Editor’s Note: The following was provided by the College of Arts and Communication, Department of Theatre/Dance at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The College of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater announces the next show of the Theatre/Dance season, “DanceScapes ‘23” with Artistic Director Barbara Grubel. This production will run in the Barnett Theatre from March 4-5 at 2 p.m. and March 7-8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale for the performances and can be purchased online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. The Barnett Theatre is located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts at 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190. 

“DanceScapes ’23” features works from UW-Whitewater student choreographers, faculty members and international dance artist Dr. Jin-Wen Yu who has created, performed, directed and produced over 100 works internationally and nationally. A showcase of unique talent crafted in our studios, we hope you’ll join us as we celebrate the shared experience of live performance.

Barbara Grubel, Professor of Dance and Artistic Director of “DanceScapes ‘23” says, “We are so grateful to be back on the stage after the pandemic. For those new to our show, Dancescapes is a platform where both students, faculty and guest artists have the opportunity to play and experiment with the possibilities of what dance can be. We are extremely proud of our students, alumni, faculty and guest artist Jin-Wen Yu, who are sharing their work with you.”

Dr. Jin-Wen Yu, EdD & MFA, Patrick M. Virginia Horne Henry-Bascom Professor of Dance, and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor in the UW-Madison Dance Department. He has created, performed, directed, and produced more than 100 works in the Americas and Asia. Before his study in the USA, he was a soloist for the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, one of the most prestigious dance companies in the world. Dr. Yu is a six-time gala concert winner of the American College Dance Association Conference. As the Past President of World Dance Alliance-Americas (WDA-A), he has directed international dance festivals in Madison, New York City, and Vancouver.

In 1999, Yu founded the Madison-based Jin-Wen Yu Dance and has been presenting its annual concert at Madison since. The company has performed nationally and internationally. Dr. Yu has received numerous grants, honors, commissions, and awards, such as the NEA grant, the Outstanding Dance Artist Award from Taiwan, the Wisconsin Arts Board Choreographer Award, the first Madison CitiARTS Commission Signature Grant, the Dane County Arts Grant, among others. In 2017 and 2018, his works were presented at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Some of his most notable works as a choreographer are: “Refresh” (2019), “1-2-1” (2017) “Paged” (2017), “Paging into the Realm of Imagination” (2017), “Fine Without You/Me?” (2016), “Late Winter” (2016), “Water” (2016), “Dis/connect I” (2015), and “Time to Cut Space (2015), “It is You, You, and You…. (2014)”. These works have been performed in cities around the world such as Madison, New York City, Chicago, Guatemala City, Tokyo and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. 

“DanceScapes ‘23” will run in the Barnett Theatre from March 4-5 at 2 p.m. and March 7-8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale for the performances and can be purchased in advance online at tickets.uww.edu or by calling (262) 472-2222. Adults are $16, age 65+ $14, and under 18, $11. There is a $2 surcharge for tickets purchased at the door at the time of the event. The Barnett Theatre is located in the Greenhill Center of the Arts at 950 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190. 

The College of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offers rigorous programs in music, theatre, dance, and the visual arts; internships; pre-professional opportunities in journalism, advertising, and applied communication; and innovative interdisciplinary studies. For more information visit uww.edu/coac.