“Dancescapes 2024” to be performed Oct. 17-20

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University will present "Dancescapes 2024" on Oct. 17-20 in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17-19 with a 2 p.m. matinee on Oct. 20.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and senior citizens and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dancescapes-2024-tickets-1005197852837?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. NSU, BPCC@NSU and Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student I.D.

According to Director of Dance Kirstin I. Riehl, "Dancescapes" will invite the audience to experience a captivating journey through movement and expression, where the boundaries of dance dissolve, and the stage becomes a canvas for artistry and emotion.

This year's concert features original choreography by NSU dance faculty Brett Allan Garfinkel, Nhan Ho, Riehl and Joy Campbell. Each piece reflects the unique artistic vision of its creator, as well as two guest artists Brandon Collwes and Eric Rivera.

According to Riehl, this was the first time NSU Theatre and Dance brought in a classical modern dance company to restage a work involving its students. Collwes from the Merce Cunningham Dance Company worked with NSU students and arranged and restaged a work called "Natchitoches MinEvent." Eric Rivera of Virginia Commonwealth University is restaging a work titled "Corrientes."

"We are thrilled that our students were able to have these experiences this semester," said Riehl.

The cast is Lara Bankston of Kenner, Jaeda Barrett and Journey Wills of New Orleans, Cameron Bruno of River Ridge, Ellie Dufrene of Schriever, Jillian Duggan of Shreveport, Victoria Freeling of Covington, Avery Holmes of Monroe, Nicole Miller of Rayville, Makenzie Scroggs of Marksville, Jennifer Ann of DeRidder, Makynli Delcambre of New Iberia, Joseph Gomez and Diana Mercado-Garcia of Cartagena, Colombia, Gabrielle Marino of Lafayette, Ashanta Wilson of Leesville, Ariyonna Sarpy of Natchitoches, Lauryn Vernon of Arcadia and Cara Thompson of Denham Springs.