Students to perform May 11 and 12 in Last Chance to Dance

Last Chance to Dance will take place on May 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus. The show is free to the public and will feature student-choreographed pieces.

The show will include a wide variety of performances with all types of dance styles depending on what the students are most interested in or enjoy performing the most.

"There's a greater variety of pieces because there's more choreographers, so in a typical show we usually have nine choreographers, but in Last Chance we have 15 different pieces with 15 different choreographers and 15 different points of view and 15 different styles," Southeast Department of Theatre and Dance Professor Hilary Peterson said.

Last Chance to Dance also stands out from other shows because it is not a requirement for any of the students to participate. However, Peterson said it has never been a problem finding students who want to perform in it.

"Our students want to perform. This is what they're studying to do," Peterson said. "Just knowing that its all for them, it's all about them, it's not about a greater picture, its about the moment and being right there and having fun with one another doing what they love."

The students have complete freedom and are in charge of their own costumes, music and makeup. They also get the choice of doing a solo or group performance. There tends to be more solos in this particular show since they are not typically included in other shows.

"The students love this because they have that sense of freedom. They get to do whatever they want to do. This is not for a paid audience," Peterson said.

Peterson said the students also get to perform for different audience members who wouldn't typically come to a show because of the price.

Not only do the students look forward to it, but the faculty enjoy seeing a show they have never seen rehearsed multiple times.

"It's neat because it's a new show to me," Peterson said. "With others shows, I've seen every number 10 times before the actual performance, but with this I get to see all new stuff."

Although the event is designed for theatre and dance majors, students from all majors are welcome to perform.