Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre Set for Feb. 18-22 at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Great recipes take time, patience and just the right ingredients. Just as a chef combines ingredients to create something amazing, Sarah Barry, University of Alabama associate professor of dance, has combined dance, original music and sculptures to create “aeolian,” one of the dance pieces featured in the UA department of theatre and dance’s production of Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, Feb. 18-22 at Morgan Auditorium.

Kelly Shannon, a graduate student in the University’s art department, created fiberglass sculptures for the dance piece. Making them out of fiberglass adds a level of light and airiness she wanted to contribute to the show.

“I get my inspiration from what I think of as naturally occurring sculptures,” said Shannon, a Birmingham native. “For this piece, I was looking at mushrooms, pitcher plants, silkworm casings and jelly fungi.” The sculptures add a new, static visual element to the show.

Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre veteran Morgan Embry noted this concert is quite different.

“It’s a very exciting show. Rita Snyder’s piece is modern but has definite romantic influences,” said Embry, a senior from Athens. “Sarah’s piece is very different from anything before, and I think the audience will thoroughly enjoy it.” Snyder is an associate professor of dance at UA.

Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre is presented by The University of Alabama’s department of theatre & dance from Feb. 18- 20 at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. in Morgan Auditorium. Tickets are $12 for students, $15 for UA faculty, staff and senior citizens and $18 for adults. Tickets are available through the department’s website at www.theatre.ua.edu, the box office at 205/348-3400 or at the door.

The University of Alabama department of theatre and dance is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships, Truman Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.