With only a week until Dancescape 2008, student choreographers and dancers continue to perfect the pieces they’ve rehearsed for months.
Beginning Thursday, Feb. 14, the Theater and Dance department will sponsor their annual main stage dance production. Dancescape features original pieces choreographed by faculty, a guest choreographer and students of Winona State University.
In order to audition their pieces, students submitted proposals in April 2007.
After auditions in December, seven pieces were selected to be part of the show and rehearsals began.
According to Latrisha Denise Green, a senior and the only returning choreographer, the only difficult part of being involved in Dancescape is the time commitment.
“We’re all college students we come here to do our curricular activities, but a lot of people still have a passion for their art and I think it’s important to set time aside for that,” Green said. “Dancing and making art is more than just a hobby.”
First time dancer and choreographer, Deepshika Ramanan, a senior at Winona State, agreed that Dancescape is time consuming, especially with plans to graduate this spring and a 19-credit course load.
“I don’t look at it as a commitment as I have to be there, I enjoy going. I don’t look at it as a burden, I kind of take it more as a fun thing to do,” Ramanan said.
Ramanan added that it is a serious commitment and she never realized from watching how much goes into the shows.
Even with the amount of time spent, students and faculty involved said the experience was more rewarding than anything.
According to Dustyn Martincich, choreographer and visiting dance instructor, the Dancescape process is an educational experience and it’s rewarding for students to see something they’ve choreographed come to life and to have other people see it as well.
“Movement is our means of communication, so when we finally get to put that on stage and in front of people it’s just really exciting,” Martincich said.
As the students come together to present the final product, the diversity of dance styles and motivation remain. Sharon Mansur, artistic director, said dance can be different for everyone.
“For me it just shows how powerful dance can be for many people and it doesn’t have to be the same, that’s what I like about it,” Mansur said. “And that’s what we value in our program; we’re not looking for conformity of approach.”
According to senior Carly Moore, dance is a form of expression.
“Dance is an expression of yourself, of your ideas. It’s a way to express things that you want to get across,” Moore said.
Green said dance is part of who she is, and an expressions of emotions.
Dancescape 2008 will take place at the WSU Performing Arts Center Main Stage Feb. 14 through the 16 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $5 for WSU students and senior citizens, $7 for general admission.

Contact Courtney at
CLZinter8738@winona.edu