This Wednesday and Thursday, 10 students from the NIU College of Theater and Dance performed five different interpretive dance routines.

Part of the NIU Art Museum’s Technology and Art Exhibition Suite, the dancers performed creative and imaginative dances in the middle of the galleries surrounded by original and modern art.

Under the direction of Paula Frasz, associate professor of theatre and dance, the dancers separated themselves in five different TECHNODANCE performances in the Art Museum’s four galleries.

Katy Odenweller and Brittany Barnwell performed “Guthrie Dialogues.” Their dance was very descriptive and seemed to be an extension of artist Gerald Guthrie’s digital artwork. The two performers creatively expressed the same emotions through dance as the artist’s images did for a gallery viewer.

The audience was then shuffled to the South Gallery where artist Elona Van Gent’s very imaginative artwork was displayed on the walls. Dancers Bryan Hurd and Caitlin Foster performed their dance “Acephilopod,” named after Van Gent’s sculpture.

Across the hallway, three other routines took place. “Funnel Series” employed a very repetitive and unimaginative soundtrack. The routine – performed by Melanie Windland, Rachel Lopez, Amaris Gholar, Ashleigh Muhammad and Elizabeth Kraus – performed in the Rotunda Gallery, featuring Jessica Gondek’s colorful artwork. Named after Gondek’s work, “Sagrada Familia” allowed the dancers to use all aspects of the gallery’s design and architecture.

The last dance routine was conducted as a solo by Monique Hickman.

In the midst of artist Karen Hanmer’s installation entitled “RetroTech,” Hickman performed an interpretive dance and vocally charged routine inspired by the atmosphere and artwork of the gallery. During the routine, Hickman stayed in character as she danced, describing the emotions the gallery’s installation provoked, with a monologue computer-esque voice.

Missed the first two performances? Catch the last TECHNODANCE performance at 1 p.m. this Saturday at the Art Museum in Altgeld Hall.

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