Visiting artists move dance troupe 'in a different way'

Wheaton dancers experienced a week of modern dance with Island Moving Company, a contemporary ballet troupe from Newport, R.I., thanks to the Evelyn Danzig Haas '39 Visiting Artists Program (VAP). As part of the group's residency, Michael Bolger from Island Moving Company worked with the Wheaton Dance Company to create an original choreographed piece to be performed at Homecoming.

Bolger exposed the Wheaton Dance Company to a new form of contemporary dance.

''It was very different from anything the company had experienced,'' said Stephanie Cummings '07, co-captain of the dance company. ''When he arrived and started to work with us, we were all very stiff. Initially, the movements felt very awkward, but as the week progressed the work started to feel more natural. We all had a blast.''

In addition to the weeklong rehearsals, Bolger taught a 90-minute master class to introductory jazz dancers. He told the class to ''bring your focus into this room, forget all about what you have next, you're in my class.'' Although some dance company members were in the class, most were beginners. To the tunes of Rusted Root and Natalie Merchant, dancers and amateurs alike moved in new ways.

Cheryl Mrozowski, director of dance, said that bringing outside dancers to Wheaton is important. ''It helps them [the dancers] move in a different way,'' she said. ''Michael was fabulous. The piece is extremely athletic, with somersaults and flips-and it's fast!''

The Wheaton Dance Company is made up of 11 dancers, all hand-selected by Mrozowski. Susan Giovanoni '07, also a co-captain, enjoyed the week with Bolger and the Island Moving Company. The master class was the highlight of her week.

''Everything Michael taught at the company rehearsals and at the master class was new to me,'' said Giovanoni. ''I have done modern dance before, but not this style. In the company rehearsals, Michael emphasized that this form of dance was not about doing everything perfectly or exactly like him. He wanted us to make the movements ours, which is something you don't always get from ballet or jazz classes.''

Bolger will be back at Wheaton in January to put the finishing touches on the second movement. The entire piece will be debuted at the company's main-stage performance on February 15, 2007.

To cap off the weeklong residency, Bolger and the Island Moving Company performed Consent to Gravity, a 50-minute performance that blends dance, instrumental music and voice, inspired by the work of artist and photographer Frederick Sommer. ''It was a wonderful way to start the season,'' said Mrozowski.