by Blythe Ford, Messenger Staff Writer

The University of the South Department of Theatre and Dance will present a performance of “DanceWise: Eye of the Beholder” from Thursday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 24, in the Proctor Hill Theater at the Tennessee Williams Center. The dance production features choreography and performances by students, faculty and guest choreographer Cameron McKinney, under the artistic direction of Associate Professor Courtney World. Three evening performances are offered: Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. A Sunday matinee beginning at 2 p.m. is also scheduled. The performance is expected to last three hours.

DanceWise is an annual production created by faculty and students in the dance program at the University. This year, students Clara Allen, Gracie Moore, Reagan Nash, Kate White and Molly Windham each created a dance centered around a theme of beauty, aesthetics, truth, and perspectives. Twenty four students in total will perform in these and other dances. World explains “DanceWise provides student choreographers an opportunity to collaborate with both student and faculty/staff lighting designers and costume designers throughout the process to help achieve their vision in a fully produced dance concert.” In addition to the student choreography, World choreographed one dance personally and restaged another, a tap piece by Bill Evans. A highlight of the production is the restaging of an excerpt of Cameron McKinney’s “Strange Attractor,” performed by seven student dancers with whom he worked while in residence at the University for a weekend this October. “The unique fusion of styles in McKinney’s dance technique and choreography brought new perspectives and approaches to dancing and dance-making to our students,” World says, “Offering opportunities to engage with a style very different from what is currently offered in Sewanee’s dance program.”

Cameron McKinney is an NYC-based choreographer who combines elements of American and Japanese history, language, and aesthetics in street dance and contemporary floorwork as an act of connection and cultural ambassadorship. He was selected as a 2019-20 US-Japan Friendship Commission Creative Artist Fellow, and has been a Choreography Fellow at The School at Jacob’s Pillow, an Alvin Ailey Foundation New Directions Choreography Lab Fellow, a Hearst Choreographer-in-Residence at Princeton University and an Asian Cultural Council Grantee. He has presented work and taught in the US, Mexico, France, Japan and the UK. McKinney is currently on faculty at Montclair University and NYU Tisch. His company Kizuna Dance promotes intercultural exchange and collaboration between the US and Japan through the performing arts and community outreach.

“DanceWise: Eye of the Beholder” features an excerpt from McKinney’s repertoire alongside the student-led dances and World’s contributions. The production will be a mix of dance styles and music genres. Costume design is by Professor Jennifer Matthews, Costume Studio Supervisor Danielle Silfies, and student designers Roman Belton and Decorian Bowers. Lighting design is by Assistant Professor Jordan Vera and student designer Sawyer Herring. Families are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Admission is free, but seating is limited in Proctor Hill Theatre. Tickets can be reserved via EventBrite <eventbrite.com>. For more information, contact Courtney World at <coworld@sewanee.edu>.