Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre has begun its week-long spring performance, made up of five acts individually directed by a member of the UA Dance and Theatre Department. The show began Tuesday in the Morgan Hall auditorium.
Qianping Guo, an assistant professor of dance, is one of the five choreographers with a piece in the event. Guo’s piece, first in the line-up, is a 45-minute condensed version of Don Quixote, with different elements intertwined. Guo said he mostly stuck to the original story but added a mental hospital, which does not appear in the original production, as well as elements of humor.
“Normally the traditional is over 90 minutes and is more classical,” Guo said. “I was thinking to do the traditional but I changed my mind and decided I wanted to do contemporary. Contemporary is more mixed. I wanted to make it more funny and not make it just serious.”
Dance professor Cornelius Carter choreographed a piece that combines celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the desegregation of the University with a Whitney Houston tribute.
“I’m saluting Vivian Malone and James Hood, the two students that integrated The University of Alabama,” Carter said. “And I go into the second half doing a tribute of the late Whitney Houston.”
He decided to combine the two after realizing how they both impacted history.
“I thought about the juxtaposition of how these three particular people who come from these totally different worlds but how profound their lives were to the American culture, and particularly African American culture,” Carter said. “I thought it was just a beautiful way to celebrate the past and the present.”
Carter also works as artistic director for the production. In this position, Carter has been able to witness how ARDT has grown as a company. In order to be selected for the company, students must be experienced in three different styles of dance.
“When you get selected for this company you have to be able to do all three styles: ballet, modern and jazz. And so that’s the test for the dancers,” Carter said.
Carter said he is impressed with the progression of the company and the talent of its members.
“With this particular show I am very, very pleased to see the level of the company,” Carter said. “To watch the company be at the level they are now is quite exquisite.”
ARDT will be feature a showing of the production each day this week. Performances will be held Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. with additional performances Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. All showings will take place in Morgan Hall auditorium.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for faculty and seniors and $12 for students. For more information, call (205)348-3400 or visit theatre.ua.edu.
If You Go:
What: Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre spring performance
When: Wed. – Thurs. 7:30 p.m., Fri. 5:30 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m.
Where: Morgan Auditorium
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