By Hayley Sanders

Old Gold and Black Reviewer

After two months of intensive work with local choreographers, the university dance company is ready to present its Fall Faculty Guest Artist Dance Concert, a performance featuring six pieces ranging in style from ballet and jazz to contemporary. The show will be Nov. 21-23 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. in the MainStage Theatre in Scales Fine Arts Center. Tickets cost and are available from the theatre box office at Ext. 5295.

Nina Lucas , an Associate professor of dance and director of the university dance program worked with local choreographers Fanchon Cordell and Sean Sullivan, who both teach at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Other local choreographers include faculty member Brantly Shapiro and Karla Coghill, artistic director and choreographer for Sidelong Dance Company, as well as instructor for the Academy of Dance Arts, where Johnson acts as faculty coordinator.

The concert will include a classical ballet piece choreographed by Shapiro entitled "Bijoux," set to the music of Georges Bizet and Georg Friedrich. Cordell has choreographed a segment of Paquita Pas de Trois, a ballet by Marius Petipa, accompanied by the music of Leon Minkus. Lucas will present an untitled jazz piece set to music by Benny Goodman and from various Broadway shows. "The Girl's Got Style," choreographed by Johnson, will feature music by Matthaeus Wadlenmaier, Music Productions and Ray Obiedo.

According to Lucas, rehearsals have been rigorous, but the dancers have met the challenge. "They give 110 percent while maintaining strong GPAs, and that is remarkable. But more importantly they love what they are doing, and they have to in order to keep up this pace," she said.

Lucas said that the dance company consists of 29 dancers, nine of whom are graduating seniors, and eight of whom are Presidential Scholars in dance. "Every year the concerts differ due to different choreographers and sometimes different dancers. But what is remarkable and consistent about the concerts from year to year is the talent that we have in the company and the commitment and dedication of the dancers," Lucas said.

Sophomore dance company member Cory Scofield said, "We had auditions in September. A lot of hard work has gone into the dances, which I hope will be reflected in the performance. It was great being able to work with new choreographers because we got to experience new styles and techniques."

Sophomore dance company member Asleigh Harb also expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming performance.

"I am so excited about the dance concert this year, it will be a phenomenal performance!" Harb said. "I'm in 'The Girl's Got Style,' a very spunky and fun jazz piece, which is so energetic and I really enjoy performing it. I think the audience will enjoy it because choreographer Carol Johnson has done an excellent job making this piece come alive."

"My personal goals for dancing in the company were to sincerely enjoy the pieces I am in," Harb said. "I don't just want to go through the movements of the dance­there has to be more than that. I think the best dancers are those who dance with more than just their arms and legs. (Nina Lucas) puts so much time and energy into the performance and really cares about her dancers and encourages them in every way. It is such a blessing to be able to dance for her."