De Anza College Dance/Theater Arts Department and the De Anza Associated Student Body will present a student production “Spirit Dances 2001” in the Flint Center on March 15. Students in the Dance Workshop class (DANC 27D) choreograph and produce the performance.

“We want to share our experience [of dancing] with an audience,” said Warren Lucas, the director of the Dance Department and an instructor of the Dance Workshop.

According to Lucas, a performance takes place every year. While the faculty sometimes choreographes the dance, students get to create the choreography every other year. “Spirit Dances 2001” is the fourth time students are taking full charge of choreography and performance in this annual event.

Dancers like Anthony Solomon found the experience “fun” and “exciting.” He said that he was able to learn new movements from other students in the class. “I can’t wait to perform. Even if I mess up [on stage], I would still have fun performing,” said Solomon.

Lucas said that he counted about 35 students, including both male and female dancers, at the beginning of this quarter. Out of that group, ten students choreographed the dance.

One of the choreographers, Debbie Villarreal, said she felt nervous but pleased about her choreography. She put her personal experience into the dance. Despite the feeling of being “vulnerable and exposed,” Villarreal said, “I was happy with the way it turned out.” She said she was proud of her dancers who also worked very hard.

The Dance Connection Club also participates in the production of “Spirit Dances 2001,” according to Lucas, who also functions as the adviser of the club. Several of the club’s subgroups will bring various dance styles to the performance, such as “Versatile Style” performing hip-hop dance, “Lost and Found Dance Company” presenting modern and contemporary dances, “E-rock” showing break dance.

Students rehearse every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. They usually split into smaller groups for different styles and schedule the time for each group to practice.

The admission to “Spirit Dances 2001” is $10 per person. Tickets are available at the Flint Center box office. “We [welcome] the community,” said Lucas.