ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 4, 1997 TAG: 9704040018
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS THE ROANOKE TIMES
Dance professors proud of students' work.
Passion is often elusive. It is not always easy to define. But meeting someone who is passionate - whether it be about career, family or life itself - is also breathtaking.
It takes one brief encounter with Radford University dance professors Pegeen Albig and Mary Pat Balkus to feel their passion for the arts. Both Albig and Balkus have been at Radford for more than 30 years, and their excitement is still going strong. The duo has rejuvenated a dance program that has remained at the university despite low enrollment numbers.
And they are hoping their spring festival, "Steps in Time," not only showcases the program's present talent, but captivates a youthful audience as well.
"Our numbers have grown over the past three years quite significantly," said Albig, who estimates there are approximately 50 dance majors at Radford, three times as many as 10 years ago. "I think it's because people are hearing more about this department. We have a strong ballet faculty that draws a lot of students. In our spring festival we hope to have something for everyone in the audience to enjoy and to entice them to get involved."
The spring dance festival, which runs through Saturday at 8 p.m. in Preston Auditorium, includes six pieces of work: one ballet, one jazz and four modern dance. The program focuses on contemporary styles of dance and features works choreographed by Albig, Balkus, senior Greta Parsons and guest artist Arturo Fernandez.
Parsons, a Highlander Scholar, is the first student to choreograph a main stage production in nearly 17 years. She developed her piece, "Me Underneath," during her study in London as part of an exchange student program and while studying at the American Dance Festival last summer.
Fernandez is a ballet master for Lines, a contemporary ballet company in San Francisco. He has served on the dance faculty of the California State University at Long Beach. The piece he choreographed, "Barcarolle," was first choreographed in 1993 for five dances to music by Chopin, but during his visit to Radford in January, he extensively revised the piece to include 15 dancers.
"All of the pieces speak for themselves," Balkus said. "The music is very interesting and varied. There's something for everyone to enjoy and to learn in this program. I know I could live five lifetimes and never know all there is to know about dance."
Perhaps that's part of the reason Albig and Balkus have spent so many years in the field. While Albig admits it is a tiring career, she said it is also immensely rewarding.
"Dance is my life," Albig said, "but it's not just that. To teach dance is a wonderfully rewarding experience. I like the day-to-day changes I see in the students when somebody, for the first time, really gets it. During the course of a semester, seeing the changes that occur in their understanding and ability is what keeps me coming back."
Both women say their love of dance still thrives, and that despite their age (which neither will reveal to their students), both say they have plans to continue both teaching ... and dancing.
"I still love it," Balkus said. "And it doesn't even matter what kind. Dancing is just fun for me. I love folk dancing, ballroom dancing, ballet, tap, modern ... whatever. Just put the music on and I start to move."
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/THE ROANOKE TIMES. Radford University danceby CNBmajors practice for their spring dance festival, "Steps In Time."
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