DeKALB | The School of Theatre and Dance will be presenting its Fall Dance Concert on Thursday through Sunday showcasing character dances and tribute pieces performed by modern and ballet dancers.

The Northern Star had the opportunity to talk about the concert with Gail Honeywell, senior dance performance major and a dancer in the show.

In the Fall Dance Concert, Honeywell has the lead role in the ballet piece “Raymonda Divertissements.” She is also in a solo piece called “Woman In The Holler.”

Q: How long has the Fall Dance Concert been in rehearsal?

A: We auditioned the second week of school and then started rehearsal the third.

Q: What style of dances are in the show?

A: It’s mostly ballet and modern. We have “Raymonda Divertissements,” which is a ballet, a piece called “D-Construction,” which is a modern piece; then we have “Voices of Light,” which is also modern, “Still Lives” and “Woman In The Holler.”

Q: Are the choreographers not from NIU then?

A: Some of them aren’t. For “Still Lives,” “D-Construction” and “Raymonda Divertissements,” they’re not. But for “Voices of Light” and “Woman In The Holler,” they are.

Q: What are the different pieces in the show about?

A: “Raymonda Divertissements” is a ballet, so it has a huge story about how Raymonda marries this guy, and then there’s a huge celebration and wedding. The “Voices of Light” is about Joan of Arc. “Woman In The Holler” is about a woman who goes through a lot of loss in her life and goes crazy basically. I’m doing that piece also. Then she goes insane at the end and kills herself, and it’s crazy.

Q: What pieces are you in, and what are your roles in them?

A: I am Raymonda in “Raymonda Divertissements,” and I am also the woman in “Woman In The Holler.” They’re just solo’s.

Q: What is the idea behind those characters?

A: They’re complete opposites. Raymonda is really flashy and sassy, and I wear a gold tutu and this massive crown. Then for my other piece, I wear this skirt that’s completely ripped. I start the dance in a tub filled with water, and the whole stage gets soaking wet.

Q: What are you most excited about for this upcoming show?

A: Probably being able to explore such different pieces because everything in the concert is so different. It shows the dance program’s diversity and how we can do one thing and then in the next dance do something completely different. So many people have dance after dance where they have to go from the ballet into “D-Construction,” which is nothing like “Raymonda,” then into the next piece. It’s good we can show we’re so diverse. That’s probably what I’m most excited for.

Q: What’s your favorite part about being in the dance program at NIU?

A: Performing.

Q: Why should people come out and see the Fall Dance Concert?

A: I think to see how we can do so many things and also to support the arts of course. I mean we’re theater and dance, it’s not just theater, you know? I mean dance is half of theater and dance, so of course I think they should come see our show.