Dance Through the Decades Friday at A&M International

Local dancers and performers from across generations will join forces to take guests on a "Dance Through The Decades" this Friday as Texas A&M International University presents its Spring Dance Concert at 8 p.m. at the Kinesiology and Convocation Building on campus.

Admission is free of charge and open to the public.

Bede Leyendecker, assistant professor of dance and coordinator of fine arts at the University, said the program offers a rich look at how dance has captured the spirit of its time from the 1910s to the present.

"Our students and guest performers have selected an impressive array of selections that offer a look at the tremendous range of dance performances through the decades. From the Charleston to Hip-Hop and Disco to Swing and everything in between, our guests will see just how dance comes to capture a mood and time for history," she explained.

Decades to be presented and dances that will be included are: 1910s - Romantic, 1920s - Charleston, 1930s - Broadway, 1940s - Swing, 1950s - Rock n' Roll, 1960s - Beatles, 1970s - Disco, 1980s - Hip-Hop, 1990s - Pop and 2000 - Millennium.

Also included will be a Spanish "cuadro" to feature traditional Spanish standards and contemporary performances of new music.

Among the talented guest performers are "Unique Style," a local group of break dancers, vocalists from Curtain Call Music Studio, dancers from the Vidal M. Trevino Magnet School and the recent winners in the Alethea Talent Show, Matias De Llano Elementary School.

In addition to students and guest performers, members of the University's faculty and staff will introduce selections, some in zany period costumes.

Leyendecker said the program has been a joy to coordinate and students have enjoyed the challenge of trying to recreate dances from past eras.

"It's not often that you have an opportunity to recreate steps first taken by your great-grandparents and see them come to life again in student performances. Our students and guests have put a lot of effort into offering authentic performances that will make our shared dance history come to life," she explained.

Leyendecker said the evening's program is also representative of performing arts that the University will showcase in its new $21.4 million Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, part of its Phase III expansion now underway.

"The Center will be the academic home to our growing fine and performing arts programs and will afford a dynamic performance and learning environment for our students and community at large. Performances like that of our "Dance Through the Decades" will be the caliber of entertainment and learning opportunities that we plan to present on a regular basis," Leyendecker said.

For additional information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at 326.2180.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu