帝王会所

帝王会所鈥檚 School of Dance will present their annual Winter Dance Concert on Feb. 14 and 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

The performance contains seven new works choreographed by School of Dance faculty and national guest artists, including Christopher K. Morgan, Donald Isom, and Katherine Ferrier. These works present a variety of dance genres and highlight the collaborative efforts of the faculty, students, and guest artists.

Anthony Alterio鈥檚 new work is, 鈥淧ixelated Persona.鈥�  In a world where digital personas eclipse human connection, 鈥淧ixelated Persona鈥�&苍产蝉辫;navigates the tension between curated identity and genuine experience. The stage becomes a reflection of our digital world鈥攁 space where fleeting pleasures and surface-level joy often distract from deeper truths. Through high-energy movement and shifting dynamics, the piece examines the highs of validation, the lows of isolation, and the exhaustion of constantly performing a version of ourselves for public consumption. The work reflects on how social media has transformed how we communicate, perceive, and value one another. It explores the allure of constant gratification and recognition, questioning when it brings meaning and when it becomes a barrier to challenge and growth. As the performers shift between moments of exhilaration and weariness, 鈥淧ixelated Persona鈥� invites us to consider how the pursuit of amusement shapes our attention, our relationships, and ultimately, our humanity. What happens when the filters fade, and we鈥檙e left alone with our reflections?

鈥�The Dulling Effect鈥� is Christopher K. Morgan鈥檚 new work. Inspired by a 1934 Harvard study on how radio has a dulling effect on the higher mental processes of the listener, Morgan鈥檚 curiosity on how that dulling effect may have increased over the last 90 years of technology, and his concern that current political and legislative initiatives in the U.S. are attempting to homogenize citizens, rather than celebrating their unique individual beauty.

Katherine Ferrier鈥檚 work, 鈥�be / long / song,鈥� examines movement inspired by the 52 Hz whale. The 52 Hz whale is unique, in that its song vibrates at a frequency higher than the songs of most whales. It appears to be the only individual with this call and has been described as the world's loneliest whale.

Travis D. Gatling鈥檚 new work is titled, 鈥�Be-Longing.鈥� We yearn to show up as our authentic selves in our personal, intimate, social, and public lives. It gives us a sense of identity, inclusion, and acceptance. This work is inspired by our primal need to belong, especially when we feel unsafe in the world.

The work of Donald Isom, 鈥�Coming Together,鈥� considers that with all the issues that humanity is currently experiencing, we must realize that coming together needs to be prioritized and take action.

鈥�Baldwin Manifesto鈥�&苍产蝉辫;is a choreographic ode to James Baldwin鈥檚 essay, 鈥淭he Artist鈥檚 Struggle for Integrity,鈥� and is a new work by Ricarrdo Hunter-Valentine. This piece embodies Baldwin鈥檚 call for artists to confront truth, grapple with humanity, and embrace the courage to create. It is a testament to Baldwin鈥檚 enduring legacy and the integrity of the artist.

鈥�whispered in the woods鈥�is the new work by Christi Camper Moore. The piece explores the archival images and poetry of Appalachian women, generating movement based on pedagogies of resistance, class structures, and relationships. Set to a traditional folk song about the daily work of mill girls, some lyrics of this specific song version were rewritten by the musician to draw attention to unsafe working conditions, particularly in garment factories. Using the musical context, the movement further examines historical and present-day spaces that continue to feel exploited or unsafe. The dance aims to draw our attention to the experiences and textures of culture, asking us to think deeply about the stories we shape, we tell (and feel like we must whisper).

Tickets are $18 for general admission and are available online .

Admission is free to OHIO University students with a valid student ID, thanks to Arts for OHIO. Tickets are available at the door before the performance begins.

For more information, contact the School of Dance at 740.593.1826 or dance@ohio.edu.