As part of the Homecoming weekend activities, the Music and Dance departments of Mercyhurst College will be presenting, “An Evening of Music and Dance,” on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center (PAC).

The performance will exhibit the talents of current music and dance majors as well as featuring professors within the music department, the Lydia Marx trio, and SoMar Dance Works, a modern dance company in residence in the dance department.

The concert opens with a piano trio to be performed by music professors Shirley Yoo on piano, Barton Rotberg on violin, and Jonathan Tortolano on cello. The Liturgical Dance Ensemble will follow with “This Little Light of Mine,” and later in the program will present, “They Will Know We are Christians.” Both of these pieces the dancers will be performing again at Project Dance in Sydney, Australia later this year.

The Mercyhurst Dancers will perform “Fragments” by acclaimed choreographer and director Bruce Marks and “Closing the Glass Door,” a duet set early this fall by guest choreographer Randy James. This particular piece is a deep work that causes the dancers to pull from within themselves in order to reach the full breadth of the work’s potential.

“Working on this piece was a very eye-opening experience for me. It gave me insight into how to dance from the inside out instead of focusing on the steps,” said Junior David Jakubson, who will be dancing in the homecoming cast of, “Closing the Glass Door.”
Members of the dance department’s Pointe and Variations courses will present solo variations in the homecoming performance.

Freshman Rachel Bauer will dance a variation from the ballet Sylvia and junior Anna Daught will perform the “Cupid” variation from Don Quixote.

The Music department similarly will present virtuosic vocal performances by students. Freshman Kathleen Reveille will perform “Habanera” from Carmen, and juniors Elizabeth Zurasky and Marie Karbacka will sing a duet, “Dome Epais,” from Lakmé. Senior Andrea Baker, junior Megan Duane and junior Chad Bonifazi will form a trio to sing “Soave sia il vento” from Cosi Fan Tutte.

SoMar Dance Works will close the performance with “Tailspin Tango,” a work originally presented at the Erie Festival of Dance in 2009. This piece features the modern partnering characteristic of SoMar along with plenty of tango flair.

“We are very excited to be on stage with the music department, showcasing new talent and choreography,” said dance department Chairwoman Tauna Hunter.

“The homecoming performance is a terrific kick-off that brings students together with faculty in a rare opportunity to share their combined talents with parents and alums.”