The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Dance Program’s 2025 Student Dance Project will feature 24 choreographers who have set their work on 50 dancers.
The concert will be divided into two programs. Program One will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and Dec. 13. Program Two will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 2 p.m. Dec. 13. All performances will be in Howell Theatre, on the first floor of the Temple Building.
The two respective performances on Dec. 13 will be live webcast. Find the links online the the day of the performance.
The choreographers are all students in the dance composition course, which is taught annually by dance faculty Hye-Won Hwang and Susan Ourada, who alternate teaching the course each year. This year, the course was taught by Ourada.
“I am delighted with the depth, breadth and innovation of the work this year,” said Ourada, associate professor of dance. “This year, 21 of the choreographers are dance majors taking the course for the first, second or third time. In addition, there are two dance minors who received special permission to take the course. The 24th choreographer is a faculty member from the English Department, Katie Marya, who has been taking courses for many years with us.”
Meg Brady, a senior dance and environmental and sustainability studies major from Overland Park, Kansas, will have her piece titled “Impressionism” in Program Two.
“My work features 12 dancers and draws parallels between my time in the dance program and the impressionist artistic movement,” Brady said. “I focus on using movement to convey how this time of my life looks from the outside compared to how it felt. The piece includes audio clips of videos from different memories that I associate with the dance program to try and bring the audience into the joy I’ve felt being involved in his program for the last four years.”
The Student Dance Project gives dance students a space to showcase their style and ideas, which Brady said, is a valuable experiential learning opportunity.
“We are given artistic freedom to explore evolving curiosities through choreographing on other bodies, while also being provided with incredible institutional support and feedback,” Brady said. “Dancing and choreographing for this show will always be one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career.”
Vanessa Uriostegui, a senior dance and Spanish-Indigenous studies major from Schuyler, has choreographed a piece titled “CON-struxt,” which will be included in Program One. The performance touches on topics of gender and the performance of gender.
“I think that gender has to be thought of as something bigger like a performance," Uriostegui said, "instead of a set of rules or expectations we have to follow.”
Uriostegui said participating in the Student Dance Project has been transformational for her, helping her grow her range of movement. Working as a choreographer, she gets to work with colleagues to help her dance style incorporate into her research.
The performances are also presented in collaboration with the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film.
“Professor Michelle Harvey is working with her graduate and undergraduate lighting design students, who will each work with four choreographers on the lighting facet of their pieces,” Ourada said. “Brad Buffum has kindly provided us with a stage manager for this show for many years. This year, the student dance project stage manager will also call our spring faculty and guest artist show, Evenings of Dance. It’s a wonderful collaboration.”
Skylar Ostronic, a senior dance and fashion merchandising major from Omaha, said a lot of effort goes into creating the Student Dance Project, works for which were created in 15 weeks. Shaylin Barth, a junior dance, business and pre-law major also from Omaha, said there are many reasons to attend the Student Dance Project.
“First and foremost, the performance showcases the creativity, skill and dedication of each and every choreographer and dancer who has worked diligently throughout the semester to bring their pieces to life on stage. Attending the performance is also a great way to support these students and the UNL dance department," Barth said. "Everyone who attends will experience first-hand the authenticity of the artistry of the next generation of dancers as they express themselves through movement and innovation on stage.”
Tickets for the Student Dance Project are $10 general admission and $5 students, presale only. Purchase tickets online.
