KENNESAW, Ga. | Feb 20, 2017

The region’s first theater designed specifically for dance will open March 24-25, 2017 on Kennesaw State University’s Marietta campus. Housed in the Joe Mack Wilson Student Center, the theater on KSU’s Marietta campus is being transformed into an ideal venue for dance.

 With a seating capacity of 450, the Dance Theater is equipped with a permanently installed sprung Marley dance floor and state-of-the-art theatrical lighting and sound.  Inspired by the Joyce Theater in New York City, it will be the performance home for the KSU Dance Company and will also host student organizations and university functions. Further, it will serve as a rental performance venue for dance in the region.

“Our new Dance Theater will help fill a void for choreographers and local dance companies by providing an affordable performance venue fully equipped for the presentation of concert dance,” said Dr. Patty Poulter, Dean of the College of the Arts.

The venue will open to the public with the premiere of Metamorphosis, an original work choreographed by Ivan Pulinkala, founding director of the Department of Dance at KSU.  Metamorphosis evokes both the metaphorical transformation of people through the power of knowledge and education, as well as the physical transformation of the venue into a dance theater.

The 45-minute work will feature 19 dancers from the KSU Dance Company. Set to an original instrumental score by KSU music major Eric Ramos, and an original choral score by Michael Engelhardt, Metamorphosis includes 60 singers from the KSU Chorus, conducted by Dr. Leslie Blackwell. Lighting design is by David Tatu, scenic design is by Ming Chen and visual design is by Rebecca Makus. To read more about the new Dance Theater and Metamorphosis, please click here.

The Marietta Dance Theater Board has many ways for patrons to help support the new Dance Theater, including naming opportunities, sponsorships, and seat donations. Learn more at KSUDance.com.