Summer Intensive Dance Spectacular

Jordan Academy of Dance at Butler University; Lily Hall

July 24-25

Petrus Bosman set three of the nine pieces for this intimately articulated program by a company of 42 young dancers from a half-dozen states, yet they made his presence felt in each. Bosman, 80, died July 19 at Methodist Hospital in the midst of doing what he loved, “working with young dancers to open their souls, to touch the souls of every member of the audience. Petrus danced story and music,” Nataly North-Lowder said. The program had a lovely arc from the airy pastoral, innocent “Garland Dance” from The Sleeping Beauty choreographed by Bosman, to the dusky Parisian, sophisticated “Piaf-A Tribute” choreographed by Bud Kerwin. In between was a range of modern and ballet, all marked by careful attention to detail to bring forward both the text and subtext of the story of the dance. Jordan Academy-trained dancers are never caught moving in isolation from the event. They always are engaged in what is happening in the story. Their countenance draws the audience member into what each character or personality is feeling. Particularly notable to this program was Bosman’s excerpt from Cinderella, which, in this case, brought meaning to the dance of the Four Seasons.