A dance encounter An upcoming performance represents the diversity of a unique group of students.

By LAURA S. MEYN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
They come from different backgrounds and they're pursuing different careers, but members of the Youngstown State University Dance Ensemble meet once a week for the same purpose: to dance.
Since their auditions last September, members of the group have worked continuously to learn and rehearse 11 new pieces for performances Friday and Saturday.
Ten pieces were choreographed by the students. Guest artist Jim Lepore, a dance professor from George Mason University in Virginia, choreographed a mambo piece.
A variety of styles
The far-flung styles that will be represented in the program include swing, mambo, jazz, hip-hop, modern dance and American Indian dance. The performers are just as diverse, with majors ranging from exercise science, musical theater and music education to criminal justice, psychology and education.
"We have kids who have danced since they were young; for others, their first dance class was here at YSU," said Christine Cobb, dance professor and adviser to the group, which includes 13 students who are working toward the newly offered dance minor. "They really do this because they love it," she said. "Many of them work at least 15-30 hours per week and attend YSU full-time."
Take, for instance, junior Jennifer Leigh Windle of Mentor, who had no formal dance training before she came to YSU. Windle, who has been in musicals since the seventh grade, decided to minor in dance to help her become a well-rounded performer in her major field of musical theater -- so she'd feel confident acting, singing and dancing.
"It's a lot of fun -- I love it," she says of the modern, folk, ballroom and square dance classes she's taken at YSU. "These are all things I wouldn't have been exposed to."
Junior Amanda Newton, a psychology major from Burghill, has been dancing her whole life. In fact, she's already teaching dance at a nearby studio. With a solid ballet, tap and jazz background, Newton calls dance her passion in life. But another reason she chose to minor in dance was that she wanted more training in modern dance, an area that YSU is particularly strong in.
In this, her second year in the YSU Dance Ensemble, Newton was cast in an American Indian dance piece choreographed by a fellow student. "I had never seen anything like it," she said.
'Nachelii'
Concert attendees may say the same thing after seeing "Nachelii" (meaning togetherness), the work of junior Bret John (B.J.) Gensburg of Lordstown.
Inspired by the film "Spirit," Gensburg approached Cobb with his vision of creating an American Indian dance piece for the YSU Dance Ensemble. She loved the idea, and the group began working on "Nachelii" last November.
Gensburg drew from his 15 years of dance training, and 10 years of American Indian dance, which he was introduced to through Boy Scouts. He is a grass dancer; a tradition that he says started when young braves were sent out to stomp down a circle of grass for powwows, sometimes taking along drummers to make the task more fun.
In "Nachelii," Gensburg says, some of the moves were inspired by this grass dancing. The work also incorporates live drumming and a cast of 16 other energetic dancers.
This is Gensburg's first experience as choreographer. "It's the most challenging thing I've ever had to do," he said. "Dancing is in my blood. I'll be Native American dancing until I can't anymore." Gensburg is also in the YSU drum line, is pursuing a major in mathematics education, and serves as assistant Scoutmaster for a group in Lordstown.
Large group
A total of 46 students, each with his or her own strengths, will perform in the YSU Dance Ensemble concert this year, more than ever in Cobb's 12 years at YSU.
Although casting is done by audition, Cobb says membership in the ensemble is open to all students regardless of whether they are selected to perform in a piece. A monthly company class taught by Cobb or a guest artist, plus various dance-related activities, are for all members of the group. By being involved, participants can also learn about production and other aspects of pulling together a performance such as this one.
The ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Bliss Hall's Ford Auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door. The concert costs $5 for the general public; $3 for seniors and YSU faculty, staff and students; and is free for children 12 and under. For more information, contact the box office at (330) 742-3105 or Cobb at (330) 742-1896.