WT Dance to Close Season with ‘Portraits of Dance’ April 3-6

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Performances exploring transformation, classical versus contemporary dance, and the music of Lady Gaga are among those on the slate for West Texas A&M University Dance’s final performance of the season.

“Portraits of Dance” will be staged at 7:30 p.m. April 3 to 5 and 2:30 p.m. April 6 in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex on WT’s Canyon campus.

Tickets—which may be reserved at cur8.com/17516/project/130037—are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, and free for WT students, faculty and staff with a Buff Gold card. They may also be reserved by emailing artsboxoffice@wtamu.edu or by calling 806-651-2810.

“Portraits of Dance is filled with fun and exciting dances — truly an evening filled with something for everyone,” said Edward Truitt, professor of dance. “From a ballet modern dance battle to a comedy ballet with toilet paper, to the serious dances of our two amazing guest artists Autumn Eckman and Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson, ‘Portraits of Dance’ will delight and thrill all those that attend.”

The evening will feature 10 dances — two choreographed by guest artists Eckman and Lawyer-Jefferson, and the rest by WT Dance faculty.

“The dancers have poured their discipline and passion bringing these works to life,” said Crystal Bertrand, senior instructor of dance and dance program director. “We are incredibly proud and honored to guide them through the process.”

Cast members, all dance performance majors unless otherwise indicated, will include Caris Balboa, a sophomore from Hobbs, New Mexico; Kaleigh De La Cruz, a senior from Chicago; Gannon Duffy, a junior from Lubbock; Amon Fredinand, a senior from Amarillo; Krisanne Freeman, a junior from Amarillo; Marisa Garcia, a senior from Corpus Christi; Sarah Gil, a senior psychology major from El Paso; Nova Gore, a junior from Amarillo; Charity Gonzales, a sophomore from Perryton; Camila Jimenez, a junior from Fort Worth; Jayden Lucas, a junior  dance education major from Amarillo; Anna Martin, a junior from Midland; Hannah Metzger, a sophomore from Perryton; Bryanna Miller, a freshman from Canyon; Fantasia Morgan, a sophomore from Roswell, New Mexico; Ariana Perkins, a freshman from Fort Worth; Erin Potter, a freshman from Amarillo; Lorelai Stager, a senior from San Antonio; Maia Soto, a junior  from El Paso; Maddy Welch, a senior from Lubbock; Emily Wilson, a freshman dance education major from Lubbock; and Zarek Womack, a junior from Christoval.

Fostering an appreciation of the arts is key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised more than $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: Krisanne Freeman, left, and Maia Soto are among the performers in West Texas A&M University Dance’s “Portraits of Dance,” on stage April 3 to 6.

—WT—