NW Valley Times

Dance faculty Holly Brosius has choreographed a piece for the Spring Dance Concert at Grand Canyon University that is deeply personal. Inspired by her twice-exceptional son, Brosius created "Doblemente Excepcionales" to showcase her son's gifts and challenges. She explained, “He’s really, really smart, but he also sees the world and learns the world much differently than other people.”

Brosius shared that she integrated elements of her son's life into her work for the first time, combining it with concepts of faith and strength. She expressed, “You know, God picked us to be their moms.” The performance also includes original animation created in collaboration with the College of Arts and Media’s digital design program.

Director of Dance Dr. Bekki Price described the upcoming concert, titled "Intertwine," as diverse, featuring a range of dance styles from modern to hip-hop and ballet. Price highlighted guest artist Durell Comedy's opening piece, "Rise Up," as a contemporary work with a New York modern feel.

Comedy explained that "Rise Up" is a reflection on the church's current state and the hope found in Christ's return, based on Ephesians 5:14. He stated, “It’s the reality that we face today that the people of God, the church, the bride of Christ, has allowed sin, circumstances and preferences to cause us to be in this constant state of sleep.”

Among the other works to be performed at the concert are pieces like "It’s Eagle!" choreographed by Rebecca Witt, which challenges dancers to push their boundaries and athleticism. Additionally, Crystal Fullmer's "Les Ballets Drole" presents a comedic ballet clash between jesters and ballet dancers.

Niamey Thomas, another choreographer for the concert, shared that her piece "Worlds on Fire" combines hip-hop and street dance to convey a message of hope amidst chaos. She expressed, “The piece is about the world being on fire, hectic and crazy, whether it be the inner world or not, and then, at the end, finding the hope that’s there, because there’s always hope."

The Spring Dance Concert, "Intertwine," will feature a total of 10 works, showcasing the talent and creativity of the College of Arts and Media dance students. The event will take place at Ethington Theatre with performances scheduled for this weekend.

For those interested in attending, the details of the concert are as follows:

- What: The Spring Dance Concert, “Intertwine”

- Where: Ethington Theatre

- When: 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday

- Tickets: Available online or by calling 602-639-8979

The showcase promises to be a culmination of hard work and dedication from the dancers, choreographers, and collaborators involved, offering a diverse and vibrant celebration of dance.