Post #59280 by tikijackalope on Mon, Nov 10, 2003 2:18 AM

Just as I was preparing a post about the lack of Tiki in central KS, I ran across an upcoming event in my own backyard that will feature a dance set to the music of Les Baxter.

This is the entire text of a press release from Wichita State University. The dance is mentioned at the end of the release:

What: Kansas Dance Festival
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 14-15
Where: Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center, WSU campus
Phone: (316) 978-3233 (College of Fine Arts Box Office)
Cost: $9 general public; $7 senior citizens, students, faculty/staff, military with ID; $6 for all students and children

As part of the festival, classes in jazz, pop, ballet, mime, tap, modern and hip hop dance will be offered to the public in 144B WSU Heskett Center with guest teachers on Thursday-Friday, Nov. 13-14, and WSU faculty on Saturday, Nov. 15. The classes culminate in a scholarship audition 1:30-3 p.m. Saturday. To reserve a spot call the WSU dance office, (316) 978-3530.

Faculty and students from Wichita State University and other universities will fill the stage with a collage of choreography and talent at the annual Kansas Dance Festival 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 14-15, in Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center.

This year’s concert features dancers and choreographers from throughout the region. Kansas State University, University of Kansas, Barton County Community College, University of Oklahoma and University of Central Oklahoma will participate with WSU.

Highlights of choreographic works created by the WSU faculty include a premiere work titled “Undercurrent,” which is a contemporary dance by C. Nicholas Johnson, associate professor and director of dance, that explores the fragility of human contact and relationship likened to the brief caress of the tides on a beach. The work uses 17 performers of all levels and is set to the music of Kronos Quartet and Thomas Newman.

Johnson also will present “The Great Ambini,” a hybrid film/stage piece that combines live video on stage in a wacky dance cartoon.

“Tambem dancar” is a premiere work by Sabrina Vasquez. It is an exploration of the beauty and physicality of dance. Set to the nouveau samba music of Bebel Gilberto, the choreography celebrates the freedom of movement and the camaraderie between dancers as they interact with each other on stage.

Denise Celestin, associate professor, will premiere “Sparkle,” a contemporary ballet for one male and five female dancers, set to a charmingly invigorating and rhythmically complex score by Shafer Mahoney.

Visiting assistant professor Dawn DiPasquale will present “Mondo Exotica.” Evocative of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s genre known as exotica, Tiki culture or Polynesian pop, this popular dance is set to the music of Les Baxter and harkens to the ethnic style of Jack Cole.

Contact: Denise Celestin, (316) 978-3047 or [email protected].

This press release can be found at: http://www.wichita.edu/online/news/?__A=article&__NID=1345