Salve Regina University’s dance program will present “Soul Traffic” at the Casino Theatre Feb. 5-7.
Directed by Lindsay Guarino, chair of Salve’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, the performance explores how the soul finds its way through chaos toward connection, revealing the inner intersections where emotion, memory and identity collide.
The program features guest artists, alumni, and student choreography ranging from powerful, fast-paced pieces that capture large group dynamics to introspective, intimate relationships.
Brandi Coleman, a professor at Southern Methodist University and frequent Salve collaborator, created “Hear My Cry” to music by Ezra Collective, Sons of Kemet and KOKOROKO. The piece uses high-energy, emotion-driven jazz rhythms to capture themes of resilience, steadfast grit, and forward momentum through communal joy.
Duane Lee Holland Jr., director of dance at UMass Amherst and guest faculty at Salve, will premiere “Worthy.” A fusion of hip hop, house and jazz dance, the work draws upon Holland’s extensive performance experience, which includes Rennie Harris Puremovement, Ronald K. Brown’s Evidence and “The Lion King” on Broadway.
The program also features work by Salve alumni Haley Andrews and Trinity Leite, as well as pieces by dance majors Angel Ahern, Lexi Callaghan, Cameron Leslie and Cc Smith.
Performances take place at the Casino Theatre, 9 Freebody St. Tickets are $17 for general admission, $14 for children, military and seniors, $10 for Salve faculty and staff, and free for Salve students with ID. Tickets are available at salve.edu/performances.