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Thursday, May 30, 1996

Dance seniors to put on final project this weekendBy Kathleen Rhames

Daily Bruin Contributor

If you ask graduating senior Kyla Barkin to explain this year's dance concert theme, "Out of WAC," you'll get an energetic reply.

"Being that we're one of the last classes to graduate as dance majors makes everything feel all out of wack," she says. "Ever since the Dance Department's merge with the department of World Arts and Cultures, everything has been crazy and chaotic for us."

All the craziness, however, hasn't stopped this year's crop of senior dance students from putting on another promising concert. Barkin is one of several students to perform their final works this weekend. These self-choreographed pieces will be their final thesis project ­ an event which they have been planning since their freshman year at UCLA.

"It took a long growth process to reach a point of maturity in our choreography and artistry," Barkin says. "It's been a continuous journey, building on what our senior piece was going to be. It's like our senior thesis, our final exam."

The concert consists of 10 dance pieces ranging in both technique and choreography. While there is no cohesive theme to the performance, the dances are connected by a diverse web of culture and repertoire.

"You might see the twist of a wrist and know it's the Flamenco," Barkin says, "or see a little jump that you would recognize from an African dance."

Motifs such as family, relationships and life experiences are depicted through body movement and reflect each artist's ability to create dance with an individual style and grace.

Barkin comments on one of her own pieces, choreographed around the idea of self-acceptance and spirituality. She credits the Dance Department's recent merge with World Arts and Cultures for providing her with the freedom to explore different cultural forms of dance.

"I'm using very pedestrian type movements in the beginning, turning eventually into a very technical, athletic movement," she says. "From there it moves into West African dance. Having taken a class in West African dance through the World Arts and Cultures department, I've learned more about these types of rhythms and how to interpret them into my body and translate that into movement."

Barkin's inspiration for her piece was taken from a painting. Captivated by the story and its characters, she was determined to bring its stillness to life through dance. She prides herself on incorporating a diverse collection of dance forms to convey the nature of the painting.

Being the assistant producer of this year's concert, however, has enabled Barkin to experience an entirely new side to her senior project. Forced to juggle the responsibility of running the concert and rehearsing her own individual piece has made her adamant in one aspect.

"Experience, experience, experience! I've learned a lot of team work, committee work," Barkin says. Being able to maintain your sanity and creative process at the same time is the most agonizing part of the project."

If there is one thing that Barkin wants the UCLA community to experience after the concert, it is a renewed appreciation of dance as an art form.

"We want to encourage the fact that dancing sticks around and that everyone is supportive and realizes the importance of art in our lives."

EVENT: UCLA Senior Dance Concert: "Out of WAC" performed this Friday and Saturday in the Dance Building, Theater 200. Free admission. For more info., call 825-3952.