Department of Theatre & Dance News

The curtain rises and lights dim as the energy of the audience surges. The sound of thrilling music fills the space, while athletic and soaring movement glides across the stage. Costumes shimmer under LED lights while talented dancers turn and leap, soar and slide. They are lifted into the air, balance on tree stumps, manipulate fabric, and rhythmically gesture their arms and stomp their feet. Audience members fall silent, fully mesmerized and entertained before bursting wildly into applause. The event…Evening of Dance!

This mainstage concert is produced by Western Kentucky University’s Department of Theatre & Dance and features the WKU Dance Company performing work by WKU faculty and nationally acclaimed guest artists. Evening of Dance is performed in Russell Miller Theater, located on the WKU main campus in the Ivan Wilson Fine Arts Center adjacent to The Commons. This concert has been a spring feature and season closer for the WKU Dance Company for over 25 years. This year’s concert will last approximately 90 minutes with an intermission and includes work in contemporary ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and Flamenco. This 2026 production is a must see display of rhythmical and athletic prowess.

Unlike the department’s fall production, WinterDance, this annual spring concert dives into the classical and contemporary side of concert dance, exploring a range of dance genres and unique themes. Evening of Dance will premiere six new choreographic works. Retroverse, choreographed by Adjunct Instructor and Cuban ballet master Roberto Sifontes, is a contemporary ballet that abstractly explores the passage of time and includes challenging and dynamic partnerwork and lifts. In Plain Sight is a neo-swing theatre jazz dance choreographed by Adjunct Instructor and Kentucky native Amanda Poitras. Athletic musicality and tightly crafted partnering drive a narrative in which club-goers and concealed thieves share the floor, building toward a subtle, staged heist. Flowing, Floating choreographed by Associate Professor Meghen McKinley is a contemporary modern piece exploring the intersection of the wood and water elements. Full bodied athletic movement will reflect the physical, spiritual, and metaphorical properties of these elements, and how one does not flourish without the other when both are in balance. Professor Amanda Clark presents a contemporary jazz dance entitled Control. Through athletic and dramatic movement, this work challenges dancers and viewers to consider the hypersensitive ways in which we approach control in our lives. Two highlights of this year’s concert are the results of two guest artist residencies, both sponsored in part by the Mahurin Honors College. Guest artist Katherine Kramer brings her tap expertise into her work entitled Resonance. This work explores shared rhythms, transforming attention into connection. When we truly listen, there’s power in moving together. And guest artist Yohanna Escamilla unites dancers in an exciting presentation of Flamenco dance, both challenging the dancers while capturing the viewers’ attention.

​​The WKU Dance Company, the resident dance ensemble of the Department of Theatre & Dance, is composed of 38 dance majors. Faculty and students began working on this concert in January and view it as the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication. Performances run April 23-26th, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased in advance at wku.showare.com or at the door.

The WKU Dance Program invites high school students interested in the WKU Dance Program to participate in the Spring Dance Day, held on Sunday, April 26th. Take a class with us and enjoy complimentary tickets to the Sunday matinee of Evening of Dance! For more information about the Dance Program and events, visit https://www.wku.edu/theatre-and-dance/.

Ticket Information:

April 23 - 26, 2026

Russell H. Miller Theatre, FAC

Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 7:30 P.M. CST

Sunday at 2:00 P.M. CST

Tickets: $16

All Students $5

wku.showare.com