On April 11 and 12, the Salt Lake Community College Dance Company’s annual production was presented to the public, reviving its audience with dance choreography that left everyone in the Grand Theatre applauding for more. The multimedia concert offered diverse dances with energy and vibrant movements that expressed every kind of emotion, hence the name, eMOTION in MOTION.
“I am delighted [with] how the concert turned out; the dancers performed exceptionally well,” says Tess Boone, Director of the SLCC Dance Company in an online interview. “The student choreography was thoughtful and well crafted. Some of the students used their choreography class to put together their movement concepts, and the extra feedback from that really made a difference in the artistry of their work.”
This year, the theme was based on finding movement that delves into the many human emotions. From the first dance piece to the last, an assortment of intricate technique was demonstrated by each individual dancer – along with the difficulty level of working with props, such as chairs and boxes. All of the elaborate movements of each dance, whether it was samba or a hip-hop piece, showed complete contemporaneous with one another.
“The dancers made every effort to portray the emotional content intended in the choreography,” says Boone. “[eMOTION in MOTION] definitely exceeded my expectations.”
All of the hard work SLCC Dance Company has done in the past few months was definitely remunerative in this production. Not only was there a great turnout for eMOTION in MOTION, but the crowd had the chance to experience the showcasing of dance-for-the-camera films, created by SLCC film student Angela Rosales Challis. Dance-for-the-camera was a way to vision the performances in a different way. Some of the dances such as “Loud Hands Welcome” and “Regrets” used a screen in the back of the stage, displaying videos of the dancers performing at a different angle—creating a powerful presentation of the dance itself.
“The video additions gave [the concert] interest, and a whole new way of viewing movement,” says Boone. “Exploring aspects that one could not explore in a live performance, like playing with time and space.”
Whether it was an up-tempo routine, like the opening dance number, “I Like the Way You Move,” or a moving and inspiring piece, such as Laura Espinoza’s “Terminal,” which brought tears to the eyes of SLCC Dance Company president Kristen Aoki, the entire production gave attendees something to ponder and admire.
“I usually feel really nervous that I will trip up on a dance, but overall it was better than I expected it to turn out,” says Emily Jackson, SLCC Dance Company member. “I feel like we did the best we possibly could.”
eMOTION in MOTION offered students, staff, faculty and family members the chance to experience riveting entertainment—with something for everyone to enjoy.
“There is so much to appreciate. I know how much time and effort these dancers put in, so every aspect is exciting to me,” says Boone. “They [SLCC Dance Company] are so willing to give it their all and make each performance special. That dedication and passion are skills that will serve them no matter what profession they end up pursuing.”
