‘Dancing with the Environment’ pays homage to the earth, continues sustainability theme

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 22, 2025) — The University of Kentucky’s Department of Theatre and Dance continues its “Season of Sustainability” with its annual dance concert, titled “Dancing with the Environment,” Feb. 7-9 at Guignol Theatre in the College of Fine Arts Building.

The performance bridges dance and the environment with new ways of understanding the elements, environmental issues and insight into how resources are used, and acts as an agent to promote change.

“Dancing with the Environment” features five contemporary dances each focusing on one of five elements: earth, water, air, fire and space. Choreographed by department chair Susie Thiel, Theresa Bautista, Laura Neese, guest artist Janie Morgan and senior dance major Jasmine Singer, this powerful fusion of movement, emotion and social commentary offers a timely meditation on the interconnectedness of humanity and nature.

Earth – Susie Thiel

Thiel explores the profound and often unconscious ways society interacts with sustainability and the environment in her new dance work “Unconscious Consumption.” Along with eight talented dance majors, the choreography blends jazz and modern contemporary styles, mirroring the evolution of societal awareness — starting with the relentless pace of unconscious choices and shifts into a reflection on the balance between human actions and the environment. At its core, “Unconscious Consumption” asks: How do our decisions — both conscious and unconscious — shape our relationship to each other and the earth?

Water – Janie Morgan
Morgan invites audiences into the elemental world of water, exploring its motion and commotion as it transforms from a peaceful ocean into the chaotic force of a hurricane. Through a dynamic collaboration with a diverse group of 13 dedicated dance students, Morgan brings to life an abstract interpretation of water’s powerful forces, using movement to explore the motion and commotion of the sea as a hurricane forms and moves across water. 

“It is an honor to be a guest choreographer this year,” Singer said. “The cast has been an absolute joy to work with. They dive right into any exploration I offer them.”

Air – Laura Neese

“Zephyr,” a new work by Neese, explores air — an evasive entity noticed primarily by its movement or its absence. Drawing inspiration from weather patterns, fluid dynamics and breath as physiological and spiritual life force, “Zephyr” inhabits peregrine patterns and textures from turbulent to tranquil, buoyed by Caroline Shaw’s mercurial “Partita for 8 Voices.”

Fire – Jasmine Singer

Each year the Department of Theatre and Dance selects a dance major to choreograph for the annual dance concert. Singer, a dance and arts administration major, creates choreography set on nine dance majors. “Phoenix” is a contemporary modern dance piece that explores the elemental force of fire. Through a dynamic blend of movement and imagery, the dancers embody fire’s raw energy, strength and destructive power, while also capturing its transformative beauty. The work explores fire not only as a physical element, but also as a metaphor for one’s inner fire, the concept of twin flames, and growing the burning drive within us all.

Space – Theresa Bautista

Pinpoints of light paint the celestial sphere. Heavenly bodies stretch time beyond the infinite. The expansive void of emptiness contains all matter. Bautista explores the creation of the universe, the formation of galaxies and foreign worlds, and the interplay between cosmology and the interiority of existence — the universe within one’s self. “Verses” attempts a conceptual journey through space and time, fusing the unending expanse of light with the finality of existence. Can we navigate the multiverse while remaining tethered to time? Space is the place. We are the cosmos.

Each production in the “Season of Sustainability” brings awareness to environmental issues as well as reducing waste, pollution and energy in costumes, sets, props and lighting.

This year’s dance concert features five student lighting designers. Eli Vann, a junior theatre major who has focused his studies on lighting design, will be designing and drafting the rep plot that will be used for all the pieces in the concert. In addition to Vann, four other students will be designing the light cues for one piece in the concert. Jeremiah Kearns, assistant professor of lighting and sound design, serves as their faculty mentor. The experience provides an excellent opportunity for students of all backgrounds and skill levels to try their hand at lighting design for a dance concert.

“I’m incredibly proud that this year our concert is comprised completely of student designers who represent all four years of classification and three different majors,” Kearns said. “Throughout the fall semester, we had one-on-one meetings to discuss and study the technical and aesthetic needs of each piece and to plan for the designs. This semester, we will execute these designs in just under a week of technical rehearsals.”

“Dancing with the Environment” performances will take place in the Guignol Theatre located in the Fine Arts Building, 465 Rose St. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8 , and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. Tickets are available by visiting the Singletary Center for the Arts at scfatickets.com or by calling the box office at (859) 257-4929. Tickets are $20.59 for adults and $14.40 for students.