Photo courtesy of Michalene Cardella Dancer Miguel Perez will perform in "Premium Blend," the UA-faculty choreographed dance. The dance show runs this weekend at Crowder Hall.

Ah, the perfect blend. For some, it's the ideal types of coffee beans, embodied in a wonderful cup of joe. For others, two distinct varieties of grapes fuse to create the perfect Merlot. And, right now, the UA dance department is seeking the perfect blend of dance styles through the agency of its annual faculty showcase, "Premium Blend."

Associate professor of dance Michael Williams said it is typical for University of Arizona dance faculty to blend various dance genres when choreographing a piece.

"I'm a jazz and tap person, but sometimes I mix them," Williams said. For example, he described his piece "The Dreaming" as "a hybrid of ballet and modern."

Dance graduate student Elena Fillmore said "The Dreaming" incorporates the three core dance forms of the UA program: jazz, ballet and modern.

"(The piece) definitely has jazz influences because the movement is driven by the rhythm of the music, and that is really characteristic of jazz dance," she said. "But we're also using very clean lines that are drawn from ballet, and there's a definite sense of weight that is characteristic of modern (dance)."

Fillmore said the various dance techniques complement one another, creating a more fulfilling and enjoyable experience for both dancers and audiences.

"Each technique supports the other," Fillmore said. "If I were a ballet dancer and I only did ballet, I might be nice and lifted and have a very lyrical quality, but to an audience member, my dancing might look a little hollow."

"When I can incorporate my modern dance technique, which is very grounded, I can contrast my movement quality. That fulfills the audience much more (and) gives them more to grasp."

Williams agreed that meshing dance genres allows both choreographers and dancers to reach a wider audience.

"I think (the blending of dance genres) makes the opportunity for choreography much better," he said. "(There is a) range of possibilities (that) makes the things the audience sees more accessible."

He noted that the technique of meshing dance genres is a major component of contemporary dance forms.

"Historically, modern dance would not use much ballet vocabulary. But then ballet companies began to introduce modern techniques, modern choreographers and jazz elements, so contemporary ballet (now) has elements of modern or jazz in it," he said.

Because of that innovation of blending dance genres, Williams said he finds a broad dance background vital for a future in professional dance. He added that the UA dance program dedicates itself to promoting this array of dance knowledge for students.