Modern dance ensemble set to premiere

Dancers sway fluidly across the stage before their limbs kick and chop at the air while rehearsing Melinda Blomquist’s “Out Inside,” one of six pieces The University of Texas-Pan American Dance Ensemble will give its first performance of the semester with its Fall Concert 2009 at the Fine Arts Auditorium today.

The abstract dance explores the opposite movements of “slash,” fast and strong, and “glide,” which is light and slow, said the choreographer. Fifteen students from UTPA and four students from Vangaurd Academy in Pharr will participate.

“I think it goes to a philosophy I have about dance, teaching and life,” she said. “[Finding] the common ground between those two spectrums is a theme I like to work with. It’s just expressing these oppositional aspects and working between those two realms. ”

Brittanie Rosas, 19, described modern dance as “yoga-influenced” and involving “more connecting with your body” compared to other types of dance.

“When you dance with a story behind it, you have to play a character,” said the San Juan native, who will make her premiere appearance with the Dance Ensemble in performing in both “Out Inside” and“Dust,” created by guest artists Mary Fitzgerald and Satu Hummasti. “You still play a character [in modern dance], but you don’t have to have a closed mind about what it is and what you have to do.”

For Isela Gomez, a junior dance major, performing in Blomquist’s piece is a departure from her usual style.

“I’ve never danced modern dance in my life. I’m a ballet dancer,” she admitted. “Melinda definitely opens your eyes to different ways of making your body move. She takes an entirely different approach to her teaching and artistry, which is a benefit.”

As part of her unique teaching style, Blomquist worked collaboratively with her students to choreograph “Out Inside.”

Segments were added from classroom exercises and improvisation, Gomez said. During one exercise Blomquist, who has been a dance teacher and choreographer for 16 years, wrote four movement words on the board such as slash, float, glide and roll, and then ask students to interpret three of the words with movement.

“Whatever I felt ‘slash’ was, I would dance that and incorporate ‘float’ and ‘glide,’” Gomez said. “It all started with descriptive words on a chalkboard.”

As the clock ticked closer to curtain call, Blomquist and her students were ironing out any remaining kinks, adding lighting, music and curtains into the mix during their run-throughs.

“It gets a little stressful, but it’s a good stress,” she said. “It’s very challenging to do one thing and make a costume change and have to think about different concepts and what you’re trying to communicate. It’s lots of hard work and lots of fun.”

Blomquist added that UTPA dancers will also give performances next semester during their Spring Concert and FESTIBA.

Recovering from a lower back injury that has limited her participation for three weeks, Gomez is also anticipating going on stage.

“Right now I’m very calm, but I know as soon as it’s opening night I’m going to get butterflies,” she said. “It’s an exciting feeling.”

Blomquist set “Out Inside” to music from the Canadian rock band Rush; this she added after the choreography was finished, something that is rare, according to Gomez.

“The music is definitely what gets you going,” she explained. “You can’t see the people in the audience, but knowing that they’re there is a rush. You just feel like you have to exert a certain quality that people want to watch. You have to keep them entertained.”

Rosas said she is nervous and excited about her first performance.

“[When dancing] I’m thinking, ‘Wow, this makes me so happy,’” she said. “It’s a good way for me to express good feelings, bad feelings. It’s an outlet.”

All six modern dance pieces will be performed today and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. They will run again on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.