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daily nebraskan
friday, february 16, 1979
Dancers strive for perfection during rehearsal
A curtain goes up to reveal the vastness of the dark stage.
Slow, steady music begins as a single ray of light finds two mo
tionless figures huddled close together.
As the music intensifies, so docs the action until all seasons
of Nebraska have been, originally and for the first time, revealed
to us in modern dance.
A premiere performance of "Nebraska, the Seasons'" is de-
jit t?T
picted for a few lone spectators at a rehearsal of the Nebraska
Dance Ensemble. It was a seemingly (lawless presentation.
Or was it?
Backstage instructions are being given to various performers
for improvement of the dance. And they go over it again.
Yet no one seems to mind. In fact, most are as anxious to
perfect their work as are the directors Gayle Kassing, and
Barbara Ball Mason.
"We go on in a few days and don't have much time. We want
to get it right." says a dancer as she rushes off stage to change
her costume.
Serious to light looks
The Nebraska Dance Ensemble will present its annual
Lincoln performance Fridav and Saturday at 8 p.m. in Kimball
Recital Mall.
Dances will range from the seriousness of a ballet choreo
graphed by Kassing, to a light hearted look at games people play
as choreographed by Mason. This year there also will be a special
interpretation of Nebraska's seasons as seen by New York chore
ographer Fred Mathews.
"I'm having a great time. I never thought it'd be so much
fun." These comments can be heard from the dancers as they
wait for their cues to go on stage. They describe what they are
doing as "work well worth the time."
Work for this year's performance began back in Septem
ber with the choreography. By January, everyone was "clean
ing and polishing" their parts. Even though a great deal of work
was done by the directors and their cast. Kassing acknowledges
the efforts of many other people involved.
"Without the work of the production unit before, such as
lighting, music, costumes and publicity, we wouldn't h a o a
concert," Kassing said.
'Neat nervousness'
"Our stage manager, Laurel Shoemaker, is very important in
our production." Kassing said. Shoemaker is responsible for
lighting and music cues as well as getting dancers to their desig
nated positions.
Excitement and enthusiasm are evident in the women "s dress
ing room. Most say they are nervous but said it is a "neat ner
vousness that you get over." The atmosphere is relaxed yet
serious as each person" knows he or she has a job to do.
According to the dancers, changing the mood for each dance
presented the biggest problem.
"Some of us are in five different dances. It really takes
concentration to be ready for the opening of the curtain." said
one.
Most agreed the production was going really well.
"We worked hard all year and it's taken a lot of time. Ifs
nice to see it finally pulled together," said a dancer. "But I'm
afraid 111 be depressed afterward with nothing to do.'"
With all the work and time involved, a spectator would
wonder if it is worth all the trouble. But by the smiles and satis
fied looks on everyone's face, the time spent seems to have been
rewarded.
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