Join the University of Wisconsin-Stout Dance Ensemble on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5, in the Harvey Hall Theatre at 7 p.m. for their spring recital.

 

So what is Dance Ensemble, you might ask?

 

“We are a completely student-run organization of about 80 to 90 dancers who love to dance and want to share our passion with others,” said Dance Ensemble President Libbie Kussmann, a student in the Graphic Communications Management program at UW-Stout. “Every semester we put on a recital to present the dances we have been working on in the months prior to the event.”

 

As with all performances, dancing requires learning the steps and practice, practice, practice. In turn, a choreographer composes and presents an intended dance at the beginning of the semester in hopes of having it chosen by the executive board to be performed. Enter Marissa Treptau: she has been a part of Dance Ensemble for roughly seven semesters as both a dancer and choreographer; she is one of the 15 choreographers whose material was chosen for the show this spring.

 

“In the past, I’ve choreographed and taught lyricals,” said Treptau, a family and consumer science education senior who is graduating in December. “This semester, [I taught] a jazz/funk dance to ‘Hands All Over’.”

 

Through her role as choreographer, she has had the opportunity to teach her routine to 15 dancers, though in the past her groups have ranged from 5-10.

 

“We rehearse once a week for an hour,” said Treptau. “There are also times where we meet, like Preview Night which happens in the middle of the semester, to show the rest of the organization what each group has been working on, a technical rehearsal  which is a short rehearsal to make sure the lighting is right and a dress rehearsal which is a full run-through of the show.”

 

While accomplished members such as Kussmann and Treptau are nearing the end of their time with Dance Ensemble, others are just beginning. Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management student Sarah Stofflet only has two semesters under her belt; she has nothing but positive things to say about the organization and her time with the other dancers.

 

“I love to dance and wanted to get to know more people,” said Stofflet. “It is really fun to meet new people and feels great to be active.”

 

Through these three ladies, you can see that Dance Ensemble members are as diverse as their choreography and music material.

 

“[There is] a lot of variety in dances, music and dancer ability,” said Treptau. “The girls have worked really hard throughout the semester to learn the dances and perfect them to the best of their ability, given the time restraints.” She also praises the executive board for their hard work in putting the show together and making sure everything runs as planned.

 

“The audience can expect a great time and a wonderful show,” said Kussmann. From ballet to hip-hop to burlesque to tap, as well as an exclusive—and hilarious—executive board dance along with senior solos and raffle giveaways, this jam-packed night should be nothing less than spectacular-pun intended.

 

Tickets are on sale through the UW-Stout ticketing website: $4 for students and $5 for the public. Prices are a dollar more at the door.