IF YOU GOWhat: 24th annual DanceWorks, ‘Rocking Syracuse’Where: Goldstein AuditoriumWhen: Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.How much: $4 with SU ID, $7 without

This weekend, Syracuse University will be rocking and rolling for three straight nights during the 24th annual DanceWorks showcase, this year entitled’Rocking Syracuse.’

DanceWorks is the largest student organization on campus with more than 120 members. The showcase is an annual event where dancers perform the routines they have been practicing all year.

Each of the three performances will feature 20 dances in ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap and hip-hop dance styles. The performances will be held in Goldstein Auditorium at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Schine Box Office for $4 for students with an SU ID and $7 for the general public.

‘The dances are to iconic Rolling Stone-type songs that tie to the show,’ said Kendra Brogden, a senior public relations major and a producer, choreographer and dancer for DanceWorks.

Those planning to attend the event can look forward to popular rock and pop music songs from artists such as Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne and Michael Jackson, as well as more recently popular songs from bands like One Republic and Everlast.

Brogden chose to choreograph her dance to a song by One Republic because she felt that it represented a moment of change, and the choreography is a powerful image on stage, she said.

‘Every year there’s more dances you can take a part of, different styles,’ said Marisa Campbell, a sophomore public relations major and another choreographer for DanceWorks. ‘I’m doing hip-hop and I never did hip-hop before.’

Campbell chose to choreograph her dance to a song by Gavin DeGraw because of the feelings she got from listening to the song. She organized the choreography to represent different types of struggling groups and the struggle against breast cancer, she said.

‘It comes from the feeling you get from a song,’ Campbell said of her choice in music.

People are attending the show not only to witness the intricacy of the choreography, but also to see the talent of the dancers who will be audience members’ friends, neighbors and family.

‘I went to the event last year,’ said Aleecia Kaloustian, a junior art history major. ‘A few of my really good friends are in it.’ Two of her sorority sisters are choreographers for the show, as is her roommate, Alexandra Piechota, a junior marketing major.

Dan Berry, a junior public health major, is one of Piechota’s neighbors. ‘I don’t normally go out of my way to see a dance show,’ he said. But he will be attending the show in support of his neighbor.

The finale of the showcase will feature choreography to ‘Walk this Way’ by Run-DMC and Aerosmith. All members of DanceWorks will come onstage to perform the song in true ‘Rocking Syracuse’ style, Brogden said.

The expectations are high for some attendees. Bonnie Kong, a sophomore policy studies and economics major, said last year’s performance and attendance levels are setting the bar high for this year’s showcase.

‘It’s always such a big event,’ she said. ‘You might as well check it out.’

ajswab@syr.edu

Published on March 7, 2010 at 12:00 pm