The dance department kicked off the year in September with the International Dance Company (TWU’s resident folk dance group) performing at Denton’s 4th Annual Fiesta on the Square. Debuting the fresh faces of the group with new Latin dances and old favorites with the polished and sexy-as-ever upperclassmen dancers, Fiesta on the Square was more than dancing, it was pure fun. With bright colored dresses, stomping, clapping, and all around hip shaking the group got the year started at a high note.

October’s presentation of the much talked about and lauded Daughter’s turned the department on its heels, reminding audiences how versatile TWU dancers are. Nika Stien’s performance in this unique and ever evolving piece aimed at investigating the relationships created by women and their daughters, specifically the Madonna and her daughter. Set in the scene appropriate Little Chapel in the Woods and with beautiful music provided by the organ, Daughter’s is one of the most thought provoking and unique pieces performed this year.

Countless special event performances later, and the TWU dance department hit November running, prepared for their busiest and most exciting month yet. With the youth oriented KidsDance, annual show stopper DanceMakers, and finale DanceMakers, Too practiced and polished for audiences November came and went in a flurry of pirouettes, leaps, and other mind boggling choreography – all by the ever so talented dance students of TWU.

Anyone who attended any of the Dancemakers or Dancemakers, Too performances can speak endlessly of the talent that is being produced at TWU, so I won’t try and persuade you with words how amazing the men and women of this department truly are. No, seeing is believing when it comes to TWU dancers. It may be too late to catch any of the performances for this semester, but the curtain will open again next year for the great talents in the TWU Dance Department.