Submitted Photo. “The Fredonia Dance Ensemble in: The Merrins Chamber Series” will feature 22 Dance majors performing pieces choreographed by Fredonia Department of Theatre and Dance faculty members.

Following a sold-out inaugural run in 2018, the Merrins Chamber Series returns in November for six performances in the James and Marcia Merrins Dance Theatre at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

Dates and times for “The Fredonia Dance Ensemble in: The Merrins Chamber Series” are Friday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Fredonia Theatre and Dance faculty member Paula J. Peters is the director.

“All four works of choreography highlight issues of humanity, and how people move through these issues in different ways,” Peters said. “Paul Mockovak’s work focuses on issues of friendship and connection, Anthony Alterio’s work explores the challenges of it means constantly to come out as a queer person in our society, my work focuses on how we all go continuously go through feelings of helplessness, resistance to help, and ultimately are able to stand on our own, and Angela DiFiore’s work is an exploration of what it means to fall down in your life, both physically and mentally, and what we do to handle those experiences.”

Peters noted the Merrins Theatre is a unique performance space.

“The intimacy of the Merrins Dance Theatre space creates a different type of rapport between the audience and dancers,” she said “Instead of being separated by the fourth wall of the proscenium stage, dancers and audience members are close enough to touch and hear each other breathing. This creates a bridge to a shared human experience that does not happen in the same way in a larger performance space.”

Almost 40 students are involved in the production.

“There are 22 student performers, 13 backstage crew, a student sound designer, a student lighting designer, a student stage manager, and a student assistant stage manager,” Peters said.

The James and Marcia Merrins Dance Theatre is located on the second floor of the new Rockefeller Arts Center wing. Easiest access is from the Dods Hall parking lot on the west side of the building.

Tickets are available through the Campus Ticket Office at the Williams Center, by phone at 673-3501 (1-866-441-4928) or online at www.fredonia.edu/tickets.