Topic: College of Fine Arts
December 7, 2017
Ball State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance’s latest production, “It Can Happen Here: A Modern Dance Concert,” opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at University Theatre, with more performances at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8-9 and at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 10.
“It Can Happen Here” is an original production from the department that responds to an ever-shifting landscape of politics and purpose. Through dance and text, the choreographers ask who is welcomed and who is not in today’s America. Its purpose is to build community — seeking resistance, faith and change in motion.
“Very often, dance is used as a means to reflect and challenge our deepest assumptions about our current world,” said Audra Sokol, artistic director of the production and associate professor of dance. “It has the ability to inspire social change because the power of artistic creation can promote critical thinking and elicit new ideas. And as any art form, dance itself can very much become a political act.”
Sokol worked with two other choreographers, Melanie Swihart, instructor of dance, and Rebecca Pappas, assistant professor of dance history.
“Each of us had an urgency to address these issues and found this semester as the perfect time to explore our ideas,” Sokol said.
While the focus of the production is mainly dance, audience members will experience a variety of artistic expression: spoken word, video projections and several moments of audience and performer integration.
“This dance concert differs from others because it presents dance in unconventional manners rather than the traditional use of the stage,” Sokol said.
Tickets for “It Can Happen Here” are available at the University Theatre Box Office, open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or online. The cost is $18 for the general public and $15 for students, faculty, staff and senior citizens. Contact the box office at 765-285-8749 or visit the Department of Theatre and Dance’s website for more information.