Friday, October 6, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 7
Graceful form of art alluring to students in motion
Performers will tell stories through body movements in weekend performance
By Mariana Paiva
Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas' dancers and dance professors will explore legends, tragedies and culture this weekend in the Lied Center.
The concerts are at 8 tonight and tomorrow and will include seven different dances that highlight jazz, tango and modern dance.
"Normally we do a more ballet type of concert, but this time we wanted to get as much variety in the program as we could," said Jerel Hilding, associate professor of music and dance who choreographed "Tangazo."
Joan Stone, instructor of music and dance, said all of the 39 dancers involved in the University Dance Company performance were chosen through auditions.
"The University dance company is for the students primarily. We do have some faculty performing on occasion, and this time we happen to have three professors performing." Stone said.
Stone said her piece, called "Broken Threads," was inspired by people who lost relatives in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
"People, like in Oklahoma City, have joined together to grieve as a group," she said. "And that is what the seven dancers evoke, a community of mourners using dance to help them in their pain, rage and in their search for order."
The piece mixes elements from Baroque and modern dance with the music of "Ballett Lamentabil" by heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber.
Mary Shahrokhi, Leawood junior, will make her debut in the University Dance Company performing in Stone's piece and in "Tangazo."
She said "Tangazo" is a mixture between tango and ballet. The dancers are led by Hilding.
"We are kind of evil, and I call us vampires," she said. "But it is an abstract piece and people can interpret it however they want."
Christine Colby-Jaques, Cincinnati sophomore, rehearses her performance for tonight's performance. Colby-Jaques, who will be performing solo, will appear at the Lied Center. Photo by Tara Bradley/KANSAN
Hilding said that the performance did not have a main theme but that by chance this time several choreographers used journeys as their main focus.
"Each choreographer comes up with their own idea and creates their dance from various inspirations, whereas it could be a personal experience, music or a particular theme which he or she would like to explore in movement," he said.
Other pieces included in the program are "Blossom of Fire" and "Proa," by Patrick Suzeau, instructor of dance; "Journeys from the Tower of the Moon," by Willie Lenoir, instructor of dance; and "Winding Path" and "Woman-song." by Muriel Cohan, associate professor of dance.
General admission tickets for the KU concert are on sale at the KU box offices and cost $5 for students and $5 for students.
Dancer's professional career broadens her life as a student
By Emily C. Forsyth Special to the Kansan
For Christine Colby-Jacques, dancing is not a choice. It is a necessity.
Asked why she has danced since
the age of three, she responds, "I just have to."
Practicing her jazz routine on a recent afternoon, Colby-Jacques, Cincinnati sophomore, fit the description of a dance student:
simple black leotard, tights and dancing shoes on her long, muscular frame, short blonde hair bouncing slightly with each step.
She looked like any number of undergraduate dancers as she worked through her routine for the University Dance Company's fall dance. However, a closer look into Colby-Jacques' life reveals that she is not the average dance student. Unlike many of her classmates, she already has amassed an extensive professional career.
Her resume includes dancing on Broadway, on television, in films, commercials and music videos as a Disney character and as a Rockette. She has training in tap, jazz, ballet, modern and hip-hop, in addition to teaching dance.
Now 45 years old, Colby-Jacques has been dancing nearly every day of her entire life. After spending 20 years as a dancer in New York City, she made the transition to pursue a degree in dance. Although she had taught dance at a studio, she thought that having a degree might increase her opportunities for teaching at the university level or at a performing arts school.
Returning to school later in life, she said, has made perfect sense for her.
"I think my life experience has prepared me for college," she said. "I've always focused on my career — getting work, jobs, going to [dance] class, getting better, honing my craft."
Now, she focuses on doing homework, writing papers and broadening her ideas. Joan Stone, director of dance, said that Colby-Jacques was able to contribute ideas from a different perspective to her dance history class.
"She sets a standard of seriousness in the kinds of questions she asks and the kinds of responses she gives because of her extensive background as a dancer on Broadway and in film." Stone said.
Stone said she thought other students in the class appreciated what Colby-Jacques offered to the discussions.
"They admire her for what she's done, and they also like that she sits in class and really participates as a student," she said.
Janet Hamburg, professor of dance, has worked with Colby-Jacques in dance classes and agreed that she contributes something unique to the learning environment.
"She brings a level of maturity and professionalism to her work that is rare for an undergraduate." Hamburg said. "She's a delightful student because after having her own professional career, she's in school because she wants to learn."
In addition to her studies, Colby-Jacques dances in the University Dance Company and teaches privately and for the State Ballet of Missouri. Although she no longer maintains the six-sounds a-day schedule she once kept in New York City as a Rockette, Colby-Jaques finds time to work out at least two and a half hours each day
Her routine includes walking two miles every day and alternating every other day between step aerobics, weight lifting and exercising in the pool. And, of course, she dances every day.
Colby-Jacques plans to continue dancing as long as she is able.
"I think it is really important for the younger generation to have examples of older dancers continuing to dance," she said. "I hope I'm just another example of not falling by the wayside because I'm older."
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