What's in the bag?

By Tamara Pacini

A tremendous amount of time and effort is packed tightly into the weeks spent in preparation for Brown Bag.

After all the preparation, the 48 dancers in Brown Bag are more than ready to present their showcase to the SMU community.

Brown Bag, a biannual student-choreographed dance performance put on in the lobby of the Owen fine Arts Center, takes place from Feb. 18-22.

"Half of the students on this campus have never even heard of Brown Bag," said senior dance and business major Ashley Oliver. "This show provides the chance to take advantage of what one of the best fine arts schools in the country has to offer."

Oliver said that hard work and dedication are essential to be a part of the Brown Bag showcase.

Dancers participating in Brown Bag begin practicing five weeks in advance. Depending on the number of pieces they are in, dancers practice at least eight to 10 hours a week.

"Some people get to Meadows at 9 a.m. and don't leave until late at night," Oliver said. "The more pieces you are in, the longer you have to practice."

To participate in Brown Bag, dancers have to audition. A student choreographer creates each piece, and dance students have the opportunity to tryout for all of the dances. Student choreographers are in charge of the theme, concept and music of the piece, as well as the selection of dancers they want in the piece.

"It is hard work to be a student choreographer and a dancer," said senior dance and education major Jackie Dowsett. "You have to step back and watch the piece and critique it, but you also have to dance in it yourself. It takes a lot of concentration and focus."

Once auditions are over and the dancers for each piece have been selected, they have three weeks to prepare it for an adjudication panel, said Oliver.

The adjudication panel is made up of the artistic director and artistic advisors. The panel, after seeing the piece, decides whether or not it is strong enough to go in the show.

Often times the biggest hurdle is making the cut with the board to even get the piece in the performance.

"Making it into the show is a big concern for both choreographers and dancers," Dowsett said. "It is a huge worry to everyone."

For dancers, Brown Bag gives them the opportunity to perform pieces that they are not able to do in main stage shows. It also allows the dancers to present the student body with an upbeat, energetic type of dancing that is on the students' level.

"There is a whole new attitude in Brown Bag because there are no constrictions at all. The pieces are brand new and they are fun," Dowsett said.

After being in dance classes all day long, where technique and formality is crucial, Brown Bag allows dance students to perform in a different medium. Oliver said the showcase is made up of non-traditional dancing and lets the dancers be themselves and let loose.

"Since the audience is on three sides of the stage, it makes the show more personal," sophomore dance major Travis Kelley said. "Brown Bag is a completely different realm of dancing."

For the dancers in Brown Bag, the show gives them a chance to perform material of their choice in front of their peers.

"I love the atmosphere of Brown Bag - with all your peers in front of you - on an open-air stage," Oliver said. "The crowd just gives you so much energy."