Repositioned YSU dance program steps into light

By Guy D’Astolfo

YOUNGSTOWN — The dance program at Youngstown State University is raising its profile.

It moved under the umbrella of performing arts two years ago, when the school switched it to the theater department.

Previously, since the 1930s, dance classes were part of the physical education department. “Many schools had since moved dance in with performing arts departments, but YSU was still on that system [until two years ago],” said Christine Cobb, the lone full-time faculty member for dance.

Becoming the department of theater and dance has heightened awareness of the program in the community, said Cobb. “More people see us online and are aware of us,” she said.

Cobb has been a dance professor at YSU for 19 years. The department has four adjunct instructors, including Richard Dickinson of Ballet Western Reserve.

“We are in the process of writing a dance major,” said Cobb. The university does not offer one, she said. What is proposed — and awaiting state approval — is a new curriculum that would combine dance, theater and business instruction with a goal of training students to own and operate a dance studio.

The university’s dancers will put their talent on display this weekend for the annual YSU Dance Ensemble spring concert.

Under the artistic direction of Cobb, the concert will showcase an array of modern dance, including jazz, hip hop, belly dancing and Irish step dance.

Work by two professional artists — Billy Siegenfeld, artistic director and founder of Chicago-based Jump Rhythm Jazz Project; and Michael Medcalf, former director of the Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre — will be featured.

Siegenfeld’s work will be performed by Cobb and her husband, Thom, who is a dance instructor at Slippery Rock University. The piece, “Poppy and Lou,” is a humorous and touching theatrical work which Siegenfeld created in tribute to his mother and father.

The Cobbs have performed the piece at other venues and plan to do it at senior centers this summer.

Medcalf’s modern dance piece, “Twilight,” will be performed by six YSU students. “Twilight” was commissioned by YSU, said Cobb.

The remainder of the program will be student-choreographed.

The YSU Dance Ensemble is a student organization. It accepts members via an audition process in the fall term.

“The young women who audition and are accepted into the YSU Dance Ensemble put countless hours into practicing their discipline,” said Cobb. “They also learn the basics of running a student organization since they must elect officers and participate in activities. The spring concert is the culmination of their year-long efforts.”