EIU Media Relations

EIU Dancers to Present Annual Spring Concert

The Eastern Illinois University Dancers will present three showings of their annual spring concert, "Power in Grace," later this month.

Shows have been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27 and 28, and 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 29, on the stage of McAfee Gym. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain time, and admission is free to all. The performance promises to be enjoyable for those of all ages.

The concert will feature traditional forms of modern, ballet, tap and jazz to varied musical artists, including Jessica Andrews, B 52's, Norah Jones, Evanescence, Michael Jackson, the Brian Setzer Orchestra, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and selections from the soundtracks of "Chicago" and "The Lion King."

The EIU Dancers is a recognized student organization sponsored by the university's Department of Physical Education, and its members perform under the direction of faculty members Nancy Nordtvedt and Jeanna McFarland. This year's group is made up of 24 university students, both male and female, with many different majors. Auditions are held in September, and rehearsals start immediately for the spring concert.

There has been an annual spring concert sponsored by the Department of Physical Education since 1932; originally, the performances consisted of modern dance only.

Nordtvedt studied dance in Kansas , Missouri and California , and danced professionally in Wichita , Kan. She taught for four years at Montana State University , where she also had a dance group, before coming to EIU.

McFarland, a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, furthered her dance studies in New York City at different studios, including those of Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Finus Jung and Luigi. She came to Eastern in 1991.