ROCK SPRINGS –The Western Wyoming Community College Theatre and Dance Department will premiere the Desert Dance Theatre Fall Concert on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013, with additional performances scheduled for Oct. 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26. All performances begin at 7:30 pm in the WWCC Theatre.

The Theatre and Dance Department is excited to add a fall dance concert to its 2013-14 season. The Desert Dance Theatre Fall Concert, directed by WWCC Instructor of Dance Julia Mayo, will feature choreography from nationally and internationally recognized contemporary choreographers, including Annika Sheaff, a former member of the renowned dance company Pilobolus and current member of Groundworks Dance Theatre, and Carol Mendes, who returns this fall to set her work Piece #4, after her work Ques’t que la fait rire? was performed in the Desert Dance Theatre Spring Concert.

“Ms. Mendes’ work … was one of our audience’s favorites and we were thrilled to have her return to work with our students,” Mayo said. “I think it is Ms. Mendes’ quirky and imaginative approach to movement that makes her choreography so enjoyable to watch and for our students to perform.”

Each of the concert’s six choreographers brought a different style and artistic approach to the concert. Sheaff incorporated a dance film into her new work, the production of which posed an interesting new challenge for the dancers.

“Recently, I have been very interested in dance on film in general,” Sheaff said. “I have made two short films in the past year and this was another opportunity for me to make a film with even more people…. There are things you can do as a dancer on film that you will never be able to do on stage. We came up with some pretty interesting material in the end.

“I think certain aspects of my process were challenging for the dancers, like the music,” Sheaff added. “This piece is all about seeing the music. If the dancers could not hear what phrase to move on they were going to be late, or early… the music is challenging to dance to.”

The concert will also include works by Artistic Director Julia Mayo, adjunct dance faculty Daniel Mayo, Alicia Powelson, and Shelby Hixson, who is an alumna of the Western Wyoming Community College Dance Program. In all, the performance will feature the work of six different choreographers.

Mayo, a New York University graduate who is in her second year of teaching dance at Western, said the inclusion of this fall concert will give participating dance and theatre students an additional opportunity to hone their artistry. The ability to work so closely with the dance faculty and guest choreographers allows the students to expand their knowledge and perception of dance, she explained.

The Desert Dance Theatre’s Fall Concert is appropriate for ages 5 and up. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students/seniors. For ticket information, please visit www.wwcc.wy.edu/tickets.html or call the Theatre and Dance Office at (307) 382-1721.