The UF School of Theatre and Dance’s Fall BFA Dance Showcase began Wednesday.
The show is a culmination of students and faculty presenting specific topics they’ve come across in college.
"It happened in College" is about the issues that became important to the dancers in their college career, said Daniel Morimoto, a 21-year-old junior in the BFA dance program.
"There are things in life that you don’t normally think about and these pieces present them in a way that aren’t totally obvious but are still pleasing to watch," Morimoto said.
The show will continue through Nov. 1 at the G-6 Studio in the Nadine M. McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion.
"It happened in College" showcases senior BFA dance students’ research as well as other pieces from the MOD (modern original dance) UF dance ensemble, including a piece from Brazilian choreographer Fernando Ferraz.
Morimoto’s project is a solo piece titled "Press Start To Play." It speaks to society’s need for instant gratification.
The concept of his dance is the mindset of having important work but still picking the more satisfying thing to do.
Dancer Chloe Newman, 21, explained the name behind the showcase, which the seniors came up with.
"It’s sort of like our own personal story and how they’ve all come together," Newman said.
Newman began dancing at 3 years old. Now, the dual BFA dance and history senior at UF is ready to show off her research project on transcription and movement.
Newman’s piece, which was inspired from her individual experience with 9/11, is about how she can put words into movement.
There are clear motifs and themes in each individual piece, she said.
Heavy in collaborations between choreographers and dancers, the show highlights a mixed group of dancers.
"I do like getting to hang out with other dancers in a sense of not being just in class but in more of a community," Morimoto said. "We worked hard to create these pieces together."
Newman said one of her favorite moments is when the dancers all come together as the entire crew.
"The entire show definitely won’t appeal to everyone, but there will be something in every show that appeals to someone," Newman said. "I feel like everyone can grab something because we all move, and I feel like dance showcases being human."
Tickets are $9 and can be purchased at Gate 1 of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, through ticketmaster.com or at the University Box Office starting 45 minutes before the performance.
Daniel Morimoto performs at the UF School of Theatre and Dance’s Spring BFA Dance Showcase in April. The dancer will perform his project at the Fall BFA Dance Showcase.
