conference in Las Vegas, the New Mexico State University Dance Program will be celebrating its recent accomplishment at the spring dance concert "Fusión de Frontera."
The concert begins at 7 p.m. today with performances through Saturday, April 25, in Rentfrow Hall on the NMSU main campus. The production serves as a homecoming showcase for the 10 Aggie dancers who represented the technical grit and creative soul of NMSU on the regional stage.
The choreography presented at ACDA highlighted NMSU's commitment to international artistic exchange and choreographic rigor, said dance program coordinator Ryan McMullen. The dancers returned to Las Cruces energized and ready to showcase an eclectic blend of student, faculty and guest artist choreography.
During the concert, McMullen will present a reset of his 2022 work, "ROVE." The contemporary piece explores dance as translocation – capturing the abruptness, ambiguity and curiosity inherent in life's journeys. "ROVE" carries a distinguished pedigree, having been previously set at Slippery Rock University and the State University of New York at Fredonia.
Senior dance major Antonella Palma will perform "La Danza del Venado (The Dance of the Deer)." Originally choreographed by guest artist Abraham Quintero of the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, this contemporary iteration of the Mexican classic was adapted for the ACDA stage by Palma and McMullen. The performance features a new costume designed by dance major Alexis Ramirez.
The concert will also feature the work of student choreographers who shone at ACDA, including Graven Babe's adjudicated piece, "A Little Bit of Mischief," and Samantha Hernandez's contemporary work, "Mechanical Awakening."
Professor Ana Sufflé will present, "Groovin' To Some Classics," a jazz-and-tap fusion taking inspiration from the legendary styles of Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Bob Fosse. Guest artist Shannon Dooling-Cain of Tucson will contribute "Feathers and Fur," a moving exploration of hope inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Caitlin Seida.
The program also celebrates vibrant partnerships across campus and within the community. Now a student-driven initiative, the Dancesport Ensemble will feature a salsa, bachata and a mambo created by Micuba, a Cuban dance and music group. The piece "Mambo No. 5" is a special highlight, resulting from a first-time collaboration with the NMSU Jazz Ensemble and the NMSU Department of Music presented in February.
The fan-favorite NMSU Folklórico Ensemble and Mariachi Band will return to the stage to present a classic work alongside a brand-new piece. Choreographed by Sophie Ostos, Anastasia Aragon and Kimberly Robles-Gil, these works highlight the region of Sinaloa through Mexican folkloric dance movement and storytelling.
Tickets are $10-$20 at the door and may be purchased at https://nmsudepartmentofdance.ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200527188.
By attending, the NMSU community will support a program that is proving to be a "force to be reckoned with in the world of collegiate dance," McMullen said. For more information about the program, visit https://kind.nmsu.edu/academic-programs/dance-main.html.
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-dance-program-to-celebrate-recent-accomplishments-at-spring-performance/s/2a6288ed-d3d2-4c5a-bd36-78182e383287
