West Chester University Dance Company Presents TIMELESS Dance Concert April 24 – 26
West Chester University’s (WCU) Department of Theatre & Dance and the University Dance Company (UDC) present the spring dance concert TIMELESS on Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 26, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., in the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre, Swope Music Building and Performing Arts Center, 817 S. High Street, West Chester. General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for all students, faculty, staff, and Seniors, and are available at the door or www.wcupatix.com.
TIMELESS showcases the work of 14 student choreographers and one guest artist, set to a soundtrack that blends iconic favorites like Billy Joel’s Piano Man, a Beatles medley, and Chic’s Le Freak—all with imaginative twists. The pieces explore personal and culturally resonant themes.
This year’s show features the largest cast in UDC history, with 86 dancers performing
in styles ranging from Jazz and Contemporary to Tap and Broadway-style Fosse. “This
concert has a little bit of everything,” says Director Maria Urrutia. “It’s also really
uplifting and a perfect way to welcome Spring and the graduation season. We hope audiences
feel the joy and walk out feeling refreshed.”
Themes of empowerment and resilience are used throughout the concert. There is a bold reinterpretation of Justin Timberlake’s SexyBack, reimagined by a female vocalist to celebrate body empowerment and femininity. Student choreographer Kaela Danzi, a childhood cancer survivor, presents Threads of Tomorrow, a two-part contemporary work that explores isolation and hope and is set to music by Justin Bieber,
Guest choreographer Lydia Ciaffone contributes a contemporary piece for twelve dancers, set to two versions of Tennessee Waltz—one by Patti Page, the other by Otis Redding. Her choreography blends individual narratives with rich physicality and poetic nuance.
Ciaffone, a dance artist and educator from Philadelphia, was a 2021 resident artist at La Macina Di San Cresci in Tuscany, where she debuted her solo work segnalibro. Her choreography has been performed in London and across the East Coast. She earned her BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts and teaches at Time to Leap in West Chester.
“Lydia is a wonderful fit for WCU,” says Urrutia. “She creates for the individual, crafting movement that brings out each dancer’s unique voice.”
“This is the largest number of choreographers we’ve ever had,” Urrutia adds. “What’s most rewarding is watching our students discover their voices and light up on stage. It speaks volumes about their passion and creativity.”
The 14 WCU student choreographers featured in the concert are Teagan Bittner, Gina Byrne, Kayla Danzi, Brianna Evanik, Emily Gilligan, Hannah Linkowsky, Lucy Morrin, Carly Nelson, Courtney Parker, Jade Salmon, Hailey Semmel, Emily Schulingkamp, Brenna Walukonis, and Laura Whittaker.
Senior Jordan Groeber shares, “I’m excited because there are a lot of new people choreographing this year who haven’t had the chance before. I think it’s going to be fun, fresh, and exciting. There’s so much new talent and so many fresh ideas.”