WT Dance Seniors to Present Self-Choreographed Works in Upcoming Performance

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Six West Texas A&M University seniors will choreograph solo and group works for an upcoming WT Dance showcase performance.

“Falling into Dance” concerts will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 to 22 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 23 in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex on WT’s Canyon campus.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and free for WT students, faculty and staff with a Buff Gold Card. For tickets, visit cur8.com/17516/project/134704, email artsboxoffice@wtamu.edu or call 806-651-2810.

Student choreographers were inspired by personal connections, works of art, joy and sorrow, personal faith and more.

“These choreographers have learned an immense amount throughout this process,” said Crystal Bertrand, director of WT Dance. “There is so much more preparation needed to produce a concert other than developing and researching choreographic material.”

Each choreographer held auditions, managed rehearsals, learned music editing, planned costumes, collaborated with a lighting designer, worked in a scene shop and laid dance floors, Bertrand said.

“My solo piece, ‘Waves,’ symbolizes the high tides, low tides and internal storms in life,” said Anna Martin, a senior dance major from Midland. “My group number, ‘Chameleon,’ shows that, at the core, we are all still human. Everyone shares in each other’s joy and happiness, and everything is filled with color by the end.”

Also choreographing solo and group dances are Krisanne Freeman, a senior dance major from Amarillo; Nova Gore, a senior dance major from Amarillo; Jayden Lucas, a senior dance major from Amarillo; Maia Soto, a senior dance major from Houston; and Zarek Womack, a senior dance major from Christoval.

Dance majors also performing include Rachel Adame, a freshman from Amarillo; Layla Anderson, a freshman from Amarillo; Caris Balboa, a junior from Hobbs, New Mexico; Charity Gonzales, a sophomore from Perryton; Davel Hernandez, a freshman from Camaguey, Cuba; Eden Holmes, a freshman from Amarillo; Camila Jimenez, a junior from Fort Worth; Kinsey Johnson, a sophomore from Amarillo; Monique Lara, a freshman from Lockney; Taeveon Lewis, a freshman from Lubbock; Cora Meller, a sophomore from Arlington; Hannah Metzger, a junior from Perryton; Bryanna Miller, a sophomore from Canyon; Aryal Montes, a freshman from Tulia; Fantasia Morgan, a junior from Roswell, New Mexico; Cadence Nickelberry, a freshman from Amarillo; Ariana Perkins, a sophomore from Fort Worth; Erin Potter, a sophomore from Amarillo; Addy Ratzlaff, a freshman from Amarillo; Zeke Riddley, a freshman from Amarillo; Emily Wilson, a sophomore from Lubbock; Courtney Workman, a freshman from Canyon; and Micayela Vasquez, a freshman from Amarillo.

Fostering an appreciation of the arts is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign has raised more than $175 million and will continue through 2025.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: West Texas A&M University seniors Zarek Womack, from left, Nova Gore, Jayden Lucas, Maia Soto, Krisanne Freeman and Anna Martin will have their choreography featured in WT Dance’s “Falling into Dance” from Nov. 20 to 23.

—WT—