Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC) Dance faculty invites the community to a free performance entitled, “Dance Dialogues” on Saturday, July 29 starting at 8 p.m. Performances will be held in the Studio Theatre on the college’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

According to Dance Program Coordinator Jody Gazenbeek-Person, this is the college’s first full faculty dance concert, with every member of the faculty contributing original work, including Gazenbeek-Person, Jill Molinaro, Jennifer Gladney, and Rebecca Brodowski. Most of the pieces will feature professional dancers, including those from faculty members’ own dance companies. Two pieces will be performed by Mercer’s Dance students.

According to Mr. Gazenbeek-Person, the concert was conceived to help audiences gain a better appreciation of dance. “We know a lot of people feel challenged by the idea of attending a dance concert. At the end of each piece, the choreographer will discuss their work to help the audience understand how ‘to read’ the dance. Since all of us are dance educators, as well as professional dancers, we are excited to share perspectives on how to critically look at dance,” he said, adding that instructor Jill Molinaro proposed the show and collaborated with Gazenbeek-Person.

Mr. Gazenbeek-Person is creating several original dances for the concert with his dance partner Anton Person-Gazenbeek. Influences in his pieces include Argentine tango, disco, and traditional elements of ballet. They will also perform “The Blues Number,” a ground-breaking Broadway piece from the 1950s, and a powerful variation of Michel Fokine’s “The Dying Swan.”

MCCC instructor Jennifer Gladney, who also teaches dance at Rider University, will present two original works with MCCC dancers Kel Vallery, Melissa Rasimowicz, Sabrina Iacobellis, Caitlin Kazanski, and Amy Annucci. One features movement and music that alternates between loosely coordinated and tightly coordinated movements. “It is birthed from the idea that our lives must have balance – between a tightly run ship and going with the moment. This is a great starting place for a discussion with the audience,” Ms. Gladney said. Her second piece is inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love.

Instructor Jill Molinaro will present an 11-minute work entitled “Alteration,” which explores architectural movements through space. It will be performed by LJ Boyce, Amanda Chiarello, Sherry Greenspan, Mecquel, Doreen Laperdon-Addison, Melissa Rasimowicz, and Nella Iaccarino. The music is City Boy by Judd Greenstein.

Instructor Rebecca Brodowski’s dance company will perform two pieces, one of which is choreographed by MCCC alumna Brianne Scott, a performer with the Philadelphia based company M2M. Through the use of a projector that will add background context, Ms. Scott’s piece will create an immersive experience. In another work, choreographed by Ms. Brodowski, dancers will focus on the choices we make every day and how they create a chain reaction.

Donations will be accepted at the door. All concert proceeds will be used towards future concerts and student scholarships. For directions to MCCC’s West Windsor Campus and more information on MCCC’s Dance program, visit www.mccc.edu.