Cornell’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents ‘Body Convos’
Cornell College dancers return to the stage Oct. 3–6 for the fall dance concert.
The performance will showcase new works choreographed and performed by Cornell students and Dance Instructor Amy Simonson. Audience members will experience a dynamic showcase of contemporary modern dance, interwoven with elements of jazz, ballet, and other styles, on the Kimmel Theatre stage in Cornell’s Armstrong-Youngker Hall.
Cornell College Department of Theatre and Dance Presents:
“Body Convos”
Oct. 3–5 at 7:30 in Kimmel Theatre
Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. in Kimmel Theatre
“The show is called ‘Body Convos,’ and every piece has an idea related to conversation, communication, and expression through the body,” Simonson said. “Sometimes dance can convey a feeling or thought even better than words.”
Eight Cornell students will perform in the show. Audience members will also see video elements created by a student videographer and editor. Cornell students also designed the costumes and will crew the show. Three of the pieces are entirely choreographed by students.
“I’m especially excited for the student choreographers to see their ideas come to life on stage,” Simonson said. “We’re thrilled for people to attend this show and support the hard work these students have put in. As much as dancers love to perform for sporting events and behind actors and singers, in this show, the dancers are the main event.”
Sophomore Nikauly Rios will perform in the show. She says throughout her life, she has found that “dancing it all out” is the best way to communicate and understand herself.
“I wish for people [attending the show] to be allowed to travel into a state of mind where there is only the audience and the dancer to understand the words and conversations we dancers carry framed in our bodies,” Rios said.
Tickets are available for purchase online at Ludus. Adults are $15, seniors, students, and youth are $12. Cornell faculty, staff, and students attend for free with their Cornell ID. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Box Office, Monday–Friday 3:15–5:15 p.m. two weeks prior to the performance and one hour prior to showtime.
About the lead choreographer:
This is Amy Simonson’s third year as the dance instructor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Cornell. She teaches ballet, modern, jazz, and musical theatre dance. Simonson has taught dance classes since the age of 16 and obtained a B.F.A. from Wichita State University and an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa in dance.
