If you go
› What: Theatre Sewanee presents DanceWise: From the Heart.› When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24; 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25; 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26 (all times Central).› Where: Tennessee Williams Center’s Proctor Hill Theatre, 390 Kentucky Ave., University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.› Admission: Free; register for seating at www.eventbrite.com.› Phone: 931-598-1000.
Bill Evans, left, and Courtney World will perform a suite of tap dance duets during DanceWise: From the Heart at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn.A collection of dances ranging from tap to contemporary to African-influenced will make up the fourth annual performance of DanceWise: From the Heart, scheduled for three performances this weekend at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn.
Under the artistic direction of Courtney World, Theatre Sewanee will present performances by 14 Sewanee students, as well as choreographic premieres by World, assistant professor of dance, and student Fridien Tchoukoua, class of '17.
Students will perform an Afro-modern dance piece choreographed by guest artist Madia Cooper and a contemporary dance piece created by guest artist Bill Evans and the dancers. Evans also will perform the solo "Interview," choreographed by Claire Porter, and a suite of tap dance duets with World.
The performance is meant to celebrate "the joy and pleasure of movement" and connect the audience "through shared rhythms, contagious energy, unbridled emotion and exquisite artistry."
About the guest artists
* Madia Cooper, a Liberian dance educator, West African and social dance performing artist, choreographer and scholar, received a Master of Fine Arts in dance performance and choreography from the College at Brockport and a BFA Dance Education degree from Brenau University. She performs with the Ghanaian dance company Mawre African Dance and Drum, which travels throughout the Southeast. Cooper’s other company credits include the Bill Evans Dance Company and Sankofa African Dance Ensemble.* Bill Evans is a performer, choreographer, master teacher, author, adjudicator and consultant. He is the founder and executive director of Bill Evans Dance Company. Established in 1975, the Seattle-based company has been among the most-booked professional dance troupes in the U.S. under the Dance Touring and Artist-in-the-Schools Programs of the National Endowment for the Arts. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree, is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and has earned a lifetime achievement award from the National Dance Education Organization. He created a modern dance technique that has influenced hundreds of dancers and dance teachers throughout the world since 1976. Following an extensive higher-education teaching career, he is visiting professor of dance, emeritus, at the College at Brockport, State University of New York, and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Dance, University of New Mexico.