The UK Dance Ensemble, consisting of UK and Lexington Community College students, has been performing for the public and area schools since 1986. The ensemble is directed by Rayma K. Beal, associate professor in the kinesiology and health promotion department of the UK College of Education.

One guest choreographer for the spring concert was Leymis J. Bolaños who choreographed a piece that combines modern, African and Latin dance forms to create a high energy, exciting dance. Bolaños has a Master of Fine Arts from Florida State University, is a Florida artist, and academic program coordinator for Florida State University’s Dance SARASOTA. She is co-founder of “Fuzion Dance Artist,” a contemporary dance company celebrating the feminine spirit through diverse world dance forms. The music for this dance was “Aftro” by Perú Negro, which is the only Afro Peruvian music and dance company with over 30 years of performance.

Another guest choreographer, Gretchen Wagner, brought to the stage her tap piece titled “New York Attitude.” This dance was based on the relationships – or lack of relationships – of people living in a large city. The dance also deals with the anxiety, both good and bad, of a person constantly living in a hurried, “on-the-go” environment.

A third guest choreographer, Emily Brener, created a dance to the Shaker tune “A Gift to be Simple.” Leah Bentley, a dance ensemble member, has choreographed a modern jazz dance to Incubus’s “Are You In?” Anjuli Bhattacharyya, the treasurer of the UK Dance Ensemble, has choreographed an interesting modern piece titled “Rebirth of Gaiya.” Dance Ensemble member Katie Daniels has created an uplifting jazz dance to the music of Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September.” Ashley Dawson, the secretary of the Ensemble, choreographed “Complexity” to Liam Wilson’s “Espresso.” The ensemble’s publicist, Angie Galloway, has choreographed a dance to Rent’s “Seasons’ of Love.” Ensemble vice president, Tessa Harris, has created a modern dance about her personal rage and anger. The emotions can be felt through the movements and in the music from the “Hotel Rwanda” soundtrack.

Ashley Holbrook, the ensemble president, has created a sassy, sexy jazz dance based on the idea that women are nothing but trouble. The dance, titled “Women…Nothing but Trouble” was set to “Trouble” from Smokey Joe’s Café. Bryan Howard brings to the stage “The Hit,” a dramatic jazz dance about the physical abuse that can occur behind closed doors.

Jennifer Simpson, the ensemble’s second vice president, has choreographed a dance about the oppression of slaves to Ofra Haza’s “Goodbye Brother.” This dance showed the evolution of slavery from its beginning to their final freedom. A final dance was Sarah Spunt’s “My Testimony.” The dance was about significant people who have impacted her life and the story of finding her faith.

The UK Dance Ensemble is dedicated to spreading the art of dance throughout Central Kentucky, in local schools and for organizations. Through the use of various dance forms we believe in creating performances for audiences in Lexington and surrounding areas.

Update on April 29, 2005 13:19 by the Webmaster - Content by Brad Duncan