Friday and Saturday CMU’s Performing Arts department hosted its spring dance recital, Spring into Dance, at the Robinson Theatre in the Moss Performing Arts Center.

“This concert includes faculty choreographed work, student choreographed work, and two pieces choreographed by our guest choreographer, Dave Massey,” Dance Professor Melonie Buchanan said.

The recital was choreographed by CMU faculty Melonie Buchanan-Murray, Connie Monroe and Ann Sanders and featured guest choreographers Julie Sinnott of Beyond Boundaries Dance Collective and choreographer Dave Massey a dance professor at MiraCosta College.

“I have been tap dancing since I was three,” Dance major Taylor Young said. “I haven’t really known any other way. As for other styles, the more I took, the more I wanted to keep dancing.”

Young is a a fifth year senior majoring in dance and music theatre. She is one of the many students who performed in this weekend’s dance recital. She performed a Haka-inspired tap piece, done by a guest artist, and a student piece called “Coffee Break.”

“My favorite part about dancing is being able to express yourself when words are no longer enough,” Young said. “As a department, we have been preparing for this dance concert since about the second week of the semester.”

This is the fourth of five performances this year. The show featured contemporary dances, tap pieces, ballet, jazz, and hip-hop.

“The dance concert takes a lot of work from all ends of the theatre department,” Young said. “Once tech week starts, we pull in a sound and lighting crew, costumers, and a floor crew for backstage. It gets pretty hectic, but when we all work together as well as we do, it pulls together quite nicely.”

The final dance show this year is a completely student run production, Naked Soles, on May 5. For more information on upcoming performances at Moss Performing Arts Center visit coloradomesa.edu.