By
Lisa Lucas
Arizona Daily Wildcat
'Last Chance to Dance' features new choreography by UA dance students
The dance season may be officially over, but dance students have yet to stop performing.
"Last Chance to Dance," developed by assistant dance professor Nina Janik in the mid-90s in order to "foster (student) choreographers at the University of Arizona," will feature new student choreography tonight and tomorrow night in two separate performances, each with its own distinct dance lineup.
Janik, the official coordinator of "Last Chance to Dance," said the show has become tradition, occurring twice a year at the close of each semester. She added that it is a reflection of the eclectic program and talented students who comprise the UA dance division.
"It's a program (where I find) pleasure in seeing how (students') minds work," she said. "(It showcases) a lot of very nice, wonderful, optimistic and interesting pieces - they're short but tasty little bits."
Assistant dance professor Melissa Lowe said "Last Chance to Dance" encompasses "experimental pieces (and) works in progress that often come straight from the students' choreography classes."
She said the show incorporates choreography done by students who may not have had the chance to perform at other times during the year, or who have done something new that they may not have felt ready to perform during the regular dance season.
"They're really up to some innovative stuff," she said. "('Last Chance') gives them the chance to be on stage and not feel the pressure of a season ticket-holding audience."
She added the show includes "a potpourri of student work" and said it is uncensored since the pieces are not screened before becoming a part of the dance showcase.
"This is the new generation coming up - the people who are going to be the stars 10 years from now," Janik said.
She added that all but one of the pieces in "Last Chance" will make their debut at these performances. The only repeated dance piece will be Adam Davies' "The Space Between Us" which was first showcased in Saturday's performance of the UA dance division's final season concert, "Spring Collection."
Janik also said all profits from the two performances will go toward workshops and activities organized by the student organization Dancers Consort.
"It brings really wonderful opportunities to the student body, things that people should know about - guest lecturers, guest workshops - that the (dance) program doesn't or can't provide," Janik said about the Consort.
Carissa Wong, dance senior and president of Dancers Consort, said the group, comprised mainly of dance students, acts as a liaison between dance faculty and students. She said the group's most recent project has been to fund and coordinate a farewell dinner for John Wilson, a professor of dance who is retiring this May.
The organization also helps at the jazz convention held every October at the UA, she said.
"We help work the convention, and it helps generate money for the dance department," she said.
Janik said the popularity of "Last Chance" has been increasing over the years, working to benefit the concert's fundraising potential.
"This is gradually getting more and more popular," Janik said. "(People are) finding out it's a great program - fresh, charming. It's really a nice thing to see. It gives one hope for the future when you see pieces like these."
"Last Chance to Dance" shows tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 in the Ina Gittings Dance Theater. Tickets are $3. Call 621-1162 for more information.
