SUU Student to Present Paper @ National Conference of Undergraduate Research

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03/16/11
Michael French
Public Information Coordinator
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Southern Utah University
Office: 435-865-8667
michaelfrench@suu.edu

SUU DANCE STUDENT TO PRESENT ABSTRACT
AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
AT ITHACA COLLEGE, NEW YORK
MARCH 30-APRIL 2, 2011

Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: In December 2010, SUU junior Rebecca Boizelle impressed audiences attending the College of Performing and Visual Arts’ Breaking Bounds: Student-Choreographed Dance Concert with her work, Rocking Chair. Her unique blend of dance set against video, poetry and music, that Boizelle conceived and edited was a standout work in the evening’s program. For her creativity and scholarship, Boizelle has been chosen by the National Conference of Undergraduate Research (NCUR) to present her abstract, Multi-Media for Dance, at the organization’s upcoming conference March 30-April 2 on the campus of Ithaca College in upstate New York.

Mentored by Chien-Ying Wang, SUU Assistant Professor of Dance, Rebecca Boizelle pushed the boundaries of student choreography to new limits with her original work. An excerpt from her abstract underlines her philosophy for creating Rocking Chair. “The enhancement of natural art is something that must be well balanced so as not to overwhelm the initial honesty of the organics. There is interest with the power video has in influencing the effect and tangibility of dance work. Finding balance in putting that theory into action with simultaneous presentation of video-dance, live dance and poetry presents conflict.”

Rocking Chair, a duet, was about the power of memories in bringing about the tangibility of reality with perspective of age and death.

Hailing from Mesa, Arizona, Rebecca Boizelle came to Cedar City as a Dance Education Major at SUU. She has participated in several dance concerts at SUU including Breaking Bounds: Student-Choreographed Dance Concert, and Journeys: Faculty Dance Concert, as well as choreographing for Breaking Bounds, Fall 2010. Boizelle has interest in and has presented choreography focusing on multi-media, including poetry, music and video for dance. She will also be performing in Alwin Nikolais’ Imago with her fellow student dancers in New York City Spring 2011. Boizelle plans to study abroad, in Taiwan, hoping to expand her global perspective on dance. Her aspirations upon graduation include, teaching dance as an alternate physical education and artistic outlet for students in secondary education, teaching Modern dance and English in South Korea, and continuing her endeavors in dance choreography using multi-media.

To participate in the NCUR conference, Boizelle received funding from Southern Utah University’s
Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Program.
The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), established in 1987, is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study by sponsoring an annual conference for students. Unlike meetings of academic professional organizations, this gathering of young scholars welcomes presenters from all institutions of higher learning and from all corners of the academic curriculum. Through this annual conference, NCUR creates a unique environment for the celebration and promotion of undergraduate student achievement, provides models of exemplary research and scholarship, and helps to improve the state of undergraduate education.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespearean Festival, the performance group Acclamation, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean at (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.