Students from different backgrounds come together in Orchesis for its spring concert
Orchesis Dance Theatre took the stage this weekend at Moore Hall’s Bush Theater as it does every spring, but it was a first under the direction of Barry Fischer.
Entirely comprised of students, from students to stage crew, the company put on one of its two yearly performance each from Thursday through Sunday — a show a day. New to being the company’s artistic director is Fischer, who was asked to come to Central Michigan University to make contemporary changes to the dance program.
“Dance is growing,” Fischer said. “It has show great progress this year. This new change so far has been very positive.”
Orchesis accepts auditions from all CMU students, regardless of their major or minor.
The company is not made up of only students who are minoring in dance, but those who are passionate about dance, said Nick Viox, a Manton sophomore and a student choreographer for the Orchesis Spring Concert.
“It’s humbling in a way and it’s exciting,” Viox said. “It’s great to see the girls go out and do what they love to do.”
Viox’s piece, “Trennung,” which means separation in German, is a contemporary ballet about being separated and then reunited with someone you love. It was Viox’s first time choreographing for Orchesis.
Bad Axe sophomore Kelli Senter attended the Sunday performance.
“I went to the spring concert last year, and the winter concert this past semester, and it’s pretty much the most amazing dancing I’ve ever seen,” Senter said. “The dancers are all really talented and wonderful.”
The Orchesis Spring Concert is a very versatile show, said Claudia Marsh, the Orchesis stage manager, with dance pieces from ballet, hip-hop, jazz, modern and contemporary dance styles.
“There are pieces choreographed by students and faculty and a special choreographed piece by Claire Porter,” the Kawkawlin senior said. Claire Porter is a comedic dance monologist from New York City.
“Orchesis is such a close nit group,” Marsh said. “The dancers all know each other’s strengths and weaknesses so well.”
