
The Brenau Dance Department will perform in Pearce Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. De/cipher will feature works by Brenau faculty ranging from Liberian dance, Afro-Contemporary, Contemporary and more.
DAGBE, by Brenau Dance Chair Madia Cooper-Ashirifi, Ed.D., MFA, will explore her family’s experiences as survivors of Liberia’s civil war. The work showcases how the Liberian women’s resilience, prayer and unity became the drivers of peace. This work is the beginning of a story of Cooper-Ashirifi’s long voyage home through the eyes of her mother.
Imani Tornes, a senior majoring in dance and psychology, said she appreciates the show’s cultural aspects.
“The show emphasizes how cultivating movement and concepts can derive from personal life experiences or the experiences of others,” Tornes said. “I believe this show will allow audiences to connect and reflect on how they walk through and navigate the world around them. The faculty and student works have been crafted to highlight cultural heritage and transformation, social justice issues, self-growth, and development.”
Missing Piece by Assistant Professor of Dance Jessica Lynch-Oliver addresses gun violence in the United States. The work aims to encourage dialogue and inspire action toward gun violence prevention.
Assistant Professor George Wilson-Berry will debut his new work Sisters: Lost Time. Utilizing a mix of ballet and jazz dance styles, Berry seeks to remind the audience to live in the moment, even as time rushes past.
The concert will also include works by guest artists Jake Bone, Francine Ott, Quaba Ernest and Kevin Jenkins.
“It’s going to be fantastic,” Jess Goodwin, a junior dance major with a pedagogy concentration, said. “The variety of angles this show offers is going to be a great window into what dance can mean to artists based on not only their experiences but from what they draw from their casts as well.”
Tickets will be sold at the door and on Eventbrite. Admission is free for Brenau students, faculty and staff. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students, senior citizens and children.
For more information, contact danceinfo@brenau.edu.