If, while walking around the Moss Performing Arts Center next week, you think you see vampires, don’t worry: it’s just the Mesa State Dance Society members getting into character. The Society is embracing the Halloween season during this semester’s production of Naked Soles, which will appear on Mesa State’s main stage for one night only Friday.
Naked Soles, which features many different numbers, is unique in that it’s an entirely student-run production. Everything, from the lights, to the music, to the choreography, is designed and operated by Mesa State students with a vested interest in making this performance a success. It’s been a triumph Dance Society president and senior Kelly Rohr has seen Naked Soles grow from a small show to a major performance in her time at Mesa State.
“Naked Soles was something we had in the dance studio, and they’d just set up chairs on the edge of the floor. But as people became more dedicated to their craft, everything started getting bigger and better. It’s not an informal show anymore. It’s definitely a main stage performance,” Rohr said.
The Dance Society held a similar program for several years, but it has only existed as Naked Soles for seven semesters. It was held in the Black Box Theater after outgrowing the dance studio, but this semester, it will be held on Robinson Theater’s main stage.
“This year is going to be our greatest success. Everyone is working so well together, and we have the main stage privilege. People don’t realize how big the dance program is. We were selling out the Black Box seats,” said Rohr.
This year, Naked Soles features two pieces by Gabriele Cahill, a Dance Society member who has been choreographing since the sixth grade. Cahill is responsible for the show’s finale, a dance called “After Dusk”. The “thrashy” dance requires the largest cast of the entire performance, all looking decidedly scary with fangs and dark costumes.
“We wanted some cool, very different costumes. We went for dark clothing, crazy hair and makeup,” Cahill said.
While the cast is open to anyone who would like to participate, choreographers must be registered students who are members of Dance Society. Cahill, who was already choreographing a duet, approached society officers about doing a second, massive piece with jazz choreography, utilizing the song “Corrupt” by Depeche Mode.
“This piece clicked together on its own. I found the music last year and I really wanted to use it. I broke the music down into sections, and then I picked the cast I thought would be best… It’s not just dance majors, either. There are music theater majors in it who are doing really well,” Cahill said.
The society’s officers have their work cut out for them, too. Not only do they find and facilitate choreographers, they also find students to ensure the show operates smoothly using connections they’ve made throughout their time in the dance department. They are responsible for making the posters and programs, and they advertise this community event in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.
“We’re utilizing every ounce of time,” Rohr said.
Although Rohr has been responsible for three productions of Naked Soles, this is the first time she’s also been able to dance in it as well. Choreographer Tiffany Freeman believes the reason for this slightly lessened load may be the cast and crew’s dedication to the show.
“Gabriele is here from 10 p.m. to midnight, after ‘The Drowsy Chaperone.’ It’s kind of cool, doing a vampire piece that late at night. We’re getting into character,” Freeman said.
Cahill agrees that the participants are working particularly passionately for this performance of Naked Soles.
“It’s really impressive that we have performers who want to be here from 10 to midnight.”
This semester’s performance of Naked Soles is on Robinson Theater’s main stage for one night only on October 15. Tickets can be purchased at the door: $5 students,$8 seniors, and $10 adults.