The University of Iowa Department of Dance is set to present its highly anticipated annual Dance Gala event, October 17-19 at Hancher Auditorium. This year’s production, aptly named Agile, offers an intimate and engaging experience with a unique, chamber seating arrangement on the Hadley Stage that brings audiences closer to the heart of each performance.
Students from the Department of Dance will perform a rich program of works created by faculty members Eloy Barragán, Armando Duarte, Kristin Marrs, and Stephanie Miracle.
In addition, students will perform “Sombrerísimo,” an intensely physical piece created in 2013 for Ballet Hispánico by distinguished guest choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Chris Bloom, formerly of Ballet Hispánico and a choreographer in his own right, will restage the electric “Sombrerísimo” with the student dancers. This experience—and the opportunity to work on a famous piece of choreography by an internationally known artist—enhances students’ technical skills and provides a professional networking opportunity, bridging the gap between student performance and professional dance practice.
Associate Professor Eloy Barragán, who is director of Dance Gala 2024, describes Agile as a showcase of the “language of movement” that reflects the unique artistic voices of its choreographers and performers. “We are thrilled to present this year’s Dance Gala in a way that deepens the audience’s connection to the dancers and the art of dance itself,” Barragán noted.
Barragán’s piece, “Stillness Knitting Breath,” delves into the creation of a new movement language that blends family history, cultural references, and artistic experimentation. Through collaboration with visual artist Mariana Tejeda and composers Douglas Baker and Katie Robbins, Barragán uses a research-driven process to create a surreal and evocative dance experience.
Choreographed by Assistant Professor Stephanie Miracle, “Since we have come this far how do we get back?” combines dance and robotics, exemplifying the interdisciplinary approach that Iowa’s dance department infuses in every project. Collaborating with UI robotics engineers Assistant Professor Deema Totah and Associate Professor Casey Harwood (College of Engineering) and members of the UI Robotics and Assistive Devices Lab to incorporate four creature-like robots into the performance, this work explores the convergence of human movement and automation, bridging artistic and scientific fields.
“O Quanta Qualia,” choreographed by Associate Professor Kristin Marrs, embodies a deep immersion in both dance and music, showcasing the fluid relationship between the two art forms. By integrating live music with dance, Marrs, along with composer Jacob Bancks and violinist Sabrina Tabby have co-created a fully immersive performance where the boundaries between the arts dissolve.
In “Barro,” Professor Armando Duarte’s choreography is developed in collaboration with composer, Christian Cherry, and the students dancing in the piece, highlighting the intimately personal nature of creating movement. Drawing inspiration from Brazilian history and resistance of Quilombos—communities founded by 16th-century Africans and Afro-Brazilians against Portuguese occupation and enslavement—“Barro” is shaped by the dancers’ input and personal expressions, making it a deeply collective work.
With atmospheric lighting design by Laurel Shoemaker and dynamic costumes designed by Margaret Wenk-Kuchlbauer, Agile is set to be a feast for the senses. Audiences can expect an evening of compelling narratives, evocative music, and breathtaking choreography that showcase the skill and creativity of the University of Iowa’s Department of Dance, along with high-quality production expertise of the Performing Arts Production Unit.
The event is co-produced by the Department of Dance, Performing Arts Production Unit, and Hancher Auditorium. Tickets for all four performances are available at the Hancher Box Office in-person and online at hancher.uiowa.edu. View the Dance Gala: Agile playbill for additional program details.