"Current" Choreography Preview: "Undertow" by Brad Elkins

"Undertow" is a five person composition by rookie composer Brad Elkins with direction from Sara Mae Hnilica. It is to the song 'Belispeak' by the electro pop duo Purity Ring, in which a fever-dreaming girl speaks to her grandmother on what she believes is her last day. Meanwhile, the dance follows a girl's struggle to survive in a churning sea which is personified by two aqua draped ladies. The two gentlemen represent the girl's strength, resilience, and the fight for life to persist. Following deep bass and a raucous synth track, this dance tests the performers athleticism and rhythm in an effort to honor crushing death and life's unwillingness to quit in three short minutes.

Come see Brad, Sara Mae, Marie Bartlett, Sydney Haymond, and Leith Meador perform "Undertow" on April 26th at Oconee Civic Center in Prelude Dance Ensemble's Spring 2015 Show, "Current."

Senior Spotlight: Starr Woods

Starr Woods auditioned for Prelude her freshman year (Fall 2011) and has been dancing and choreographing with us ever since! She will graduate with a degree in anthropology and plans to take a few years off after graduation to work before going back to graduate school to study historic preservation.

Prelude Dance Ensemble: What was your dance experience like before joining Prelude?

Starr Woods: I danced for 6 years before Prelude in a small studio and on my high school marching band's dance line.

PDE: How did you first hear about Prelude and what motivated you to audition?

SW: I heard about Prelude through a former high school dance captain and decided to join freshman year because I wanted to continue dancing throughout college, and I've done that.

Performing "Sail" in the fall 2013 show, "Mirror, Mirror"

PDE: You’ve choreographed a number of jazz pieces during your time in Prelude. Which has been your favorite?

SW: My favorite dance I've choreographed was the opener, “Hideaway,” in the Fall 2014 show. I enjoyed choreographing for the whole company and it was a fun dance.

PDE: Can you tell us a little bit about the piece you’re working on now for the spring show?

SW: Currently, I'm choreographing a piece with Grace Ho and Mariel Williams, my little and grand little in Gamma Sig. I've loved spending the extra time with them and getting to dance with them in a piece my last semester means a lot to me.

Incidental Gamma Sigma Sigma family matching at rehearsal, Fall 2014

PDE: What has been like to see so many people come and go through Prelude and see it evolve over time?

SW: It's been awesome to see how much Prelude has evolved over the past 4 years. Everyone has their own style and we know each other's strengths as dancers and I think that's really cool.

Rehearsing "Latch," Spring 2013

PDE: What will you miss most about Prelude after graduating?

SW: The thing I'll miss the most about Prelude is the people. I've enjoyed dancing with everyone over the years and I can't wait to see what Prelude has in store for future shows.

Starr, thank you for your commitment and passion over the past eight semesters! Keep on shining after graduation!

Be sure to see Starr and the rest of our seniors in their last show, “Current,” April 26 at Oconee Civic Center.