Three dancers clothed in an array of well-worn, mismatched tights and leotards twirl, leap and glide across a practice room at the Dance Theatre of Oregon. To untrained eyes, the motion of their slender bodies seems graceful and elegant, but the choreographer knows they have yet to achieve perfection.
“Turn your body more … look all the way up to the ceiling,” he instructs.
Then the dancers smile knowingly and begin the sequence again.
The trio is composed of Pamela Lehan-Siegel and Marc Siegel, who are the artistic directors at the Dance Theatre of Oregon, and Amy Stoddart, an assistant professor in the University’s dance department.
Lehan-Siegel said she feels privileged to work with Stoddart. “In Eugene, we felt that she was one of the most accomplished people in ballet,” she said. “We wanted someone of her caliber.”
Stoddart, who received a master of fine arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, said her biggest challenge has been balancing teaching and rehearsal.
“This is like my research,” she said. “It’s been … an intense rehearsal process. It’s fatiguing and exciting.”
Stoddart comes by her fatigue honestly. The trio has practiced four hours a day for weeks with choreographer Kennet Oberly. On Feb. 24 and 25, the group will perform Oberly’s “The Ghost Rags” as part of the Dance Theatre of Oregon’s Armchair Adventures concert.
Oberly said he created “The Ghost Rags” especially for the Dance Theatre of Oregon. The dance “really incorporates the personalities of the three dancers,” he said.
“The source of the music is ragtime,” Oberly said, “and I love ragtime.” He said the music is a “rag suite” composed by William Bolcom, who was part of the ragtime renaissance of the 1960s.
“He was one of the few who really got into the shoes of old ragtime,” Oberly said. “I can empathize. I’ve had to transport myself as well.”
Spirits and ghosts are the basic idea behind “The Ghost Rags,” Oberly said, but “emotionally … there is no actual story. Ghosts are just a shooting-off place. There aren’t any specific ghosts.”
The Armchair Adventures also features “Eirenanach” and “Fabrique: Exhibits A Through E,” which are choreographed by Lehan-Siegel, and “Men’s Group” and “Dad’s Group,” choreographed by Marc Siegel, who also wrote the musical score for “Dad’s Group.”
Siegel said the concert will showcase a variety of dance forms, from ballet to post-modern, and interesting set and prop additions. The dancers will wear original costumes by resident designer Sher Alltucker.
“The idea behind the Armchair Adventures concert is to [see a variety of dances] from the comfort of your armchair,” Siegel said. “Open your mind … Every piece is totally different.”
The Armchair Adventures will be performed in the Soreng Concert Hall at the Hult Center on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 25 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for children. For more information, contact the Hult Center at 682-5000.