With a sculpture made of plastic bottles and Saran Wrap, squishy balls, white flowing scarves and a swing reaching the top of the theater, the Louis Theatre is ready for anything. This array of props sets the stage for “Danceworks 2002,” opening Thursday for a two-weekend run.

“Danceworks” has taken place for the past 10 years as a presentation of faculty choreography, though such an annual show has existed since the founding of the dance program in 1979. No overarching theme commands the dances; instead, choreographers are encouraged to use the space as a “venue for experimentation by faculty,” said Jess Ray, a Weinberg senior. Students, both dance majors and non-majors alike, have the opportunity to work with dance professionals in a highly attended show.

Months ahead of “Danceworks” auditions in the fall, choreographers must submit a proposal to Artistic Director Susan Lee, including everything from the number of dancers involved to the music selected. Lee encourages Northwestern alumni to apply to maintain a relationship with dance students. “You always start with a vision,” said Tiffany Sparks, a “Danceworks” choreographer and Speech ’01 graduate. “Then reality sets in.”

Lighting and costume designers attend rehearsals and meet with choreographers to determine the look of the piece. Each piece has its own costume designer, though some pieces just have a costume coordinator. Lisa Wymore, a dance lecturer, met with her costume designers early in the process with pictures in hand and an image in mind. Sparks advised her lighting designer to come to rehearsal and “let images come to mind. I know the piece is well-done if everyone agrees (on those images).” Dancers often have only a very general notion of the lighting and costuming of their pieces until tech week begins.

To encourage constructive criticism and feedback, the choreographers share their pieces with the ensemble in several showings throughout the rehearsal process. Choreographers, designers and Lee meet to discuss the evolution of the pieces. These showings are the first time dancers are able to see everyone else’s pieces. “The showings are very important,” Lee said. “You can talk about dance, but you need to see moving bodies to experience a choreographer’s vision.”

The showings help build community, as they are the only chance the entire ensemble has to see each other’s pieces before tech week. “Danceworks” only comes together as a unit when tech week begins. Often, the dancers have an abstract idea of how “Danceworks” is progressing. “The dancing community at Northwestern is pretty tight,” said Ray.

Because several dancers are in more than one piece, “you hear from the other dancers how things are developing,” said Eric Tal, a McCormick freshman.

The rehearsal process varies by piece, though each group of dancers rehearses about five hours per week. Some, like Wymore’s piece, were choreographed in patches. “We came up with a phrase, and the order was unsure until we put it together late in the rehearsal process,” Tal said. Meghann Wilkinson, a Speech junior and soloist, said that both of her pieces this year were already choreographed when the rehearsal process began.

The faculty considers “Danceworks” a unique opportunity to work with professional-level dancers in a student setting. “For the faculty, this is their research,” Wymore said. “It’s a vital chance to develop our living art. It’s like us writing a paper and presenting it.” Indeed, many pieces are taken to professional companies after their performance in “Danceworks.”

“The quality of the dancing has really improved this year,” Wymore said. “It’s jumped up to the professional level.” nyou