Hard stage light set the scene for the 2016 Contemporary Dance Concert, where nine Cal State Long Beach choreography and dance students told their own visual, intimate stories through dance.
Held at CSULB’s Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theatre on Thursday, the dance was divided into two acts. Both contained different contemporary dances that gave the dancers the opportunity to present their different talent, stories and creativity in the form of art.
The performance was hosted by the College of Arts and Department of Dance, the first program of the 2016 Contemporary Dance Concert took place Thursday night.
Senior dance major Caitlin Barfield said that she wanted to demonstrate and showcase her own experience with alcohol abuse through “6 hrs,” a piece she choreographed and performed before a packed audience.
“6 hrs” is a collection of Barfield’s personal college experiences, recounting times she encountered foreign situations and complexities of young adult life. While facing a college party scene, Barfield came in contact with the night-life and was subsequently introduced to alcohol. This excessive drinking made its mark on Barfield through a struggle with alcohol poisoning that left her fighting for her life.
“The first thing I had to do was come out and tell my story so I can explain to everybody that this is something that happens to a lot of us, whether if it was the exact same way or not,” Barfield said.
Many of the dances aimed to provide a deeper understanding of complex, personal stories in which the performers on stage were also the real-life subjects of the dance.
The 2016 Contemporary Dance Concert will hold its second act March 10-12 at 8 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. in the Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theatre.