Eastern Illinois University The Keep

2005 Press Releases

2-14-2005 02/14/2005 - EIU Dancers to Present Three Performances of Annual Spring Concert University Marketing and Communications

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Recommended Citation University Marketing and Communications, "02/14/2005 - EIU Dancers to Present Three Performances of Annual Spring Concert" (2005). 2005. 31. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/press_releases_2005/31

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Press Releases at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in 2005 by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 05-42 February 14, 2005 For Immediate Release: EIU DANCERS TO PRESENT THREE PERFORMANCES OF ANNUAL SPRING CONCERT CHARLESTON -Three performances of the Eastern Illinois University Dancers' annual spring concert, "In the Spotlight," are scheduled for later this month. Performances are set for 7:30p.m. Feb. 25 and Feb. 26, as well as 6 p.m. Feb. 27, in McAfee Gym. Doors open 30 minutes before curtain. The concerts are free and open to the public of all ages. The program will feature traditional forms of modern, ballet, tap and jazz to various musical artists including Mariah Carey, Josh Groban, The Charlie Daniels Band, AC/DC, Ray Charles, Dixie Chicks, Pat Benatar, Missy Elliott, Enya and Fat Boy Slim. This university-recognized organization, directed by Nancy Nordtvedt and Jeanna McFarland, is sponsored by the physical education department, which has held a spring concert each year since 1932. Originally, the performances consisted of modern dance only. This group, which Nordtvedt founded in 1981, has expanded to perform many various dance forms. This year, the group is comprised of 17 EIU students, male and female, with many different majors. Auditions are held in September, and rehearsals start immediately for the spring concert. Nordtvedt and McFarland are faculty members in the EIU physical education department. Nordtvedt studied dance in Kansas, Missouri and California and danced professionally in Wichita, Kan. She taught for four years at Montana State University, where she also had a dance group, before coming to EIU in 1981. McFarland, a graduate of Southern Illinois University, furthered her dance studies in New York studios, including those of Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Finus Jung and Luigi. She came to EIU in 1991. -30-