'age! September U, 2004
CAMPUS NEWS
Meredith Learns the Art of Balance
JENNIFER PORT
News Editor
On September 10, just
over 100 Meredith students
and faculty gathered in
Jones Auditorium to enjoy
"Balancing Act: Building
Community Through the
Arts (even if you think you
aren't an artist)". Hosted by
the Convocation Committee
and the Dance Program,
this convocation was
designed to help students
realize their inner artist by
using their daily struggles
as inspiration.
As students and staff
members approached the
site of Jones Auditorium,
all could see the large
black, wooden boxes cover
ing its lawn. Atop these
boxes were various students
and staff members dancing,
stopping only to balance
with intricate poses. In the
entrance at the auditorium,
a wooden, pastel colored
seesaw again reaffirmed the
"Balancing Act" theme to
all who entered.
Leading the convocation
was Peter DiMuro, Artistic
Director of Liz Lerman
Dance Exchange in
Washington, D.C. He began
by commenting on his
return visit to Meredith
College, "There's a differ
ence in you which I find
amazing. You seem wiser,
more polite. You are women
of the future."
DiMuro told about how
he travels and interacts with
different groups of people,
getting their stories and
finding out what their group
is all about. He then uses
dance to reflect their sto
ries. DiMuro captivated the
audience with his testi
monies of how using mod
em dance brings communi
ties closer together.
DiMuro shared with the
audience an emotional story
of how he was asked to cre
ate, a dance on the topic of
AIDS. Having been affect
ed personally by the debili
tating illness, DiMuro dis
closed the difficulty he
faced in trying to create art
involving something about
which he was so passionate.
He explained that after
much time of reflection, the
dance he developed consist
ed of him miming for eight
een minutes straight. He
demonstrated how he would
run, stop, breath hard, and
start mnning again. His
interpretation of the illness
signified his feelings of loss
and hopelessness associated
with AIDS.
Photo by Jennifer Port
Guest Speaker Peter DiMuro as he reads from his new work, "Gumdrops
and Funny Uncles".
Keeping with the theme
of "Balancing Act,"
DiMuro interactively
worked with the audience
questioning them about
what they "balance" in
everyday life. DiMuro lis
tened closely and watched
even closer as the students
gave their answers. Some
of the answers presented
were work, school, the
world around them, and
family. From the atten
dants' detailed responses
and hand gestures, DiMuro
created flowing move
ments to symbolize each
answer, encouraging the
attendees to follow along.
After all of the answers
were shared, each of the
movements were fused
together and set to soft
music. The entire audience
participated as their very
own modem dance creation
symbolizing the "balancing
act" they face in their daily
lives took shape.
The convocation was
very well received, allow
ing Meredith students and
staff to become artists, even
if they thought they weren't
artists to begin with. Abby
Eaton, Meredith Art Major,
said, "I wasn't going to
come until I saw the
dancers outside. I thought
to myself, 'Wow, that looks
cool.' As an Art Major it
was great to see a different
side of the art spectram. It
was awesome!"
DiMuro concluded the
convocation with a passion
ate reading from his
"Gumdrops and Funny
Uncles" project, which con
sists of amusing stories
about his life set to music.
The Liz Lerman Dance
Exchange is intergenera-
tional with dancers ranging
from age 20 to 70. DiMuro
spoke fondly of his fellow
dancers saying that they are
the "family I get to hang out
with and make art with."
DiMuro has choreo
graphed, taught and per
formed around the world
for the past 25 years. In
1995 he was a recipient of
the Mayor of
Boston/Pro Arts Public
Service in the Arts Award
and in 2000 was named a
White House Millennial
Artist. He has received
grants from the National
Performance Network,
Artists' Foundation and the
Cultural Council of
Massachusetts. DiMuro
currently leads the national
tour of Near/Far/In/Out, a
work inspired by the culture
and the voices of the LGBT
community.
DiMuro is the Dance
Program's guest artist this
fall. DiMuro's work will be
performed by the company
and company alumnae at
the Meredith Dance
Theater's 20th Anniversary
Concert in November.
Are You Interested in Working Abroad?
The Meredith College Office of Study Abroad invites you to meet with
representatives from BUNAC
Thursday, September 23,
11 a.m. to 1:30p.m.
Belk Dining Hall
BUNAC, the British Universities North America Club, offers programs for young
people wishing to live and work abroad. BUNAC participants can combine the
everyday life of a country with exciting travel possibilities to destinations such as
London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Vancouver, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.
BUNAC representatives Gemma Parker and Karen Spicer can answer your
questions about the types ofprograms, finding a job, program costs, living costs,
and how and when to apply.
Thursday, September 23 is the only day BUNAC will be on our campus this
semester. Don't pass up this excellent opportunity!
For more information, contact:
Sara Milani
Assistant Director of Study Abroad
Ext 8429, MilaniS@meredith.edu