USF's School of Theatre and Dance opens two productions this weekend that showcase the skills of students, faculty and resident guest artists.
DanceUSF presents a diverse program of modern moves during its Spring Dance Concert. The biggest draw is a presentation by the Rolling Dance Chair project performers, a group featured on the PBS special WIRED Science for its unique fusion of art and technology. They perform a piece entitled Blood Matrix, which incorporates Segways and other human transport devices in an exploration of the fluid essence/motion of blood. Visiting professor/former Trisha Brown Company dancer Mariah Maloney has choreographed and performs in a new solo work based on the life and work of Frida Kahlo, One Hundred Years. The choreography of Memories of the Stone — a new piece by DanceUSF faculty member Jeanne Travers — was inspired by the ruins of Carthage in Tunisia and is set against an original score by Tunisian composer Mohamed Charri. USF professor John Parks has restaged excerpts from Donald McKayle's chain gang-inspired Rainbow 'Round my Shoulder. And two works choreographed by USF dance majors and scheduled to be presented at this year's American College Dance Festival are also featured.
As part of its British International Theatre (BRIT) Program, TheatreUSF produces William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. This classic battle-of-the-sexes comedy — which focuses on a strong-willed, sharp-tongued young woman and the man intent on winning her over — has been adapted for a 1950s setting. Among the professional theater artists who've been shipped from England to Tampa to work on this BRIT program are director Tim Luscombe, vocal and verse coach Susan Bovell and movement specialist John Nicholson.
DanceUSF, Feb. 21-March 1, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., USF College of Visual and Performings Arts Theatre II, and TheatreUSF, Feb. 21-March 2, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., USF College of Visual and Performing Arts Theatre I, $12 general admission/$6 students and seniors, 813-974-2323, www.arts.usf.edu.
This article appears in Feb 20-26, 2008.