Kelsey Baehrens helps bring "The Warriors' Journey" to the stage at Baldwin Wallace University

2015 Apr 15

Kelsey Baehrens of Kailua was among a talented group of student composers, choreographers and dancers who produced Baldwin Wallace University's "fyoo zh en '15: new music + dance" this spring. The annual fyoo zh en dance concert pairs choreographers from the Department of Theatre & Dance's Dance Program with composers from the Conservatory of Music. Together they create new works inspired by an academic research project.

The choreographers and composers participating in fyoo zh en '15 were chosen in fall 2014 and teamed up with Dr. Carol Gregory from BW's Department of Sociology for inspiration. Dr. Gregory shared her research from two years of evaluating workplace violence prevention for the United States Marine Corps. The result was "The Warriors' Journey," a work featuring abstracted interpretations of a Marine's experiences on the battlefield and after returning home. Baehrens, a graduate of Mid Pacific Institute majoring in theatre with a focus on acting and directing, was a dancer for the production.

The fyoo zh en dance concert is one of many performance opportunities offered through the BW Dance Program. Designed for students interested the performing arts, dance therapy, exercise science, dance education or arts management, the program offers an analytical, imaginative and physical study of movement with an emphasis on technical, compositional, and performance skills. Ultimately, the Dance Program strives to produce well-rounded dancers with a sound technical foundation, while nurturing their creativity and appreciation of the art form.