Dance Team spring show ‘Opposites Attract’ to run May 4 and 5
Lamar’s Dance Team will present their annual spring show, “Opposites Attract” at The Jefferson Theatre Friday, May 4, and Saturday, May 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10, and can be purchased at the theater ticket window on the day of the show. Additionally, faculty members can claim a free ticket by contacting Brixey Blankenship-Cozad, dance team coordinator and the show’s director.
“The first show was in 2005, so this is our 13th show. Since 2012, the show’s taken a turn to a new direction. It’s more artistic, with a strong storyline, with all styles of dance,” said Blankenship-Cozad.
Blankenship-Cozad explained that the two-hour show will be made up of two acts, with the first act being a repetition of last year’s show, “True Colors,” for people who have not seen it. Following a short intermission, the performers will debut their new act “Opposites Attract.”
“True Colors is definitely more of an emotional and lighthearted show, while Opposites Attract is a little more artistic and it’s a very intense act. But, we purposely did that to give the audience a very good variety of what they’re seeing and feeling from all the pieces,” said Blankenship-Cozad.
The show promises to be fast paced and flow well, and to showcase a variety of styles of dance as well as many different representations of the theme. One dance might contain a very visual example of two opposing things, while the next might be more abstract, or be juxtaposed with the dance that follows it instead.
“We don’t want to give too much information away, just because we like for the audience to really be surprised when they come to the show,” said Blankenship-Cozad, “but we hope that we did a fun little take on some of them to surprise our audience.”
Blankenship-Cozad emphasized how much work the members, assistants, and volunteers have put into making this show possible. In addition to learning choreography, the hardworking, hands-on Dance Team members helped with costumes, props, and backdrops, doing everything they could to make the director's vision of the show a reality.
“These young ladies have dedicated a lot of time and effort into this show outside of our regular rehearsals, outside of our regular football, basketball, school events, community events, and special performances that we do around the area. They are very committed to what we’re doing, and they work really, really hard,” said Blankenship-Cozad.
Additionally, this year the Dance Team is putting on a kid’s clinic before the show and inviting children from the community in 1st through 8th grades to spend the day with the team and learn a dance for the show. During the intermission for the May 5 show, students who attend the clinic will be performing the dance they learned on stage. The clinic will take place on April 28 from 9 a.m. to noon, with check-in beginning at 8 a.m. Registration is $40 and includes the clinic, the performance, a ticket to the show for the participant, and a t-shirt.
“That’s something new that we’re doing to try and get more people in the community involved and give these young dancers an opportunity to perform on that stage where the Lamar University dance team performs,” said Blankenship-Cozad.
For more information on the show contact Brixey Blankenship-Cozad at (409) 880-7241 or email Brixey.Blankenship@Lamar.edu.