Page 12
Friday, October 15, 1982
Daily Nebraskan
Arte EetesialmmeiTit
Dancer teaches meaning of movement
By Terry Field
To most people dancing is a career only for the elite,
but to modern dancer Robin Johnson, such a statement
doesn't hold true.
Johnson, an assistant professor from California State
College at Fullerton, just completed one week's resi
dency on the UNL campus. Besides being busy with
Personality
dancers here, Johnson also has been involved as an artist-in-schools
in many of Lincoln's elementary schools.
Johnson is a dance movement specialist for the Artist-in-Schools
Program of the National Endowment for the
Arts. The dance movement specialist explained how
children benefited from his classes. It helps children
to discover skills like leadership and cooperation by
having to deal with partners and in larger groups. Building
trust, sharing group ideas and getting involved can all be
achieved through creative movement, he said.
On campus, Johnson has been working with a group
of 10 dancers. The group will perform later this fall in
many Lincoln schools.
Lori May, a senior dance major in Teachers College,
is one group member. May describes the training as having
two parts.
"Basically, it is an introduction to all the many ways
one can see and experience movement," she said. "Using
the elements of time, space and energy, the group demon
strates the many different ways a person can walk -either
fast, slow or in between. We also continue on that idea
with running, skipping and rolling."
Eventually, the dancers will show the kids, some
real dancing, relating most of what they had been talking
about to movements in the dance.
Johnson is also this year's guest choreogrpher for
the Nebraska Dance Ensemble, a dance company made
up of university dancers. The dance piece by Johnson
titled "Common Denominators" is the most recent in
his repertiore. Six dancers will perform "Common De
nominators" in the Nebraska Dance Ensemble concert
in February.
"Dancing in Robin Johnson's piece is exciting," May
said. "Each movement doesn't seem to have an ending,
and it is this constant flow of energy that makes the
dance what it is."
Johnson describes himself as a "dancer of exception."
"In this world where dancers come a dime a dozen,
the job market in our career seems bleak," he said. "But
I have a career where my full-time job is to be a dancer."
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Photo courtesy of Larry's Showcase
John Hammond, perhaps the foremost solo blues artist
in America today, will perform at Larry's Showcase on
Saturday. Hammond has been a dedicated musician for
20 years and has nearly as many albums to his credit
He has played with such greats as Duane AUrnan, John
MayaO, Robbie Robertson, BZJ Wyman and Michael
Dloomfkld. George Thorogood has said, "Hammond
got me going as a guitar player."
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Photo by Pat Kovanda
Robin Johnson
Prior to becoming an assistant professor at California
State, Johnson was on tour for six years with the Ririe
Woodbury Dance Company of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Johnson joined this company after receiving a master of
fine arts in dance from the University of Utah. Johnson
also has worked" with the repertory of many other dance
companies that already have visited and performed at
UNL, including Murray Louis, Alwin Nikolai, Bill Evans
and Pilobolus.
"To anyone in the fine arts, when looking for a job
you should try to keep it to your craft," he said. "That
way, you won't be too overcome and exhausted being
a waiter or waitress, which leaves little to no time left
for staying prepared with your craft."
Johnson took his first dance class in a junior college
in California when he was 18. Now, at 31, Johnson has
become a driving force in the field of dance.
The reason why Johnson has become so successful
possibly is because he is a male in a field where there
are so few males, yet many needed. Also, Johnson lives
his life the way he teaches the children - never stop
exploring.
Limy from Lincoln,
it's a radio marathon
KZUM, Lincoln's listener-sponsored, community
access radio station, will broadcast live performances
during its fall marathon membership drive, today
through Oct. 24. Some free tickets for the studio
audience are available at KZUM and Dirt Cheap.
The performances are:
"Venezuelan Style," today, 7:30 p.m.
"Ken Winston Trio " Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
"Table for One" Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
"Peter Salter and Jonathan Brodie" Sunday,
1 p.m.
"The Click" and "Pogrom," Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
"Children's Story Time with Sharon Grady,"
Wednesday 1 p.m.
"Sean Benjamin
7:30 p.m.
and Friends," Wednesday,
"Salt Creek String Band," Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
"Open Stage, Friday, 7:30 p.m.
"Dennis Taylor," Oct. 23, 1 p.m.
"Cost of Living, Oct. 23, 7:30 pjn.
"The Unseen," Oct. 24, 1 p jn.
"Joni Mitchell Stole Your What!?" an original
radio play, Oct. 24, 7:30 pjn.
The poems
of Mark Coimett
Visions lasting of mistrust and betrayal,
Screenplay castings of tiimecessary delays.
Characters have their moments on stage
Then fade away into the night,
Haunting memories of love's painful cost
Bring with them cherished memories of finding what
was lost
Being human is filled with pain, , ,
Filled with tragicomedy and being Insane.
On one hand we ate momentarily here. '
Do we limp through life feeling death and feat?
The lonely fear of dying alone,
1 The fear of dying and finding no home
Befcg together, retreating from each other . ,
Fear has no home if hearts love each other.
Sharing at once a blossomed love and spreading force
from above, - .
We have no need for territorial walls of behaviorism
So bring our lives more love,
Brought into our mind, centeted In our hearts.
We need no other government
Take away my drunken states, .
, And crazy power-mad games.
Take away my false facade. s
Leate mejraw, naked and real.
MV (WVJ DIUU
' And see everywhere I've been.
I need to know that I'm loved
And that It comes first, first from above.
The world is overcomplicated at times,
But orJy because we make it so,
I can't quite feel that "what's mine is mine.
Tm so willing to let it all go,
My 0ca is heard in the heavens,
' Even though it's not heard here on Earth,
And that which 1 call "Father"
WiH protect me from death to birth,
- Mtrfc'CoMMtt is senior majoring In political
clenc nd ptycholofly. His poemi part of in
weekly tamtr Original Work. UNI student
Interested In iubmittinj photography, art, cartoons,
prow or poetry should contact David Wood at the
Daily Nebraskan. If material is mailed, pleas en
close nam, phon rwmber, major and year In
school.
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Photo courtesy of Feylin Proouctions
Diana Ross, "the leading lady of the rock era," per
forms tonight at the Bob Devaney Sports Center as
part of Homecoming Week. As the lead singer of the
Supremes, Ross had 15 No. 1 albums. She has had
eight No. 1 albums in her solo career and more top
singles than any artist besides Elvis Presley and the
Beatles.
r.at.-- y-i&- 4-.