Dance to the Music for the Dance Ensemble Concert

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 17, 2012) — It’s that time of year again for the University of Kentucky’s Dance Ensemble (UKDE) Spring Concert. The UKDE will have two amazing performances of this semester's concert. The spring concert take place at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22, in the Singletary Center for the Arts.

This concert will highlight several student choreographed works as well as choreographed works by Reena Cobo and Kista Tucker. The ensemble will perform several different dance styles including jazz, modern/contemporary, tap, hip-hop and salsa.

Cobo began her formal dance training at age 11 with the Lexington Ballet Company where she gained a foundation of disciplined movement and structure. Her dance repertoire has included Latin ballroom, hip hop and flamenco but being part Colombian, she feels the strongest connection to salsa because "salsa is not just a dance but it is part of life."

Cobo was co-director of The Dance Place, a dance studio that offered ballroom and Latin ballroom for two years. Then in 2011, she finally achieved her dream of opening her own dance studio, The Salsa Center. It is Lexington’s first Latin dance studio. She and her fiancé are committed to making The Salsa Center “a little piece of the Caribbean in the heart of the Bluegrass.” Cobo graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2003 with a degree in business.

Tucker, professional choreographer and Artistic Director of Kista Tucker Dance, Inc., visited Lexington in February to lead a residency with members of the University of Kentucky Dance Ensemble. Tucker holds an MFA in dance from Ohio State University and has been on faculty at numerous universities across the nation. Her work has been commissioned both nationally and internationally including a recognized Korean War Veterans Memorial project and a project with film director David Lynch. During her time in Lexington, Tucker collaborated with the students to create brand new work to be presented in the spring concert. The dance titled "Times Remembered" focuses on relationships and memories. 

UKDE will also be saying goodbye to the graduating seniors — Kaitlyn Sharp, Jordan Seiter, Caitlyn Guidry, Kennette Dilley, Natalie Read, Stephanie Cain and Katie Johnston — as this will be their last performance with the UK Dance Ensemble as undergraduates.

The University of Kentucky Dance Ensemble is a student organization that gives students the opportunity to explore different dance styles, improve technique, choreograph and perform.

Tickets are $12 general admission; $10 for seniors and UK faculty and staff; $8 for UK students. Tickets can be purchased through the Singletary Center Box Office (859) 257-4929.

The UK Dance Ensemble is composed of students from UK and Bluegrass Community and Technical College.