Another Sneak Peak at the Summer Informance

The ACC studio was busy with MBM company rehearsals today! From 8 AM until the campus closed, your student dance company was working hard for the show. Don’t miss out on this free show on Wednesday, July 2^nd, at 7 PM the Rio Grande Campus Mainstage.

One of the pieces being presented is from Anne Wharton, the author of this blog and ACC dance graduate: I started out with a simple concept; restrictions in life. I thought a lot about social concepts and self perceptions. These perspectives lend themselves to expectations and, good or bad, these expectations shape how we live by influencing what we think we’re capable of or what we think we’re allowed to do. In a lot of cases, I find these influences to be negative. There are a lot of social ideas about how women should or shouldn’t behave; what jobs we’re suited for or not suited for, what kind of relationships we should or shouldn’t have. And as dancers, there are a lot of physical boundaries that always seem out of reach because we perceive ourselves incapable of accomplishing such a feat.

Maegan Stelfox in Rehearsal

The movement began to evolve from a costume prop: bamboo silk rope. We started experimenting with traditional rope ties from Japanese culture and through improvisation, began to set movement. The ropes became a symbol of emotional patterns that hold us back from pursuing dreams, or relationships, or even self-improvements. As the dance developed, I realized these emotional limitations can create isolation but also community in our lives. These metaphorical ropes bring self-doubt and weaken our confidence and yet give us a common ground to bond over and find support for our struggles.

Alyssa Cañas in Rehearsal

The ropes were provided in part by the sponsorship of Matthew Daude-Laurents, who designed the patterns for the dancers, from Thought Experience – a philosophical consultation service.

Pictures by Anne Wharton

Summer Informance

Next Wednesday, July 2^nd, is the Dance Department’s annual Summer Informance. The show is on the Mainstage at the Rio Grande Campus at 7PM and it’s free! The performance features works from ACC faculty Darla Johnson, professional dancer and choreographer Roman Morgan, Texas State dance major Amanda Forsyth, ACC dance grad Anne Wharton, and ACC dance major Heather Moran. It will also be the first concert debut for the new Austin Community College Student Dance Company, Mind Body Motion.

Heather Moran in rehearsal

One of the reasons the student dance company was founded was to provide students with additional choreography and performance experience. As the Vice President of Mind Body Motion, Heather Moran is getting her first taste of choreographing outside of a class. “I questioned everything I did in the beginning. It was really difficult not having the security of someone I could go to with questions. I think the hardest thing was not having the class space to just improv and come up with new movement with classmates,” said Heather.  

Nico Locke and Joel  Davila in rehearsal

She tried a new process with her dancers and experimented with personal writing for the inspiration of movement. “It worked really well. The dancers were really open to the idea of writing and it pushed some dancers outside of their box. They created some beautiful movement and a lot of movement – way more than I expected,” said Heather.

Megan Thomas in  rehearsal

The dancers’ writings revolved around faith – the concept for Heather’s piece. “I tried to originally get away from the concept of faith, but I just kept coming back to it. It’s where I am now and I needed to get it out,” said Heather. Her work has wonderful moments with duets and solos; the solos being inspired by the dancers’ writings. “It’s incredible to see all these dancers, coming from different backgrounds with different descriptions of faith, connecting over something as simple but complex as faith,” said Heather about her dancers.

Taylor Pierce and Elisa Garcia  in rehearsal

Heather’s piece will be one of seven new works presented in the Summer Informance at the Rio Grande Campus at 7pm on Wednesday, July 2^nd. Invite all your friends and family!

Pictures by Anne Wharton