'To Be Continued'

EVANSTON, Ill. --- A politically-themed dance, a work that explores the inner workings of a seriously disordered mind, and a piece about endangered species are among the highlights of "To Be Continued" -- Northwestern University’s annual fall dance concert.

Open to the public, performances will take place at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9; 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10; 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15; 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16; and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, in the Ballroom Studio of the Marjorie Ward Marshall Dance Center, 10 Arts Circle Drive, on the University's Evanston campus.

The concert is presented by New Movement Project (NMP), a student group sponsored by the dance program in the department of theatre, School of Communication, to produce student works and host workshops and residencies with local and national artists. This year’s NMP adviser is adjunct faculty member Amanda Exley Lower.

The 2012 production will showcase the original works of Northwestern University student choreographers Parker Murphy, Rachel Molinaro, Josh Rubietta, Sophia Rafiqi, Alaya Turnbough, Suzanne Hutt, Margaret Tudor, Jennifer Keats-Snow and Ross Flores.

All nine choreographers are senior dance majors selected by New Movement Project to create original work. An ensemble of 25 Northwestern student dancers will perform their works.

Among the program’s highlights are Turnbough’s creative look into the world of politics; a duet by Murphy exploring the mind of a person with psychosis; and a piece by Rubietta about endangered species.

New Movement Project adviser Lower teaches “Introduction to the Dance Experience,” a class that introduces students to improvisation as a practice and performance form, with emphasis placed on practice. Students work alone as well as in duets, trios and larger groups. Students also study the history and philosophy of improvisation in dance.

Bleacher-style seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. General admission is $10 for the public and $5 for full-time students with valid WildCARD IDs. Tickets are available through the Theatre and Interpretation Center Box Office at (847) 491-7282 or by visiting www.tic.northwestern.edu. Tickets will also be sold at the door prior to each performance.

CONSTRUCTION ALERT: A three-year construction project underway on the southeast end of the Northwestern University Evanston campus has closed Arts Circle Drive to traffic. Free parking for evening and weekend events remains available, but the project will impact handicapped parking and patrons requiring special access to Evanston campus theaters. Visit www.tic.northwestern.edu/construction to learn more.