NATCHITOCHES – The Department of Theatre and Dance at Northwestern State University will present its annual Senior Dance Concert on Saturday, April 29 at 7 p.m. in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Admission is free and open to the public. The concert is titled “Reverie” and will feature original works choreographed by graduating seniors Cullen Barrilleaux of New Orleans, Joseph Gomez of Cartagena De Indias, Colombia, Kerrie Spillman of Natchitoches, Treyvin Aucoin of Rayne and Shannon Metoyer of Alexandria.
In Barrilleaux’s work “Metalhead,” the dancers portray robots that begin the piece with little free will, but by the end, they’ve started to take control of their minds and bodies. The idea of robots rebelling against their programming represents nonconformity, finding individuality when you feel you’re not allowed to.
The cast is Jessie Cochran of Walker, Elizabeth Cook of Alexandria, Vee Duran of Denham Springs, Ashlyn Pettiss of Prairieville, Kwincy Pierre of Lafayette, Makenzie Scroggs of Marksville and Khuyen Tran of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Gomez says “Mas alla de una frontera” is a piece representative of the struggle of many Latin Americans who must show the good they can do, and to be able to leave their roots well represented.
The cast is Pierre, Tran, Jaeda Barrett of New Orleans, Ashanta Wilson of Leesville, Gabrielle Marino of Lafayette, Carleigh Murphy of Meadville, Pennsylvania, Kayla Smith of Shreveport and Diana Mercado Garcia, Cartagena, Colombia. Musicians are Santiago Rovira and Jesus Calderon of Cartagena-Colombia.
Spillman’s work “Girlhood” explores the time in-between adolescence and adulthood from the choreographer’s perspective. It is a personal narrative of the pressures and restrictions society places on femininity and the journey to self-acceptance. The cast is Scroggs, Marino and Jillian Duggan of Shreveport.
“The Resilience Theory” by Metoyer is about a strong woman that continuously gets pulled in a hundred different directions and knocked down but gets back up. Metoyer chose to show her journey through three different scenes, Diamond, Scattered and other Side of fear.
“We all are strong but let fear weaken us at times, but fear will never outweigh light and strength in her lifetime, hence the name of the show ‘The Resilience Theory,’” said Metoyer.
The cast is Wilson, Journey Wills of New Orleans, Ariyonna Sarpy of Natchitoches, Murphy Kayla Smith of Shreveport, Christian Osborne of Plaquemine and Ashlyn Pettis of Prairieville.
The inspiration for Aucoin’s “Where Do i Belong” comes from a collection of poems by Aucoin.
The cast is Scroggs, Marino, Makynli Delcambre of New Iberia, Wills, Duggan, Murphy, Barrett and Star Davis of Natchitoches.
“I wanted to take my poetry and turn it into an abstract form in the shape of movement,” said Aucoin. “I am beyond grateful to have these eight dancers by my side. I couldn’t have chosen a better cast.”
