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Page 8-The Michigan Daily/New Student Edition - Thursday, September 5, 1991
The Michigan Daily/New Student Edition - Thursday,
Innovative dance
by Justine Unatin
What do Gene Kelly and Madonna
have in common? Both have passed
through Ann Arbor, the artistic
mecca of Michigan, in order to get a
piece of the action at the University
Department of Dance. Kelly visited
the campus years ago as a guest
teacher, and Madonna, as a student.
Madonna's untamable original-
ity and ambition parallels the phi:
losophy of the Dance Department.
However, the University has fash-
ioned its own unique and outstand-
ing reputation without the contro-
versy associated with the "Material
Girl."
The Dance Department stresses
the importance of artistic well-
roundedness and self development.
Dancers concentrate on performing,
perfecting technique and choreogra-
phy. In addition, they are expected
to experiment with the creation of
movements to convey personal ideas
and feelings. This practice of foster-
ing individual expression reflects
the modern dance genre upon which
the department functions.
Much of the modern technique
taught derives from the innovations
of legends such as Martha Graham
sing the c
DeLanghe asserts the department's
practice of "smoothing out the ex-
perimental" by incorporating fa-
miliar historical themes or classical
movement into the performances.
According to DeLanghe, this "helps
to evolve audiences." A perfor-
mance last February included a
work based on the book of
Ecclesiastes. Choosing a well-
known focal point helps the audi-
ence concentrate on the movements
or the emotive power of the dances
rather than worrying about abstract
themes.
Much of the experimentation
concerns thematic materials, such as
political and social issues in.addi-
tion to movement. During the win-
ter semester, a division of the de-
partment conducted Histories of
Sexuality, which portrayed a wide
range of sexual relationships and
the problems which the individuals
involved face. The dancers learn and
grow through the creative process
of working in such performances.
At the same time, the audience prof-
its from the thought provoking ma-
terials brought to life on the stage.
Anita Cheng, a recent graduate of
the MFA program stresses the
advantages she discovered as a dancer
Dancer
and Josd Limon. However, the core
of the school's modern philosophy
consists of an enthusiasm for
originality. Unlike ballet, the
vocabulary involved with modern
lacks codification. Rather than
fixating on precise steps, followers
of modern explore "movement
concepts" such as weight distri-
bution, partnerships or whatever
strikes them at the moment.
If the abstract idea of experi-
mentation gives dance novices a bit
of apprehension or confusion,
Faculty member Gay DeLanghe of-
fers a few words of assurance.
at a large university. The possibili-
ties for thematic and artistic explo-
ration prove limitless. Certain
courses, such as the Dance and
Related Arts course, expose stu-
dents to the many opportunities for
diversifying their choreography. The
course requires the dancers to col-
laborate with sculptors, composers,
and playwrights in devising a final
concert piece.
Besides the wealth of musical
and theatrical talent on campus,
dancers also make use of scientific
and technological re-sources. For
example, the Center for Performing
Arts Technology allows the
student-choreographers to spice up
their productions with synthesizers
or video equipment. Last February
the department performed a number
entitled "Chaos" which involved
the transformation of dancers into
volatile atoms and molecules. The
piece, which required a quick brush
up of basic high-school science,
shone with originality.
The time has come to move tem-
porarily from behind the scenes to
the auditorium, where all the prac-
tice and research comes together.
The opportunities to enjoy dance at
Michigan are great and varied
throughout the year. The most pop-
ular and well-known Dance
Department performance takes place
each February at the Power Center
for the Performing Arts. Next
February's show, American Master
Works will honor recently deceased
reative and familiar
stars of the music and dance world
such as Aaron Copeland, Leonard
Bernstein, and Martha Graham.
According to DeLanghe, the per-
formance should prove to be an
extra special tribute to Graham in
particular since nobody has ever
presented her materials outside of
the Graham repertory.
In addition to the Power Center
extravaganza, the Department of
Dance conducts yearly BFA and
MFA concerts. The performances
act as final tests presenting the best
and most polished work of the
graduating students. For an even
greater taste of talent, it's impera-
tive to catch Ann Arbor Dance
Works. The group showcases the
most advanced students and gradu-
ates along side the expertise of their
mentors from the department's fac-
ulty. The five faculty members
created the professional resident
company in order to offer "a more
sophisticated venue" of dance. Each
of the professor/ choreographers has
a great deal of talent and experience
as former members of renown dance
troupes such as Alvin Ailey and
Lucas Hoving.
Whether you're into classical
form, the jazz style of Broadway, or
just some great entertainment, the
Department of Dance has something
to match your tastes. In a way, the
school reflects all of life at the
University. A little classics, a lot
of experimentation, some hustlin',
bustlin' and lots of fun.
display between 600 and 700 at any
one time. Approximately fifteen
special exhibits are hung through-
out the museum each year. These
come primarily from the
University's collection. Others are
acquired from other museums and
private collections, but, as public
relations coordinator Leslie
Stainton explains, "Travelling ex-
hibitions are becoming very diffi-
cult to afford because the insurance
costs are astronomical. Next year
we're going to be getting an ex-
tended loan of twelve Picasso paint-
ings starting January 25 from the
Carey Walker Foundation... insuring
them is going to be prohibitive... but
we're going to do it."
Some highlights of the perma-
nent collection on display are, in the
downstairs galleries, paintings by
Boudin, Monet, Fantin-Latour,
Pissaro, Whistler, and Delacroix, .
and a small sculpture by Maillol.
Upstairs, the 20th century gallery
offers works by painters like Kline,
de Vlaminck, Frankenthaler, Kline,
Mitchell, Avery, and sculptors like
Giacometti, Lipchitz, Moore and
Arp.
Eighteen Chinese scroll paint-
ings by Shen Chou, Wen Cheng-
Ming, and Tao-chi hang in the South
Gallery, while the North Gallery
features Japanese paintings by Ike
Taiga, Yosa Buson and Matsumura
Goshun. And, of course, the fantas-
tic collection of snuff bottles from
around the world, encased outside
the South Gallery.
Presently, all 18,000 works are
being catalogued on computer for
the first time. Eventually, students
and professors will have access to
this complete list through MTS. If
they discover something they want
to see which is not on display in the
Museum, they can call and usually
arrange an appointment to see the
work in storage. Says Hennessey,
"You know that sign you see in
hardware stores - 'if you don't see
something, ask.' It's a good motto
here."
The Kelsey Museum of
Archaeology was named for Francis
W. Kelsey, a Latin professor at the
University in the late 1800s, whose
dream was to create a museum
where students could learn about
cultures of the past. Kelsey, "a man
of vision," according to museum cu-
rator of education, Laurie Tallalay,
began collecting objects in 1897 and
finally, in 1927, he negotiated for
the University to buy the building,
for one dollar, from the Student
Christian Association. Their name
still appears on the cornerstone of
what is now the Kelsey.
The Kelsey collection boasts
over 100,000 objects. But now, says
Tallalay, the Kelsey - which refers
to the museum and the undergradu-
ate and advanced degree programs in
classical archaeology - is more
concerned with education than it is
with purchasing new objects.
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The m
presents its 1991/92
RUSH Ticket Pc
AmM A
We are proud to be celebrating our fifteenth
year in Ann Arbor. Schoolkids' has been rated
as one of the top twenty music stores In the
country. Here's a sample of what folks are
saying about us:
"Schoolkids' has been my favorite store in
America for almost 15 years. Schookids' is a
genuine 'record store' in the classic sense; its
atmosphere and its regard for the music it
sells is clearly unique in the business. It does
not underestimate the taste or intelligence of
its customers. It carries the widest spectrum
of music-all sorts of music-that I've ever
seen anywhere. Its employees are helpful,
knowledgeable fans of music rather than
mere button pushers. Aside from the obvi-
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titles that, however obscure, are genuinely
GOOD-a trait which customers respect and
appreciate. It also has the best selection of
deleted records and CD's rve ever seen."
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Doing
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Breakfast served all day
Lunch item served 11 A.M. - 3 P.M.
The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology looks more friendly because of its
earth-toned stones, shady porch, and wood floors. It houses historical
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- Not valid with any other offer, not valid with daily and
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Enjoy our casual table service with your own pot of
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Try one of several varieties of homemade pancakes,
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artifacts and educational facilities.
track of time among strange objects
from ancient Egypt, Greece, and
Rome.
For busy museum-goers who are
not seeking refuge or escape, and
prefer to know what they're in for
before they commit an hour, even 10
minutes, of their time, here are some
historical facts as well as a preview
of what can be seen at both muse-
ums.
The Museum of Art was founded
in 1949, although the University
made its first acquisition, the white
marble Nydia which stands on the
floor of the apse, in 1862. The build-
ing was originally built as an
Alumni Center - a memorial to
Civil and Spanish American War
veterans. This accounts, explains di-
rector William Hennessey, for its
rather formal and far from inviting
exterior. The collection, 85 percent
of which has been given to the mu-
seum as gifts, includes European and
American works from the year 1300
to the present, one of the country's
great collections of Asian Art -
Chinese painting and sculpture,
Japanese painting, Korean ceramics,
19th and 20th century paintings,
important 20th century sculpture, a
large collection of works on paper
- drawings, photographs, and
prints - and a "small but distin-
guished collection of African sculp-
ture."
The Museum owns approxi-
mately 18,000 works but can only
BALLROOM DANCING IS BACK!
AMAZE YOUR FRIENDS WITH
YOUR SKILL AND GRACE-
JOIN THE UM BALLROOM
DANCE CLUB
All levels welcome
No partner necessary
Sundays, starting Sept. 8,
3275 CCRB
7-8 pm, Lesson
8-9 pm, General dancing
Admission $1
Students:
Take advantage of rush tickets and
enliven your cultural season.
- Half-off the lowest possible price to all
regular series concerts in Hill
Auditorium, Rackham Auditorium and
Power Center.
" Ticket prices range from $4 to $10!
L imit of two tickets per person.
- Tickets must be purchased in person at
our Burton Memorial Tower ticket office
on the day of the concert or on
Saturday for weekend concerts.
" Seating is at the discretion of box office
personnel.
" A limit of 200 tickets are available.
' Subject to availability.
Round out your education -
Discover the Performing Arts
The University Musical Society
presents over 45 international
performances a season, including:
symphonies, dance, opera, cham-
ber music, ethnic performances
and recitals. 7Th
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of the l
Burton
the U o
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Dave DiMartino
Los Angeles Bureau Chief, Billboard;
Record reviewer for Spin, Rolling
Stone, and Musician; former Editor
of Creem magazine.
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