57th annual dance concert memorializes former dance student

West Virginia University's School of Theatre and Dance opened its 57th annual concert, Dance Now!, in memory of Emily Spickler last night at the Creative Arts Center.

Spickler, who passed away last summer while studying abroad in Australia at the University of Queensland, was a third-year journalism student working on her minor in dance.

"As soon as I heard this summer that Emily passed away, I was very surprised," said Dr. Yoav Kaddar, assistant professor of dance and artistic director of Dance Now! who also taught Spickler. "We knew that we had to do something special for Emily and dedicating the concert to Emily was the perfect idea."

The program began with a piece choreographed in honor of Spickler called "Free Spirit," which was performed by dance minors from Spickler's hometown

Kaddar said members of the Spickler family would attend one the shows this weekend.

Throughout the performance, the passion of the dancers was apparent as they performed in honor of their dear friend. As the piece came to a closing, the dancers took their bow before a picture of Spickler that hung for the whole audience to see.

In hopes of opening the school to many different people and future students, the event is growing to integrate the program with a diverse perspective of dance.

The concert showcases many different styles of dance including, for the first time, a hip-hop number choreographed by Liz Caggiano, a senior multidisciplinary studies student. The performance, entitled "Yes," is dedicated to all those who fight breast cancer.

A local dance studio, Kat and Company, will be performing along with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School.

"I'm extremely excited to see the turnout for this year's show because there's a lot of diversity within the dance pieces. I feel as if the audience can really relate to the movements being expressed on stage," said Mercedes Lewis, a senior philosophy student minoring in dance, who is both a choreographer and dancer in the program.

Lewis and six others performed a piece titled "Against the Wind," choreographed by Barbara Yurick, which captured the audience's attention with a contemporary performance bringing both passion and dance together in a way the audience seemed to connect with.

The concert will be held again tonight at 7:30 p.m. and a third time Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.