The department of visual and performing arts at Southeastern is holding its annual Moxie Dance Project performance at the Pottle Music Building Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4.

In order to prevent the limitation of their creativity, choreographers are not given a particular theme. However, when dance coordinator Dana Brewer-Plazinic reviews all of the pieces, she looks for a unifying element to base the performance’s title on. This year’s performance is titled “Connections.”

“Everything had to do with connections they made with people or places and how those connections have influenced their life and people in their life,” said Brewer-Plazinic. “Each piece – the content of the piece, the message – has to do with relationships with other people and places.”

According to Brewer-Plazinic, there are about 30 performers. The majority of them are Southeastern students, with a few guest performers. Choreographers include Brewer-Plazinic; Ladazha Moll Sord, Southeastern alumnus who graduated with a dance concentration; seniors Ashli Tallo, Kaleigh Brandt and Diamond Williams; and sophomore Larry Montelongo. The choreographers are selected by Brewer-Plazinic before the semester begins, and it is mandatory that they take her spring choreography class beforehand.

Some of the pieces have physical contact, where the dancers are connecting through lifts, catching or grasping hands. Some works are more violent than others, incorporating a mixture of positive and negative connections in the concert.

“One of the pieces we’re doing is very intense, and it’s choreographed by Kaleigh Brandt,” said Brewer-Plazinic. “It has to do with an abusive connection with someone, so it’s one of the more serious pieces in the concert.”

Although the Moxie Dance Project is not being entered into a competition, Brewer-Plazinic chose the piece choreographed by Brandt to represent Southeastern. It will be judged at the American College Dance Festival (ACDFA), which takes place March 6-10, 2011, in Wichita, Kan.  

Another arrangement, created by Brewer-Plazinic, reflects upon the importance of Louisiana’s natural resources and beauty.

“I’m doing a piece about Louisiana and how the place that we grow up or the connection to that hometown never leaves us,” said Brewer-Plazinic.  “Even when we move away, we’re still connected to home.  So the whole piece is about the treasures of Louisiana that keep drawing us back here and make people never want to leave.”

Her exposition then discusses the environmental destruction occurring in Louisiana, particularly coastal land loss.

“We also have some moments where we depict what occurred with the oil spill,” said Brewer-Plazinic.

This Louisiana piece consists of many different sections, all performed to live music, including a film shot at Turtle Cove and Fontainebleau State Park.

“I wanted to have true environment in the piece, so people could really appreciate the beauty of Louisiana,” said Brewer-Plazinic.  

Planning for the Moxie Dance Project starts months before the concert takes place.  The dancers start to prepare with an audition two weeks before school starts, and rehearsals begin shortly thereafter.  

The choreographers and dancers have to rehearse each piece for at least three hours a week until the concert date, but oftentimes rehearsals are added so it amounts to around four hours a week.  The performers in more than one dance rehearse three or four days a week, and the choreographers work in addition to that on their own before each rehearsal.

This year’s Moxie Dance Project differs from last year’s in that it consists of all modern or contemporary works.  Last year’s concert was a mixture of contemporary pieces, in addition to a point piece and a lyrical jazz dance.

“I’m hoping that the audience will enjoy the show and I hope to see the dancers progress to the next level in their technique and performance,” said Brewer-Plazinic.  “As each concert comes I see them getting better and better at their craft, so it’s the process of the rehearsals and the camaraderie between the dancers and the pieces that grow and develop from there.”

Tickets for “Connections” are $5 for general admission and $3 for non-Southeastern students and senior citizens, while Southeastern students are admitted free with valid university ID. The tickets will go on sale an hour before the show begins. More information can be found by contacting Brewer-Plazinic at 985-549-5254.