Story by Nicole Towne, CSU publicity intern

After a busy first semester of teaching and performing, the dance department’s newest faculty members, Madeline and Matthew Harvey, are bringing a new dance experience to CSU and the community on Feb. 3.

The Color of Change features live music, dance, and conversation centered around community partnership while honoring some of the greatest African American composers.

CSU’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance is collaborating with the nonprofit Classical Revolution Northern Colorado, which will provide live music. Part of the organization’s mission is to bring classical music into non-traditional settings and to make it as accessible as possible to new audiences.

Madeline Harvey said the idea for the performance came out of a group dialogue and became something she wanted to bring to CSU.

“As a land-grant institution, CSU is committed to engaged scholarship and bridging the gap between our community and our academy,” she said. “I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to explore that idea.”

Along with helping coordinate the performance, Madeline Harvey will perform in the show alongside her husband Matthew in their second co-choreographed piece.

Dancers from the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance will also take the stage, including a select group of soloists from the professor’s Choreography One class, where students have the opportunity to premiere their own work.

CSU Associate Professor Michelle Stanley will be featured on flute, and Fort Collins’ Anthony P. McGlaun will provide vocals. The musical focus of the show is on African American composers from throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, such as William Grant Still, Florence B. Price, and Hale Smith.

“While many of the composers are known and performed overseas, their work is underrepresented in the U.S.,” Madeline Harvey said. “We have chosen a selection of works all by African American composers to tie into Black History Month.”

Harvey hopes that the multi-sensory artistic performance will inspire community dialogues on diversity and inclusion.

“[The audience] can expect an interesting program of a diverse offering of classical chamber and vocal music by African American composers combined with newly choreographed dance accompaniment,” said musician Elizabeth Telling of Classical Revolution. “Much of the music is based on traditional black folk songs, which highlight a narrative of the American black experience.”

The Color of Change takes place at the University Center for the Arts’ Dance Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. A pre-show talk with Mr. McGlaun begins at 6 p.m. More information and tickets are available at csuartstickets.com.