BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – WV Dance Company will bring its touring program to West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, West Virginia on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Founded in 1977, WV Dance Company has been serving public venues, schools, colleges and universities with entertaining and thought provoking performances and workshops through the language of dance. Recognized for both artistic achievement and excellence in arts education, WVDC has toured throughout West Virginia, as well as 14 other states, reaching tens of thousands of people each year. WV Dance Company’s current concert program for public venues has an evening that has something that people of all ages can enjoy together.

The evening starts with “Acoustic Translation,” a new work of choreography by DaneToney with a new composition by Dr. Richard Grimes. Next is “A Renaissance Gathering,” which takes a trip back to 15th-century Europe through choreography by Maureen Mansfield Kaddar. The first act ends with works that are built around West Virginia history. “Poets of Darkness” is a duet by Donald Laney that gives a view of coal mining experiences in West Virginia. “Sketches of Fall” by Toneta Akers-Toler is a reflection of Pearl S. Buck’s words from “My Several Worlds” describing the first time she viewed fall in West Virginia.

A Vietnamese Folktale that speaks of earth, water, air and fire is brought to life in the choreography by Donald Laney to the music composition of Holden Akers-Toler. The last work of the evening “Mercy!” by internationally renowned dance artist, Gerri Houlihan, ends the evening with a six section work of choreography about the 1950’s. This upbeat choreography with the dancing and acting skills of the dancers, will send the audience home with their feet moving and their minds dancing!

Dancers Nash Dawson, Emily Dodrill, Christine Hallinger, Donald Laney, Jax RF McAtee, Dane Toney and Sarah Walker beautifully capture the many different styles of dance during the evening. Troy Snyder and Tonry Lathroum, lighting design artists, add their talents to bring the evening to a magical experience for all. Combining the light designs with the visual art in the costume designs by Emily Dodrill and Donald Laney; the dancers move in a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors.

Admission is free.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2024 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan eighth in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students more than 50 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing, and clinical mental health counseling; 20 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.