YSU Dance Ensemble readies performances

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State University Dance Ensemble will present its 25th anniversary performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Ford Theater, inside Bliss Hall.

Tickets are $16 ($8 for non-YSU students and senior citizens).

Under the artistic direction of Christine Cobb, professor in the theater and dance department, the concert will feature the works of 12 student choreographers and YSU alumna Stephanie Tirdel, who danced professionally in Pittsburgh from 2004 to 2011.

The dances are diverse in subject manner and include musical theater, tap, hip-hop, belly dance and modern dance genres.

Tirdel’s piece explores the human condition and draws upon inspiration and images from the military.

She is a certified Pilates and AntiGravity Instructor and owner of Sthiel Pilates in Pittsburgh. She has taught, choreographed and performed professionally with Labco (2004-09) and Dance Alloy Theater (2003-04 and ’11), both of Pittsburgh.

Tirdel also danced with Attack Theater, including two dance residencies with the Pittsburgh Opera.

Her formal dance education began at Ballet Western Reserve, and continued at Kent State University and then Youngstown State University, where she performed with the YSU Dance Ensemble.

Cobb conceived a piece that will be performed on Saturday to close the show, featuring ensemble students and alumni.

An additional performance, titled “60x60,” will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ford Theater.

This performance is free and open to the public.

In “60x60,” YSU alumni and students will perform, in association with the New York-based arts organization Vox Novus, a concert featuring 60 one-minute dance works set to award-winning music, presented back to back without pause.

This unique event includes a new dance piece every minute.

“60x60 Dance” represents a diverse cross-section of music and dance with different styles and aesthetics ranging from popular to poignant to abstract.

“Audience members are virtually guaranteed to love some of the pieces, and dislike others,” said Cobb.

“Regardless of whether they like or dislike a work, in 60 seconds they will experience a new piece.”

The YSU Dance Ensemble accepts members via an audition process, and members practice weekly, honing their performance skills as well as their leadership skills.

Here is a list of YSU Dance Ensemble students in the performances: Alana Lesnansky, Boardman; Angelique Tanner, Waverly, Ohio; Aubrianna Morrison, Hermitage, Pa.; Jillian Billeck, Girard; Kassady Carrier, Amherst, Ohio; Rebecca VanVoorhis, Canton; Olivia Bartie, West Port, Conn.; Lily Hockenberry, Boardman; Krista Colarosa, Pittsburgh; Taryn Kerfoot, Enon Valley, Pa.; Naudya Bankston, Austintown; Stefon Funderburke, Hermitage, Pa.; Stephanie Schornack, Austintown; Alyssa Armstrong, Canfield; Erica Mitchell, Youngstown; Sarah Gage, Struthers; Roman Sheffield-Scheetz, Canfield; Kirstie Feorene, Mineral Ridge; Christina Fonner, East Liverpool; Hailey Gelzheiser, Moon Township, Pa.; Bailey Mackey, New Philadelphia, Ohio; Holly Vavlas, Campbell; Rachel Davis, Austintown; Shannon Peterson, Clarion, Pa.; Kiara Jones, Youngstown; Savannah Lach, Elizabeth, Pa.; Jessica Hirsh, Cleveland; Nicolette Pizzuto, New Middletown; Rachel Schmidt, Youngstown; Alyssa Sikora, Masury, and Anne Sopher, Hermitage, Pa.