Cleveland State University’s Dance Program is presenting a special Spring Dance Concert on Saturday, February 23 at 8:00 p.m. to celebrate 40 years of the College of Education and Human Services’ commitment to academic excellence. The concert will include reconstructed and new pieces performed by CSU Dance Company members, faculty and dance program alumni. The performance will be at Cleveland State’s Drinko Recital Hall in the Music and Communication Building at 2001 Euclid Avenue.

The one-evening-only performance will feature a variety of excerpts from past and present shows performed by the CSU Dance Company and choreographed by dance program director Lynn Deering and dance faculty member Amy Compton-Schulz. The concert will also feature guest artist Habib Iddrisu who will perform with the company in his South African Boot Dance. Mike McNamara, dance program accompanist, will perform a series of musical interludes that he composed in honor of this anniversary event.

The second half of the evening will showcase excerpts from The Last Dance at Euclid Beach which premiered at CSU’s Factory Theater in 1996. The original performance was choreographed by CSU faculty member Chris DiCello and created in collaboration with local dancers and a group of senior citizens whose memories formed the organizing structure of the work. The original piece included taped memories of the senior citizens to provide a “living chronology” of the park and the 40s, along with danced vignettes and big band music. The Last Dance at Euclid Beach will be restaged for the first time in 10 years and will feature original cast members including returning CSU dance program alumni.

The concert is made possible by the CSU College of Education and Human Services, CSU Center for the Arts and the Ohio Arts Council. Tickets will cost $5.00 for general admission. For further details call 216.687.4883 or e-mail dance@csuohio.edu.

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