The rustling of brown paper bag lunches and the conversations between students was replaced with anticipation and silence as one dancer holding a sign quickly passed along the front of the makeshift stage, marking the beginning of the Brown Bag Dance Series.
SMU students, parents, faculty and staff and members of the Dallas community watched and cheered as Meadows dance majors and minors performed 13 student-choreographed works in the Bob Hope Lobby of the Owen Arts Center.
This fall, 15 dance students choreographed modern, ballet and jazz pieces for Brown Bag.
The dances ranged in size with dance majors and minors performing duos, trios and group numbers.
According to Hope Endrenyi, sophomore dance major and Brown Bag performer, the dancers prepare about a month and a half to two months in advance for the dance concert.
“Brown Bag is just a chance to bring dance to the public in a casual and fun way,” Endrenyi said.
“Anyone can come and go as you please.”
However, most of the audience stayed for the entirety of the free 45-minute performance, mesmerized by the movements and talent of the performers.
After the final dance, the audience erupted in applause and cheers, congratulating the dancers for their hard work and success.
“I loved it so much, I’ll probably go again later this week,” sophomore Molly O’Connor said.
O’Connor has attended previous performances of the Brown Bag Dance Series and continues to go to the biannual dance concert to see the new, different styles of dance.
A crowd favorite was the final piece, a high-energy number to Beyonce’s “Schoolin’ Life” choreographed by Kyra McCarty and Aubrey Neal.
Dancers wore high heels while they performed, a change from the usual Brown Bag footwear of socks, pointe shoes or no shoes at all.
Another favorite was the first piece to Beirut’s “Elephant Gun” choreographed by junior Hattie Haggard.
The piece was a large group dance with a positive feel.
“The last dance was my favorite, but they were all so good,” O’Connor said, struggling to pick out her favorite number.
“I can just tell that they all love doing what they’re doing and that makes me happy.”
Endrenyi agreed with O’Connor, stating that Brown Bag is meant to be fun
and relaxed.
“It’s not stiff like the theater where you sit and just watch,” she said.
During Brown Bag, dancers are able to get closer to the audience and interact with them, making it a more personal performance.
Senior Margaret Fegan attends Brown Bag every semester and said that this one was just as awesome and amazing as previous years.
“It is the highlight of my semester between midterms and finals,” Fegan said.
“I have tons of friends in it [brown bag] and they did a great job.”
The Brown Bag Dance Series will continue throughout the week with performances at noon Wednesday and Friday and at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Meadows Dance Department is also looking forward to its Community Series: Creative Movement and Performance Oct. 20 in Klyde Warren Park and its fall dance concert Nov. 13-15 in the Bob Hope Theater.
