Students dance, sing, act in full-scale dance production Jan. 28-30

North Central College presents “Fragments: A Theatrical Dance Experience,” featuring the College’s theatre students Jan. 28-30. It is choreographed and directed by Dmitri Peskov, a member of North Central’s dance faculty and a Chicago-based dancer, choreographer, actor and poet.

Three performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28-30 in the College’s Madden Theatre at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Tickets are $5/adults and $3/students and seniors; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

Unlike most college dance productions, which are modeled as a dance recital, “Fragments” is a full-scale work that reflects the vision of a single choreographer-director: Peskov. “Fragments” is also different because its performers are diverse; they are actors and singers, as well as dancers. It’s a work of dance theatre, not merely a dance piece, and involves movement, text, props and singing.

“This work centers on a place far removed from the ordinary,” says Peskov. “In this place, five women struggle between sanity and insanity, hope and despair, memory and the absence of memory. It’s a reflection of the fragmented world in which we live today.

“As an artist, I’m more interested in asking questions, rather than providing answers,” says Peskov. “I go to see theatre in order to see a small part of my own, private self on stage. In ‘Fragments,’ I hope to provoke … to challenge … to move my audience. I hope to present something that is unique.”

The student performers are:
Natalie Bernier of Racine, Wis., a freshman majoring in management
Josette Carpenter of Chebanse, Ill., a sophomore majoring in interactive media studies
Laura Ebsworth of Jarrettsville, Md., a sophomore majoring in musical theatre
Norah Flaherty of Oswego, a sophomore majoring in organizational communication
Sarafina Monteleone of West Chicago, a freshman majoring in theatrical design and technology

Peskov has served on various faculties and performed with Wynn Fricke, Gary Lambert, Bob Eisen, Paul Sanasardo, Denise Armstead, Chicago Ballet, Salt Creek Ballet, Tet a Tet Theatre, Borealis Theatre and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He has created new works for his own pickup company Y PERFORMANCE and set new dances for Madison Ballet, Nash Dance Theatre, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre and DanceLoop Chicago. Peskov holds a master’s degree in literature from Northern Illinois University and is completing his M.F.A. in choreography at Jacksonville University.

North Central College’s 2015-2016 Fine and Performing Arts Season is partially sponsored by BMO Harris Bank, Nicor Gas, Advanced Data Technologies, Savant Capital Management, USG Corporation, West Suburban Irish, Monarch Landing, Naperville Special Events and Cultural Amenities Fund, Illinois Arts Council Agency, DuPage Foundation and Naperville Development Partnership.

Photo credit: Danielle J. Wohead '18