UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sculptural dance ensemble Momix’s newest program tells a bizarre tale of underworld adventure using pure movement, music and multimedia effects.
The contemporary dance company returns to Penn State with “Alice” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, in Eisenhower Auditorium. The program, though loosely based on the work of classic literature by Lewis Carroll, features characters inspired by his fantasy world, including an undulating caterpillar, a frenzied Queen of Hearts, a rabbit pack and, of course, Alice.
Pre-performance reception
All ticketholders are invited to a free, pre-performance reception in the Eisenhower Auditorium Conference Room hosted by Penn Highlands Healthcare: Penn Highlands State College. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, attendees are encouraged to wear pink.
Call 814-863-0255 or visit Momix “Alice” online for more information.
‘Transformed into a world of magic’
Paula Burns, Momix tour manager and dance captain, said she likes to remind the audience to think back to how life was before “adulting” set in.
“When you go to the theater, ... you really are transformed into a world of magic, and even brought back into childhood, into imagination and playfulness,” she said in a Center for the Performing Arts artist visit. “I think that’s so important, because we’re always surrounded by responsibilities and all of these different things, and to be able to kind of retreat back into a childlike state or even one of imaginative life is really important.”
In addition to her company roles, Burns said the variety in her dance roles helps to maintain her energy and invigorate theater-goers for a creative and surreal experience.
“I’m Alice, I’m a rabbit, I’m the Mad Queen, I’m one of the creatures in the garden of living things, so I’m all different things,” she said. “Which also kind of gives us a really immersive experience as performers in the show, to not just have one role, but to change character, to change dynamic, and to feed off the energy of each other and the audience.”