The Eisenhower Dance Ensemble will be performing at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 15 at the Forest Roberts Theatre. The dance ensemble is a premier contemporary dance company from Rochester Hills, Mich.
This will be the third time the dance ensemble has performed at NMU. Laurie Eisenhower, artistic director for the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, said this performance will involve different kinds of dances and favorites from past performances, as well as a brand new performance.
“The company is a nationally-touring dance company, so we have toured extensively in the Midwest and from coast to coast. The company also performed in St. Petersburg, Russia several years ago, Eisenhower said.
For the performers, the company is almost a full-time job. According to Eisenhower, the performers are in their 20s and have about a 40 to 45 week season.
“Dancing takes tremendous discipline, and my dancers are all very dedicated to their art. The dancers rehearse intensely for each performance, so they can bring technical skill, artistry and creativity to each performance,” Eisenhower said.
Students can expect to see dances from comedic to dramatic, but Eisenhower said she believes the audience will be entertained.
“Since this is a repertory performance, there will be a wide range of choreographic styles presented. My dancers are amazingly talented,” Eisenhower said.
Junior and theater major, Diamand Allen said she is excited to attend the performance and see what it is all about.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how they interpret their movements; it definitely brings something new to watch,” Allen said.
Daniel Truckey, International Performing Arts Series coordinator and director of the Beaumier Museum, is part of a committee that has put together the opportunity for the Eisenhower Dance ensemble to perform here at Northern. Truckey said Marquette’s community is known to show a lot of interest in dance.
“If you like dance, this group will blow you away,” Truckey said.
Freshman Abbie Beekman is a dancer and said she looks forward to seeing something new and unique from the performers.
“Their unique interpretation on modern dance is what students want to see because it is very nontraditional,” Beekman said. “I hope to take what the performers do and put it into my own dancing.”
Truckey said he and his committee hope to get students interested by bringing as many different cultures as possible to Northern.
“The series is about exposing students to cultures they would never think about experiencing,” Truckey said. “Not only are these artists extremely talented, but they also help the audience experience different cultures without having to leave school.”
On Sept. 14, the dance company will host a workshop available to experienced dancers. According to Truckey, 20 skilled dancers will get the chance to work on skills with the professionals and will also perform a dance with them the night of the performance.
“It’s a chance for a few skilled dancers to also get hands-on experience with the elite dance company,” Truckey said.
Anyone who is interested in the workshop with the dancers before their performance should call Truckey at 227-1219 or email him at [email protected].
Tickets are available at the ticket box office, at all EZ Ticket locations and online at www.nmu.edu/tickets.
The tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door for students, $13 in advance and $15 at the door for staff and senior citizens, and $18 in advance and $20 at the door for the general public.
