<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-74801116-7fff-3167-5416-c3bfd48948fb" style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Dance continues its 2023-2024 season with </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Vitromer,</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> a thesis concert featuring Master of Fine Arts candidates Joel K. Linebach and Chengyao Zhou. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Vitromer</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> features the candidates in solos, duets, and ensemble works. Performances are March 21, 22, 23 at 7:30 p.m. and March 24  at 2:30 p.m. All performances are located at Mather Dance Center on the Case Western Reserve campus.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:9pt 0pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Both candidates created ensemble works featuring graduate students and undergraduate dance majors and minors. Joel K. Linebach’s</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> -MER </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">utilizes selected concepts from polymer physics and biology to inspire the generation of a wide range of dynamic movements for a cast of nine dancers. Through spatial arrangements of groups of varying sizes and an interplay of dynamics across the groups, the work emulates Brownian dynamics of biochemical molecules and biological systems. Zhou’s </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Motion Ink </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">is loosely inspired by abstract expressionist paintings, with music by Travis Lake. This sextet uses dancers’ sweeping movements and linear paths as well as shapes and tableaus to simulate a painter's brush strokes on a canvas. The interaction of different bodies generates a variety of unique images, exploring the endless possibilities that arise from the combination of movement and expression; yet unlike a canvas that can be viewed over and over, each movement is transient, existing only in the present moment.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 9pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In addition to creating larger ensemble groups, both candidates will perform in their own choreography. Zhou dances a solo entitled </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The First Time Death </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">which</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">takes its inspiration from a line in an ancient Chinese poem: "Wildfires burn endlessly, but with the arrival of spring winds, life is reborn." Set to music by Chen Yi, this solo incorporates movements that inherently weave moments of regret and struggles with growth and revival to portray a journey of resilience and revitalization.  Like Zhou, Linebach will be featured not only as a choreographer, but as a dancer.  </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In his trio </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Cerulean,</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Linebach begins his ‘ode to the motion of water’ with a solo of sweeping movements that travel through space evoking qualities of water in various forms.  As other dancers enter, the trio carves through the space, channeling and cascading in patterns with flowing movements, often swirling, bursting, and spouting like water itself.  </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Kinetic Echoes,</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(32,33,36);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Linebach’s quartet in which he also dances, is a culmination of research funded in part under the auspices of the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities at Case Western Reserve University with a Graduate Research Grant.  Investigating the use of wearable technology in exploring the intersection of movement and sounds generated through movement in a contemporary dance was the cornerstone of Linebach’s creative research.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 9pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Returning after its premiere in 2023, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Shall we drink a cup of tea before we leave?</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> choreographed by Zhou, is a quartet inspired by the traditional Sado tea ceremony. At the heart of the choreography is a sense of a "once in a lifetime" moment that we might all experience at some point in time. All knowing of the sense of impermanence, the host or hostess treats their guests with reverence and honor while the guests simultaneously reciprocate to create a harmonious atmosphere.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-weight:700;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ticket Information</span></p><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Tickets are $10 for students with ID, $12 for seniors age 60+ and CWRU personnel, and $15 for general admission. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Reservations are now open, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">and may be made by calling (216) 368-5246 or online at <a href="https://case.edu/artsci/dance/news-and-events/ticket-reservations">https://case.edu/artsci/dance/news-and-events/ticket-reservations</a></span></span><br></div>