With the long-awaited renovations to the Kennesaw State Dance Theater finally complete, the KSU Dance Company is giving new life to the stage with “Metamorphosis.”
Opening Friday, “Metamorphosis” will be the first show to grace the Dance Theater as a celebration of the transformative powers of the arts, education and the college experience. Dr. Ivan Pulinkala, the head chair of the Department of Dance, will be directing the KSU Dance Company on stage. The production will be an original piece exploring the unique experiences of KSU students.
“Everything we do at KSU is for our students, so I wanted the opening work to celebrate students at KSU,” Pulinkala said.
He explained that “Metamorphosis” is a collaborative production. The program features the KSU chorus, who will perform an original score composed by senior music major Eric Raymos. The show will also include sets built by students of the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies and video presentations of student interviews conducted across both campuses.
By incorporating various elements of art and education together on one stage, Pulinkala hopes that attendees will witness the imaginative substance and creative power of KSU students.
“I wanted it to celebrate not only the Department of Dance, but really celebrate our campus and celebrate what we do at Kennesaw, which is transforming the life of students through knowledge,” Pulinkala said.
In a fitting fashion, the theater itself went through its own “metamorphosis,” and this will be the facility’s unveiling before a public audience. The Dance Theater was originally constructed in 1962 before falling into disrepair. Renovations began in mid-2016, and the building now features a permanent dance floor, theater-style wing enclosures, full-spectrum stage lighting and stadium-style seating.
David Tatu, the production manager and lead lighting designer, noted that the theater is a boon for the Department of Dance, but the versatility of the theater also makes it a valuable asset for other academic branches. The theater will be home to a display system that can be used for lectures, public assemblies and film screenings in the future.
Pulinkala and Tatu both expressed satisfaction with the theater’s modern design and the inclusion of the new technologies. Pulinkala was overwhelmingly positive about the new changes.
“It’s five years ahead of what we had a few months ago,” he said.
Overall, “Metamorphosis” is shaping up to be a reflection of the transformative power of collaboration between majors at KSU. Tatu said that the Dance Company is excited to practice in the new space, hoping to take full advantage of the renovations.
“Metamorphosis” will run on March 24 and 25, beginning at 8 p.m. both nights. Tickets are almost sold out, so those interested in attending should purchase tickets for $20 each through KSU’s College of the Arts website.
