What: “Design & Dance”
When: 7:30 tonight through Saturday
Where: University Theatre
Cost: $8 for students, $14 for general public, $13 for faculty and staff and $10 for senior citizens
In a show that honors one of its own, the Department of Theatre and Dance presents its last production called “Design & Dance.”
Sarah Mangelsdorf, assistant professor of dance, has worked at Ball State for more than 40 years and was an integral part of the process of creating the dance major. She plans to retire after this year, and her colleagues wanted to use this dance performance to showcase and honor her and her service to the department and the school.
The show presented the opportunity for the role of a mother, which is different from the usual dance shows where none of the participants have specific roles.
“I needed a mother in my piece, and I saw this as a way to honor Sarah and everything she’s done for the department,” said Susan Koper, dance instructor and one of the choreographers for the concert. “She’s been here since the beginning and seen the department through so many different stages. The students really respect and honor her.”
When she was asked to fill this role in the concert, Mangelsdorf expressed that she was greatly honored and nervous. It has been a while since she’s performed on the University Theatre stage.
“We, as a dance faculty, talked about bringing design elements into a show to challenge us, and we decided to try building a house on stage,” said Audra Sokol, associate professor of dance and artistic director. “Our student set designer, Cait Molloy, made a small model first and we took it upon ourselves as designers to interpret the space as we saw fit.”
Beyond her role as the maternal figure in this dance, Mangelsdorf has become the person who is supposed to be living in the house serving as the common thread, which unites the dancers and aids in their transitions.
Laura Mansur, a sophomore dance major, will be in one of Sokol’s three duets with sophomore dance major Carolyn Meier.
“We’re more quirky [in our dance],” Mansur said. “We’re not supposed to be crazy, but it’s almost like we’re a little off-center.”
Mangelsdorf said her favorite part of any performance is the process of rehearsing and preparing for the show.
“I love to see the dance evolve and see the dancers grow,” she said. “There’s so much energy and so much dedication [in our dancers].”
As she approaches the end of her time here at Ball State, Mangelsdorf said she will miss many facets of her career and that she is thankful for the experiences she has had.
“I’ve had a wonderful career with the freedom to develop and work to teach the way I want to, and I am very grateful,” she said. “I have enjoyed all of my years here, and I’ll miss the students and the faculty and the energy here on campus. I am really proud of the students in this concert.”
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