Radford Dance Department Presents: “Dancing On The Edge”
By: Hazel Haggerty
“Dancing on the Edge,” the annual dance production that includes mesmerizing, original choreographic work, will be performing again from April 24-26 on the Main Stage Theater in the Artis Center. The new selection of student-choreographed pieces in this spring’s presentation ranges from playfully experimental to emotionally raw. The performance offers dancers the opportunity to take chances and push themselves.
“There’s a lot of freedom in this show,” said Susannah Keim, a dancer and student performing this semester. “We’re encouraged to take risks, to be honest in our movement and to let ourselves be seen even if what we’re sharing isn’t polished or perfect.”
For Keim, the process of creating “Dancing on the Edge” is as important as the finalized performance. Throughout the semester, dancers and choreographers work closely together in the studio to create each piece from beginning to end through experimentation, movement and conversation. Keim stated, “This show isn’t about perfect timing and clean lines. It’s about letting people in. That’s what makes it real.”
“Dancing on the Edge,” however, communicates something deeper than technological improvements and choreographic risks: a feeling of collective vulnerability. The performance’s intensity takes on a life of its own, allowing the audience to connect with the dancers on a deeper level than simply watching them.
For the dance department, as well as the entire campus arts community, “Dancing on the Edge” has grown to be an annual event. According to many dancers, it’s one of the most memorable school-related experiences they’ve had.
Tickets can be purchased online through the department’s website or at the door before the performances start. “Dancing on the Edge” encourages everyone to show up with an open mind and maybe walk away a little more adapted, whether they are an arts fanatic, a friend of a performer or someone who is simply interested in what dance might express.
