Close Up

Faculty usher in new St. Louis dance season

David W. Merchant, a sixth-year artist in residence, performs "the Coloring Book" as part of "Dance Close-Up" Sept. 9-11.

"Dance Close-Up," an all-new presentation of choreography by dance faculty in the Performing Arts Department in Arts and Sciences, will open next month in Mallinckrodt Center's Dance Studio. Now in its fifth year, the show -- often considered the unofficial start of St. Louis' professional dance season -- features seven original dances performed in a variety of styles, including modern, jazz, African and Indian dance.

"This year's showcase will emphasize solo works, which are particularly appropriate for the intimate, informal character of this performance," said Mary-Jean Cowell, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of the Dance Program, who serves as the show's artistic director. "Given the diversity of the dance faculty, the program also reflects the multicultural vitality of the current dance performance world."

The program premieres at 8p.m. Sept. 9 and continues at the same time Sept. 10 and 11.

A special feature of this year's concert will be an appearance by Cecil Slaughter, the department's Marcus Artist in Residence for 1999-2000. Slaughter will present a solo work titled "Inheritance," danced to a poem by Devon McNamara, which explores the theme of friendship and its transformation with the passage of time.

The Marcus Artist program was established by Morris D. Marcus, M.D., professor emeritus of dermatology, in memory of his wife, Margaret.

Other works to be featured are:

• "Hard Won" and "Romantic Soulo" -- Cowell will present a pair of short solos that create strikingly different moods. She will be accompanied by vocalist Sally Baker and Deborah Davidson.

• "Kuku" -- Chiquita Payne, adjunct dance faculty, performs this traditional dance of the Baule people of Africa's Ivory Coast. Payne, now in her ninth year as a dancer with St. Louis' Rhythm of Anoa Dance Theater, will perform to the accompaniment of live drumming.

• "The Coloring Book" -- David W. Marchant, a sixth-year artist in residence, will present a new solo work that explores how one abstract movement phrase is "colored" when set against different sound environments.

• "In Search of Krishna" -- Asha Prem, adjunct dance faculty, will perform an original work set to a score that combines traditional Indian music with western drumming. Prem is a leading exponent of Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi styles of classical Indian dance.

• "Ode to Rudolf" -- Mary Ann Rund, adjunct dance faculty, performs this homage to Rudolf Von Laban, the inventor of Labanotation, an extensive system of dance notation that is used today all over the world.

• "Time Alone" -- Christine O'Neal, director of the University's ballet program, will present a new solo, set to the music of Gershwin, that explores the styles of various jazz choreographers.