CCM Students Dance to a Heartbeat

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's (CCM) Dance division presents its Spring Dance Concert on Friday, May 25, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 26, at 2:30 and 8 p.m. in Patricia Corbett Theater.

The program features a new work choreographed by CCM Dance division head Shellie Cash. The work, titled The Cardiac Dance — The Spirals of Life, was inspired by UC College of Medicine alumnus and UCLA physician Dr. Gerald Buckberg, who recently co-discovered an innovative method of repairing a damaged heart with colleague Dr. F. Torrent-Guasp.

An award-winning cardiac surgeon, Buckberg has conducted work to demonstrate the link between a heart's shape and its health. A damaged heart is spherical, whereas a healthy heart is elliptical. Buckberg and his team spearheaded a surgical procedure to reshape a damaged heart, thus restoring it to health.

Using this groundbreaking work as inspiration, Cash has created choreography to bring the form and function of the heart to life onstage.

"My piece is a collaborative premiere, merging science and nature with dance, music, sets and multimedia," Cash said, referring to the work's vibrant combination of physical movement with light, motion graphics and original music.

Partnering with Cash on the Cardiac Dance design team are: Richard Cawood (CCM electronic media faculty), videography; Jacqueline Burris (UC College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning faculty member), scenic design; Jakyung Seo (CCM theater design and production faculty), lighting design; and Jenny Merkowitz (CCM composition doctoral student), music.

The Spring Dance Concert program also features a new work by Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Director Victoria Morgan set to Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words and the classic Romantic ballet Les Sylphides, originally choreographed by Michel Fokine in 1909 and restaged by faculty member Yi-Qi Cheng.

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University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Event Details

CCM Spring Dance Concert

Friday, May 25, 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 26, 2:30 & 8 p.m.

Program:
* The Cardiac Dance — The Spirals of Life, a premiere choreographed by Shellie Cash and inspired by the discoveries of UC alumnus Dr. Gerald Buckberg
* Les Sylphides, originally choreographed by Michel Fokine in 1909 and restaged by CCM faculty member Yi-Qi Cheng
* Premiere by Cincinnati Ballet Artistic Director Victoria Morgan, set to Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words

Location:
Patricia Corbett Theater, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
 
Tickets:
$10 general admission, $5 non-UC students, UC students FREE
Call (513) 556-4183 or order online at www.ccm.uc.edu.