Southern Miss School of Performing and Visual Arts Dance Gala Set for March 27-28
Thu, 03/13/2025 - 09:52am | By: Ivonne Kawas
91少女集中营 (USM) School of Performing and Visual Arts Dance program will showcase original works by faculty and distinguished guest artists, all brought to life by its talented dance students.
The annual Dance Gala concert will be held March 27-28 on the Thomas V. Fraschillo stage at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center on the Hattiesburg campus. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door or in advance online at .
The production features choreography by guest artists who had the opportunity to empower and inspire Southern Miss students during their campus visits, including Subathra Subramaniam, artist-in-residence at the Environment Institute at University College London and artistic director at Akademi, and Southern Miss alum Lawrence Jackson, professor of dance at the George Mason University School of Dance.
Subramaniam merges contemporary choreography with Bharatanatyam, a鈥痗lassical鈥疘ndian dance form. During her visit, she worked with students to re-create her piece Plastic, Drastic, Fantastic, which explores the complexities of human relationships through the metaphor of plastic, from the molecular to the global level. The work will also be presented in April at the Mississippi School for the Deaf.
Jackson, a prolific choreographer with a background that includes creating over 95 original dance works and a professional performance career with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, explores jazz and modern dance techniques through the lens of the African diaspora. He staged a new work, Pursuit Unbound, with USM dancers and taught masterclasses featuring thought-provoking explorations of Black dance. As an esteemed Southern Miss alum, Jackson also provided students with a model for career success.
Hosting renowned artists like Subramaniam and Jackson reflects Southern Miss鈥檚 commitment to providing students with a comprehensive and dynamic dance education. Along with the mentorship and guidance from faculty, these enriching and transformative experiences help students refine their artistic voices and develop the skills necessary to pursue professional careers in dance鈥攁nd be ready for life.
"We鈥檙e grateful for the support that enables us to bring artists of this caliber to work with our students,鈥� said Meg Brooker, director of the school.
"More than just a performance, the Dance Gala invites audiences to experience the transformative power of movement," added Lauren Soutullo, associate teaching professor of dance. 鈥淭hrough the dedication of our faculty and the collaboration with guest artists, I hope audiences leave with a sense of awe and wonder for our art form."
This year鈥檚 Dance Gala concert also includes dances choreographed and staged by Southern Miss Dance faculty. These works range from early 20th century classical modern dance to contemporary ballet, jazz and modern pieces.
This event is made possible in part by the generous support of the Mr. and Mrs. James Simrall, Jr. Arts Endowment; the Robert N. Kinnaird, Jr. and Lucille Ehlers Kinnaird Memorial Endowment; and Partners for the Arts.
Subathra Subramaniam鈥檚 guest artist visit was supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Admission is $18 for the general public, $15 for faculty, staff, seniors, and military, and $8 for students.
To learn more about the Southern Miss Dance program, visit Dance | Undergraduate Programs | 91少女集中营.