Northwestern College to present RUSH student dance concert

Northwestern College’s popular RUSH student dance concert returns to the stage this month and will be performed seven times: Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7 and 9:30 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 24, at 7 and 9:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Feb. 25, at 4, 7 and 9:30 p.m. in the England Proscenium Theatre of the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center.

This year’s concert will feature 13 dances in a variety of styles, including hip-hop, modern, musical theatre, swing, modern jazz, and a martial arts and ballet mash-up. RUSH performances are choreographed by Northwestern students with student dancers who vary from accomplished dancers to those with no dancing experience. After weeks of practice, students come together to put on a fast-paced and entertaining show.

“I’m excited to see the work of some of our brand new choreographers, and especially what the martial arts/ballet fusion will look like,” says Drew Schmidt, assistant professor of theatre at Northwestern and RUSH artistic director and faculty producer.

RUSH features a number of student leaders, including Abby Bliss of Loveland, Colo., as stage manager; Becky Ochoa of Cedar Falls, Iowa, as assistant stage manager; and choreographers Kristi Anderson of Homer, Neb.; Will Browning of Duncan, Okla.; Megan Cole of Plattsmouth, Neb.; Delaney Dugger of Pella, Iowa; Sadikshya Gautam of Nepal; Randyl Getz of Urbandale, Iowa; Ashley Maloney of Hartley, Iowa; Caitlin Minishian of Cerritos, Calif.; Alecia Olson of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Kristina Sevcik of Searsboro, Iowa; Carlye Sherman of Omaha, Neb.; Kylie Sundblad of Albert City, Iowa; Emelie Swonger of Bismarck, N.D.; Karyn Vander Wal of New Sharon, Iowa; Julia VanDyk of Ames, Iowa; and Marissa Wiese of Orange City. This year’s performances will also feature one choreographer from Dordt College, Luke Venhuizen.

“Tickets are just $1, with all proceeds going back into the next year’s production. That’s how we pay for things like the special dance floor that helps protect the dancers’ feet, props for dances, and all sorts of supplies we wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise,” says Schmidt.

RUSH tickets can be reserved by emailing boxoffice@nwciowa.edu. Tickets for the general public will go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 4 p.m. Students will be allowed one reserved ticket, and Northwestern College faculty and staff—along with the general public— will be allowed to reserve four tickets per family.