Maura Gibson, a senior dual dance and theatre major from Groves, Texas, will showcase her choreography at the upcoming Fresh Moves Dance Showcase at Slippery Rock University (SRU). The event will take place on December 5 at 19:00 and December 6 at 14:00 in the Stoner West Dance Studio Theater.
The showcase will highlight nine choreographed performances created by current SRU dance students. Tickets are priced at $10 for general admission and can be purchased online at sru.edu/tickets or at the Smith Student Center information desk.
Showcase Features Diverse Performances
This year’s showcase will present a variety of dance styles, including traditional Bharatanatyam pieces led by Jaya Mani, a professor of dance at SRU. Additionally, the program includes a historical reconstruction of modern dance pioneer Trisha Brown’s work titled “Solo Olos.”
Student choreographers have been guided through their creative processes by Lindsay Viatori, the artistic director and associate professor of dance, alongside Erin Kouwe, the production coordinator and assistant professor of dance. To gain acceptance into the concert, students engaged in a series of labs and classes, where they received valuable feedback from both peers and faculty.
“Each year we look forward to the Fresh Moves Dance Showcase as it features solos, duets and ensemble works created by SRU dance students,” said Lindsay Viatori. “We are so proud to feature student choreography. These works are the culmination of many hours of embodied and creative research and span multiple movement aesthetics.”
Student Choreographers Display Talent
The showcase will feature the talents of several student choreographers, including:
- Shea Cooper, senior dance major from Hanover, Pennsylvania (South Western High School)
- Maura Gibson, senior dual dance and theatre major from Groves, Texas (Port Neches-Groves High School)
- Brooke McCarthy, senior dance major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Upper St. Clair High School)
- Lia Palermo, senior dual dance and sport management major from Warrendale, Pennsylvania (North Allegheny High School)
- Amber Price, senior dance major from Miamisburg, Ohio (Miamisburg High School)
- Paula Rodriguez-Alvarez, senior dance major from San Rafael, Costa Rica
- Summer Salos, senior dance major from Annapolis, Maryland (Gunston High School)
- Mariella Sprague, senior dance major from Buffalo, New York
- Mackenzie Sprowls, senior dual dance and English writing major from Washington, Pennsylvania (Lincoln Park High School)
More information about the event can be found on the SRU Dance Department webpage. As a premier public university, Slippery Rock University offers over 150 profession-focused and industry-aligned undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. With a vibrant campus spanning 660 acres, SRU is dedicated to providing quality education, innovation, and affordability, serving more than 8,000 students.
Recognized as a “Best Mid-Atlantic College” by The Princeton Review and listed among “Best Regional Universities” by U.S. News & World Report, SRU continues to be a leading member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The university is known for its commitment to an inclusive community and hands-on learning experiences.
