“Kinesis: Emerging Choreography” returns this fall to display the choreographic diversity of CSUN undergraduates. Photo by Lee Choo.

Top choreographers and dancers within California State University, Northridge’s kinesiology program will demonstrate their diverse choreographic experience on April 24 and 25.

Undergraduate CSUN students will host three dance performances of “Kinesis: Emerging Choreography” on Wednesday, April 24, at 8 p.m. and Thursday, April 25, at 2 and 8 p.m. The performance will be held in the Plaza Del Sol Performance Hall, located on the east side of the campus off Zelzah Street in the University Student Union. The students will perform styles ranging from urban street to contemporary. 

“Our policy here is that if we’re going to produce a concert on a stage, it has to be high quality. It is not going to be like a recital, it is going to be a concert,” said Paula Thomson, a professor in CSUN’s Department of Kinesiology. “This show is really unique, all of the dances are expressing personal lived experiences about the environment, gender identity, loss, grief and anxiety. It’s really interesting what they’re choosing to look at.”

Sponsored by the Department of Kinesiology with support from the theatre department’s lighting class, “Kinesis” will showcase dancers, choreographers and lighting designers while aiming to highlight the diversity of CSUN’s student body.

Dancers and choreographers auditioned to perform for “Kinesis” at the beginning of the spring semester. Dances were chosen by a panel of CSUN faculty, based on the students’ ability to choreograph, portray their story and technical ability.

This year, Thomson and Victoria Jaque, co-directors of CSUN’s exercise and psychophysiology laboratory, will collect data on the audience and the dancers’ flow on stage to analyze how they connect with each other. Jaque and Thomson want to know if creative performances truly captivate audiences and what can trigger a response. Their data collection will be incorporated into feedback for choreographers and future curriculum.

“Our performers are learning about research and data collecting, backstage etiquette, producing shows, choreography and so many other facets [of performing],” said Thomson.

For more information about the performance, contact the course director, Paula Thomson, at paula.thomson@csun.edu. Tickets are $15 for students and seniors and $20 for adults – to purchase call (818) 677-2488.

Choreography, College of Health and Human Development, CSUN Kinesiology, Dance, Kinesis: Emerging Choreography