The Ball State Dance Theatre, dance faculty and community members will perform pieces choreographed by renowned dance artist Bill Evans at 7 p.m. in Ball Gym 213.
Evans, who has been a guest teacher in Ball State dance classes for two weeks and has been rehearsing with the performing groups, described his stay at Ball State as "satisfying."
"It's been a very full week," he said. "It's been a lot of work, but I love it deeply. I love my work."
Evans taught at Indiana University for two years and has most recently served as a full professor of dance at the University of New Mexico. He has been director of the Bill Evans Dance Company since 1975.
Muncie dance instructor Susan Koper, one of Friday's performers, said she has enjoyed the opportunity to work with Evans.
"I've found it really rewarding and challenging," she said.
Koper will perform Evans' "Remembering," a work written in response to the events of Sept. 11, 2001, with Ball State dance faculty members Michele Kriner and Audra Sokol.
Evans has reset the piece, which was originally written for a larger number of dancers, for the trio.
"It's a piece of sadness, a piece about coming together as a community," Evans said. "It's just a moment to reflect."
The Anderson Young Ballet will also perform an interpretation of the piece.
Koper said her involvement in Evans' stay stemmed from a desire to perform more often in the community.
"I was looking for a way to have some more performance experience," she said.
In need of material and a venue, Koper requested and received a grant from the Indiana Arts Commission to hire a choreographer.
"It's hard for me to have time to choreograph something and rehearse it and dance it, so I thought if I could hire someone else to come in and choreograph the piece, then it might be feasible," she said.
Since the Ball State dance department regularly hosts visiting artists, Koper was able to coordinate her project with the arrival of Evans, whom she describes as the "ultimate" choice.
"This is his life's work," Koper said. "You can just learn so much from him."
In addition to the interpretations of "Remembering," the Ball State Dance Theatre will be debuting an Evans-choreographed piece tonight, an untitled tap dance work.
"The tap piece is totally opposite," Evans said. "It's just fun, spontaneous and about rhythm. It's a community celebrating, having a good time."
Also an author, Evans has written articles on dance for publications such as Dance Teacher Now, Dance Magazine and Dance History Scholars.
According to his Web site, he has given appearances in all 50 states and has traveled as far as Europe, Australia and the Far East to perform his work.
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