Dance 2009 has it all
Dance 2009 at Pacific Lutheran University has a bit of everything to fill anyone’s dance interests from hip hop to ballet.
“It’s different every year,” said Maureen McGill, director and PLU professor. “The interest from all around has really grown this year.”There will be two shows both from 8 to 10 p.m. April 3 and 4 in Eastvold Auditorium.
This year includes 12 dances by 10 students, one alumna, special guest choreographer Lynn Wilmot-Stenhejem and McGill.
The dance styles range from jazz, modern and hip hop, with music used from groups like One Republic, Jefferson Airplane, Brandi Carlile and Radiohead. Plus there will be a surprise music collage.
“She’s (Wilmot-Stenhejem) doing a really beautiful piece with ‘Apologize’ by One Republic,” McGill said.
Wilmot-Stenhejem brings a lot of experience and expertise to Dance 2009. She studied at the London College of Dance, graduating with first class honors and has taught dance professionally in Europe, Canada and the United States. She has performed and toured extensively with the Northwest based dance company Whitman and Dancers, is one of the founding members of Rockhopper Dance, performed as a movement artist and dancer for several Seattle Opera stagings, and most recently danced with Tacoma Dance Collective.
Wilmot-Stenhejem is the Dance Director for the Morgan Family Branch YMCA, Artistic Director of The YMCA Dance Company in Tacoma and the Director of Arts for the YMCA of Tacoma-Pierce County. She is currently preparing for upcoming performances at the Pantages Theater on May 23-24 and 30.
What’s great about Dance 2009 is that varied experience, backgrounds and people come together to put on some amazing dance numbers, McGill said.
“The process to me is the most exciting part of it,” she said. “Collaborating with students is incredible.”
The students really drive a lot of the leadership, she said. “To see them come together and perform is really amazing.”
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