Emerging Artists II, Presenting Artists That Will Impact the Modern Dance World

ASU produces many concerts throughout the school year demonstrating why their dance department is so highly ranked in the US. Performance majors Cassandra Roberts and Katherine McCaskill, as well as dance studies major Kelley Doherty are three examples of excellence emerging from the undergraduate program at ASU. In a weekend long performance (Febuary 14th-17th) the three seniors presented their capstones, showing the range and capabilities of young dancers graduating from ASU’s dance department.

The show began with Cassandra Roberts’ contemporary ballet solo, choreographed by Jennifer Keane Ackermann. “The Voice Within” was a pleasant solo with pretty movement and music. The lines of the body were classic and simple, but by no means easy to perform. This six minute piece of jumping, balancing, and extending showed off what Roberts does best. Her beautiful control of her long limbs and clear understanding of proper alignment portrayed Ackermann’s movement with cleanliness and stability making this solo and impressive beginning to the show.

Before intermission, McCaskill performed Mary Fitzgerald’s “Stilling the Cycle,” a piece reflecting the Buddhist concept anicca (impermanence), as explained in the program notes. Fine salt poured from the top of the stage into small pools in each corner, symbolizing the ever changing state of life. The constant flow of salt juxtaposing McCaskill’s ability to change dynamic qualities as well as suddenly stop her movement provided the audience with contrasting images. Even though McCaskill attempts to gain control over life, even becoming somewhat violent and angry through the movement, the sand falls calmly around her. Eventually the dance breathes and she gives into the natural flow of life, taking the audience on a spiritual journey. McCaskill’s strength, flexibility, and technique were never a let down. Her focus and intention remained strong and captivating. Fitzgerald provided her with a powerful solo that contained a powerful message that McCaskill delivered to the audience flawlessly.

Closing the show was Doherty’s group piece and solo “Structural Adjustment.” Not only does Doherty demonstrate her ability to choreograph interesting movement as well as intelligent concepts, she shows her performance skills are worthy of the same praise. Her twenty minute piece explains the harm of structural adjustment programs in underdeveloped countries. Through movement and text, the performers describe the theories for and harmful effects behind these programs. Although the piece is twenty minutes long, I never tuned out or became disinterested. Each section is drastically different in movement quality and information provided to the audience. It is an incredible feat for a young choreographer who shows a promising future for intelligent choreography.

Other work in the show was choreographed by Brett Ebling and performed by Lydia Sakolsky-Basquill.

It is exciting to see the development of new dancer artists emerging into the professional field. Roberts and McCaskill (both also present in Doherty’s piece) displayed their wide range in artistic ability through a variety of technical demonstrations as well as speaking on the stage. Doherty showed not only the capability of composition, but the ability to embody and perform. I tip my hat to these young dancers and hope to see their art in the future.