January 14, 2019

Each winter, the Drexel Dance Ensemble and FreshDance present two dynamic concerts in the Mandell Theater. These performances provide Drexel students, regardless of their major, an opportunity to express their artistry through dance performance or choreography. This year, the two companies include 70 dancers, representing nearly 25 majors across all colleges including Westphal majors in Dance, Entertainment & Arts Management, Graphic Design, Design & Merchandising, Fashion Design, Film & Video and Interactive Digital Media.

On January 31st, February 1st and 2nd, the Drexel Dance Ensemble will present ten new works in their winter concert, Landmarks. The concert will feature dances inspired by various locations around the globe, including locations as diverse as the Hudson River and Midway Airport.

The concert will feature seven student pieces and three pieces created by professional choreographers. Dara Stevens-Meredith, Ellen Forman Memorial Award winner for this year, is one of the guest choreographers. Stevens-Meredith will be presenting a piece about the struggles of patients with Schizophrenia. The Ellen Forman award, funded by the Philadelphia Foundation, grants an award to a Philadelphia based choreographer each year to set a work on the Drexel Dance Ensemble. The award was established in 1993 as a memorial to Ellen Forman, who was a dancer, choreographer and educator for over twenty years in the Philadelphia area. Recent award winners include “Wally” Carbonell, Nicole Bindler, Shaness Kemp, Beau Hancock and Lauren Putty White.

Landmarks runs January 31st - February 2nd at 8pm in the Mandell Theater. Tickets are available at danceboxoffice.com.

On February 8 and 9, FreshDance will present New Experience, this year’s inaugural performance for Drexel’s all-freshmen dance company. New Experience features five pieces; three by professional faculty members and two remounted works by Drexel Dance Ensemble student choreographers. One New Experience for the freshmen dancers is a work by Dr. Miriam Giguere, Department Head of Performing Arts, and Director of the Dance Ensemble and FreshDance companies, entitled Cart Before the Horse. The title refers to the use of a “reverse” choreographic process, where lighting design by Dom Chacon and costumes by Jill Keys were created prior to the start of the creation of the choreography or even the casting of the dancers. The Drexel students remounting their work are Kate Alaine Algarme (Dance) and Angelynn Hoang (Supply Chain Management/Analytics). Algarme and Hoang previously showcased these pieces in the Winter 2018 Dance Ensemble Concert Assembly. New Experience runs February 8-9 at 8pm in the Mandell Theater. Tickets are available at danceboxoffice.com.

About Drexel University Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design

The Drexel University Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design is dedicated to the education of students in the areas of design, media and the performing and visual arts. The Westphal College offers 17 undergraduate and eight graduate majors, housed in award-winning, technologically-enhanced facilities, and taught by faculty who have worked at the top of their fields. The College values a studio approach that incorporates six months of required co-op work experience for all undergraduate students. The College is home to two theaters, an art gallery, a notable collection of 17,000 historic costumes, a record label, and a television station. Students produce sophisticated work through creative, multi-disciplinary practices, and provide meaningful shared experiences that promote individual and communal growth. Eight of the Westphal programs enjoy national rankings and the College is ranked the fifth best Design and Applied Arts school in the nation. Drexel is a Top 100 University located in the heart of Philadelphia.

About Drexel University’s Department of Performing Arts

The Drexel University Department of Performing Arts is a dedicated community of artists, faculty, and staff committed to providing quality education in dance, music, and theater. The Department looks to expand students' knowledge and skills through academic coursework, rigorous technical training, experiences with professional artists, innovative community outreach, and outstanding performance opportunities. The Department of Performing Arts is home to the dance major and eight minors. It is also home to over 20 performing ensembles including the University Chorus, University Orchestra, Drexel Dance Ensemble, and Drexel Co-Op Theatre Company. For more information, visit drexel.edu/performingarts.