April 29: Coker College Dance Program presents its Senior Thesis Dance Concert

The Coker College Dance Program will present the Senior Thesis Dance Concert April 29, May 1 and May 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theater of the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center. The concert will include solo and group works by dance major seniors Akhira Ansari, Kirsten Sanders and Ashley LeSage.

Ansari was inspired by research on structural oppression, specifically police brutality against minority groups for her group work, “The Hate That Fear Produced,”. Through visceral movement, video projections and unpredictable conflict between the dancers on stage, Ansari’s work captures a snapshot of a churning city that questions the idea of American justice. “Breathe,” Ansari's solo work, examines the concept of “man vs. self” as she takes the audience on a backward journey through her struggle to accept change. Change is inevitable; nothing is ever constant. It is here that Ansari learns the ultimate meaning of 'Fight or Flight'.

Sanders, in her group work, “Waves of Fervor,” explores the five stages of grief as explained by Swiss psychiatrist Kubler-Ross. Through dynamic and emotional movement, the dancers depict the five stages of grief in their individual journey through the work. “Hallucinations,” Sanders’ solo work, chronicles events from her dream journal. Using gestural movement vocabulary, she will move through the space with intensity as she brings those dreams to life.

LeSage’s research for her group work, “Conflicted Conformity,” examines finding one’s individualism in a society that values conformity. Using contrast between movements that are slow and weighted with those that are quick and rhythmic, this piece exhibits how conformity can bring either comfort or chaos. “Perceptions,” LeSage’s solo work, demonstrates the challenges of being a woman in America’s beauty-conscious society through gestural movement, spoken text and use of props.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Admission for Coker students, faculty and staff is free with a Coker ID.

For more information, please contact Angela M. Gallo at 843-383-8381 or agallo@coker.edu.

The dance major at Coker College offers students a broad range of courses that prepare them for several career options in dance and provides opportunities for students to enter into advanced professional dance training. The mission of the dance program, within the context of a liberal arts degree program, ensures graduates are prepared both for performance-related work and for additional study at the graduate level.

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Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.