By Holly Peterson
Nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon will season the evening Thursday, March 15.
'Spice' will be featured in a combined performance with the Music and Dance departments.
That is right, Spice, BYU''s harp ensemble, will combine with the modern dance students to present a flavorful evening of music and dance.
This is the first concert ever that has been done like this at BYU, said ShruDeLi Ownbey, director of the harp ensemble.
Dancing, music, costumes and special lighting will add tang to the performance, Ownbey said.
It has been 18 months in the making, she said, so the excitement for this single night performance is immense.
It has been really exciting to see the groups work together and really pull things together, Ownbey said.
'I''ve got to make things work up to a point, but then I have to step back and let them take the responsibility,' she said.
While it has been a difficult concert to pull together, it has really been a lot of fun, said Cathy Knoles, 20, a sophomore from Centerville, Utah, majoring in comparative literature and harp performance.
Performing with others has been difficult, Knoles said. To combine all levels of experience to blend well has been tricky, she said.
It is really incredible to hear another part played on the same instrument, said Marilyn Becraust, 18, a freshman from Mapleton, Utah, majoring in harp performance.
'The music is kind of like where one side asks a question and the other answers back,' she said.
Including dance choreography to the equation really adds pizzazz to the performance.
It is also really neat to see the dancers with the live music, she said. The two are rarely combined.
'I love to see the dancers interpret the music with their whole bodies,' Becraust said.
The dance choreography of Pat Debenham will be featured with the group, Dancensemble.
Both groups have worked really hard to prepare, said Anna Wengreen, 20, sophomore from Wenatchee, Wash., majoring in music.
'We hope the audience enjoys the concert -- it''s kind of like our gift to them,' she said.
The concert will also honor the great harpist, Stanley Chaloupka, who played with Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Chaloupka recently donated music to BYU''s Harold B. Lee Library.
The evening will begin at 7:30 in the DeJong Concert Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $8 for the public, $5 for students.