MFA Concert

Ohio State Dance presents works by MFA dance students, featuring the final project of Isaiah Harris and including works by five 2^nd year MFA's. BFA Senior Sara Wagenmaker will perform her final project in the Barnett Rotunda before the concert. 

The Sacred, the Secular, and the Science
Choreographed by Isaiah Harris

This MFA final project in dance is an observational pilot on African diaspora dance and how the Black dance can combat hypertension (high blood pressure) in the Black community. There are biological processes within the Black community while engaging with Black sacred and social dance forms, West African diaspora dance, and Caribbean social dance. Since there is an understanding of the correlation between movement and wellness, this process furthers this research with the help of dancers to see how Black dance can positively affect the Black body when engaging with dance styles, such as House and Orixa dances Sabar. The choreographic work is in dialogue with results. This work begins at the juncture of science and dance through a Black American lens. The Sacred, the Secular, and the Science looks at the essence and energetic shifts between Black sacred or religious movements like the Black church and secular dance forms and their similarities in movement shape. The process involved tracking the heart rate and blood pressure of the Black dancers within the cast while performing Sabar, a West African social dance. Data was taken and used as a choreographic tool to choreograph the work.

WAKE (the WILDS, iteration III)*
Film by Mollie Wolf, featuring Tom Tsai

WAKE was filmed in the ancestral lands of the Tongva, Kizh, Yuhaaviatam, Serrano & Vanyume

Memory and premonition blend as a lone traveler reckons with loss.

*This is iteration III of the WILDS, a series of short films offering glimpses into personal, intimate relations between people and their ecosystems.

She Stands 
Choreographed and performed by Quianna Simpson

Originally separate pieces created from first year works, a connection was found between the power of protest and the power of love and the familiarity between the two...the idea of being overtook by emotions, the wanting to act, provide and change things or self to be better, believing you can make things better for those you love. "She takes a stand for love."

Slip
Choreographed and performed by Forrest Hershey 

Sacred Paths
Choreographed and performed by Ishmael Konney

Life always presents choices and we are always in a dilemma to make the best one. Taking this journey to a new place of hope, joy and prosperity, Konney is heading out with you as his guide. Whether he makes it or not, we are in it together and we shall try again and again and again.

Surveil
Choreographed by Katie O’Loughlin

Surveil is an iteration of O'Loughlin's continuing work on perception and attention. Through the actions of shifting focus, changing position, and navigating motivation, this piece explores the experience of being both the witnessed and the witnesser. 

ADMISSION IS FREE, but an online reservation is required and a donation is appreciated. 

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Department of Dance is committed to making sure the students have opportunities to perform, and that audiences can continue to grow, to find dance a profound vessel for emotional, intellectual, and physical awakening. But for COVID era relief, we are not charging for tickets this semester. In lieu, if possible, we suggest donating $5 (or $500!) to one of our funds that helps our students and department do its hard work.

• The Dance Innovation Fund – helps with theatre, film, and digital technologies equipment and growth;
• The Dr. Melanye White Dixon Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fund - helps support initiatives and projects for equity and social justice;
• The Chair’s Discretionary Fund – helps with student needs, special opportunities for faculty and students, and emergency funds.

Choose one that aligns most with what you’re interested in or choose all three! Thank you. 

The university currently requires everyone to wear a mask inside campus buildings, regardless of vaccination status. For more information, please visit https://safeandhealthy.osu.edu/campus-visitors.

The ADA Coordinator's Office collaborates with University departments to ensure equal access for guests and visitors with disabilities to University programs, activities, and services. Guests or visitors seeking an accommodation to participate in a university program, activity or service are encouraged to contact us at dance@osu.edu as early as possible and in advance of the event.

Visitors may also contact the ADA Coordinator's Office at 614-292-6207 or ada-osu@osu.edu for additional assistance or guidance.

Photo: Spring Repertory 2021 by Momar Ndiaye in collaboration with the dancers  

[pdf] - Some links on this page are to Adobe .pdf files requiring the use of Adobe Reader. If you need them in a more accessible format, please contact dance@osu.edu