Company performs old and new in ‘Classics Over Time’ at Koger Center
“Classics Over Time,” which will premiere tonight at the Koger Center, includes contemporary works, classic ballet and everything in between.
“It’s just one of the most beautiful things to watch,” said Dance Artistic Director Susan Anderson about USC’s newest dance production, “Classics Over Time.”
The production includes three separate works: “Emeralds,” from George Balanchine’s “Jewels,”Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s “The Great Galloping Gottschalk,” and an original work from USC assistant professor Thaddeus Davis named “Mass Hysteria.”
“There’s a wide variety of things happening in this show,” said Kelsey Uhl,a fourth-year dance performance and choreography student.
Chelsea Morgan, also a fourth-year dance performance and choreography student, said the performance has a “really regal presence.”
“There’s different movement qualities for each of them which makes it really special,” Morgan said.
“Emeralds” represents the classical end of the dancing spectrum with its traditional movement and sounds.
“It flows well and just looks pretty,” said Camille Sellers,a fourth-year dance performance and choreography major who, along with Uhl and Morgan, will be performing specifically in “Emeralds.” “It’s more peaceful than the rest, and we need to be technical with it.”
On the opposite side of the spectrum is the extremely unique and contemporary piece by Davis, which includes unexpected movements and music. The contemporary instructor has won the prestigious Choo San Goh award in dance and has a way of choreographing that is unfamiliar to many.
“His process of choreography is really cool. He’ll come up with a few phrases then completely manipulate those phrases into an entire dance,” Uhl said. “It challenged the dancers in different ways.”
In between the two extremes lies “The Great Galloping Gottschalk,” inspired by the work on 19th-century composer Louis Moeau Gottschalk. Anderson said the piece is usually performed by professionals, but USC has been the only university in the country to be granted the rights. The piece’s rehearsal director Kyra Strasberg describes it as a puzzle, with its quick footwork and interesting movements.
Uhl, Morgan and Sellers, who have been working on the dance for months, are hopeful that people will attend and enjoy this creative mix of contrasting movements.
“It’s something people can’t not enjoy,” Anderson said. “There’s something for everyone.”