In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the DeSales University Dance Department is presenting a series of performances, 11 a.m., 8 p.m. March 15 and 3 p.m. March 17, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, on the campus in Center Valley.

The annual dance ensemble concert features world premier dances created by alumni from the program and performed by dance majors, as well as a senior dance major piece choreographed by a guest artist.

There will be work choreographed by Kim Camancho, New Street Dance Company's Krista Grunklee Armbruster and Shannon Dooling, Francesca Marinaro, Becky Moyer and Angela Sigley.

The program features a range of dance styles, including ballet en pointe, contemporary jazz, and modern dance.

Closing the show is "Jagged Edge" by Washington, D.C. choreographer Christopher K. Morgan.

"There is a juxtaposition of different styles of music," said Timothy Cowart, dance department chair and associate professor since 1985 - 1986.

"The dancers are confronting different aspects of themselves as they form new identities as they move from students into the professional world. These seniors are at a threshold and on the edge of something at this time in their lives," said Cowart, who performed with Bella Lewitzky and Mark Taylor's Pittsburgh Dance Alloy.

A performance by DeSales alumni will be presented at 3 p.m. March 16 in Labuda. Performing will be DeSales grads Toni Duncan, Heather Fleischman, Alyson Jacques, Kathryn Luberecki, DM dance Company's Francesca Mariaro, New Street Dance Company's Krista Grunklee Armbruster and Shannon Dooling, CoExistdance company's Kathleen Glynn, MarDel Dance company's Marianne Delehanty and Vada Dance Collective's Rebecca Moyer.

Father Gerard J. Schubert's vision for the DeSales performing arts program was realized with the founding of the department of dance. The founding director of the dance program was Cynthia Kimmerer.

The DeSales dance department is believed to be the first to offer a dance major in the Lehigh Valley. Nearly 350 dance artists have graduated from the program.

The DeSales dance curriculum offers a concentration of ballet in the tradition of the Italian Cecchetti Technique. The modern dance focus is the Horton Technique, "which creates strong dancers," according to Cowart.

DeSales professors include Lynn Wiener, who teaches a very strict Horton technique class; and Angela Sigley, DeSales alumnae, assistant professor of dance, who teaches with the Limon technique influence.

Trinette Singleton, an adjunct faculty member who danced with the Joffrey Ballet for 15 years, is in charge of the conservatory dance program, which allows seniors to teach young students.

The dance department brings in guest artists to enhance students' study opportunities. Cowart also brings in teachers for master classes. The 60 to 70 dance majors read two biographies of a ballet and modern master each semester.

The department has a partnership with DanceNow NYC, which has a residency called Silo with artistic director Robin Staff at Kirkland Farm in nearby Upper Bucks County.

Cowart would like DeSales dance students to see the bigger picture and receive a well-rounded education with a long-term view as dance artists.

Graduates start their own dance companies, become therapists, and work at Walt Disney World and on cruise ships, "always finding a way to keep dance in their lives," said Cowart.

"The dance department students embrace the community and value each other rather than be competitive. The most important thing is to be the kind of person that people want ot work with and to be accountable for their actions," said Cowart.

"Christian humanism is an integral part of their mission. The roots of that is to respect everybody because we are made in God's image," Cowart said.

Ticket information: desales.edu/act1, 610-282-3192