This Saturday, Geneseo will host Parsons Dance Company, one of the most popular dance ensembles in the country, as part of the Limelight and Accents 2009-10 Performing Arts Series.
According to the group's official Web site, they are "an internationally renowned contemporary dance company under the artistic direction of choreographer David Parsons." They perform "contemporary American dance of extraordinary artistry that is entertaining and enriching to diverse audiences."
New Limelight and Accents Coordinators junior Kellie O'Keefe and senior Kian Bichoupan are responsible for booking Parsons as part of this year's lineup of Activities Commission-sponsored entertainment events.
"Every year there is a conference in New York City called APA - Association of Performing Arts," Bichoupan said. "We go from showcase to showcase looking for performers … we saw a few other dance companies [but] we knew when we saw Parsons [that they were] high quality."
"We heard they were one of the best dance groups in New York City," O'Keefe said.
As the group notes on its Web site, "Since 1985, Parsons Dance has toured an average of 32 weeks per year, to a total more than 235 cities, 30 countries, six continents and millions of audience members."
Saturday's show will not be the first time the group has come to Geneseo. "They have performed here before, but a really long time ago," O'Keefe said.
Parsons' legacy not only as a professional dance troupe, but also as a Geneseo act should provide for an entertaining evening for this weekend's performance.
"[The show] appeals to people who like dance," Bichoupan said. "They're not like a ballet that people will get bored at. The music's very upbeat … you don't even need to be a dancer to appreciate them."
O'Keefe noted the group's "classical, contemporary … and very sensual" style can be appreciated by all audience members. Indeed, photographs of the performers from the Parsons online gallery show the dancers completing a number of impressive maneuvers both together and individually.
Bichoupan and O'Keefe said they are confident in the potential for success of their first show as Limelight and Accents coordinators. "We wanted Parsons really badly … and we got them," Bichoupan said.
Parsons Dance Company performs this Saturday at 8 p.m. in Wadsworth Auditorium. Tickets for the show are available for $6 for Geneseo students, $8 for children 12 years and under, $13 for faculty, staff and alumni, and $16 for the general public. They can be bought at the Student Association ticket office in the College Union or online at saticketoffice.geneseo.edu.
Information about upcoming Limelight and Accents show can be found at geneseo.edu/limelightandaccents.