The Department of Fine and Performing Arts sponsored the Moxie Dance Project spring concert entitled “Looking Back-Moving Forward,” in which dancers used movement to tell a story or send a message to the audience. Moxie dancers, who are Southeastern students and alumni, performed original modern dance pieces, on March 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Vonnie Borden Theatre in D Vickers Hall.
Many Southeastern students attended the recital, which cost only $2 to students with their ID and $4 to the public.
“I’m taking a Modern Dance 130 class, and we learned all about the techniques developed by the pioneers of Modern Dance, like Doris Humphrey, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham,” said Grace Ledoux, a freshman kinesiology major. “It was amazing to see the same techniques performed by the Moxie dancers, which they used to convey their theme of looking back and moving forward.”
Ledoux’s dance instructor Dana Brewer-Plazinic choreographed one of the pieces for the “Looking Back-Moving Forward” recital. Her piece entitled “Fetching” stirred many emotions in the audience, drawing a range of reactions from laughter to disgust.
In addition, Ashanti Mclaurin, a third year member of Moxie Dance Project, performed the first solo that she has choreographed herself.
 “I’m very excited to perform my first piece,” said Mclaurin. “It’s part of my life, part of my journey, me pushing away from the help that I had. I’m independent now. I want to go out on my own. That’s what the hand gestures are for. So it’s really just me signifying that I’m independent, let me live my life, my journey.”
Mclaurin, a Chicago native who has been dancing her entire life, had her boyfriend and friends in attendance to show their support. Mclaurin, whose first formal training was at Southeastern, said that performing with Moxie feels like home to her.
“It felt really good,” said Mclaurin about performing with Moxie Dance Project. “I’m in a new chapter of my life. I have everything here. I felt more like this is where I need to be. I felt like I can tell you how I felt without talking to you. Sometimes I can’t speak so dance is my means of communication and expression. I loved that I was able to communicate with my audience. I love the audience. Y’all are my inspiration and my motivation.”
Jaquan Warren is a freshman and took the stage for the first time with Moxie Dance Project during the “Looking Back-Moving Forward” performance.
“It was very releasing,” said Warren, who performed in the group number entitled “Bits and Pieces.” “I got to show who I was. It was awesome.”
“Bits and Pieces” was choreographed by Amanda Tracy, who is a junior majoring in psychology and social work. Tracy has been a member of Moxie for two years and has also performed with the Hammond ballet.
Each of the nine dance’s choreography was origional and was set to music by poplular artists such as Secondhand Serenade, Zoe Keating, Within Our Reach and Coldplay.
Halfway through the concert a disturbance backstage caused a break in the performance. Those attending were asked to remain in their seats for their safety. According to University Police Department (UPD) Captain Mike McGill, a criminal investigation was initiated and an arrest was made. No other details regarding the incident have been released by the UPD as of press time.