The O’Connell Theatre in the Stevens Building will be flooded each night of NIU’s Fall Dance Concert, both physically and figuratively.

The O’Connell Theatre, which had its first experience with partial submersion during a performance of last year’s “Grapes of Wrath,” will have water dripped, hosed and shoveled on it for the last of six performances for a modern jazz trio piece choreographed by Paula Frasz, associate professor of the School of Theatre and Dance.

It will also be flooded with both applause and memories of yore, for the NIU Fall Dance Concert is celebrating the 200th anniversary of one of ballet’s most joyful choreographers, August Bournonville.

Under two of the four dance professors, the classical or romantic ballet portion of the concert will pay homage to Danish-born Bournonville, who is considered a key figure in Danish romanticism and the establishment of the male figure in ballet.

Under the remaining two professors will be the modern section of the concert including Frasz’s Hurricane Katrina-inspired, three-part jazz trio.

“We held auditions for a jazz piece some time back. I didn’t know what the concept of the piece was going to be and Hurricane Katrina happened in the meantime,” Frasz said. “It just so happened the three dancers were African American. We all felt affected by the devastation and the dance came from those shared emotions.”

The first section is performed dry by the trio, clad in torn and tattered rags with long strips of fabric flowing to accentuate the intricate motions.

“We’re utilizing front, top and side lighting for this piece,” said Alex Norad, a junior theater studies major and lighting designer for the performance.

The idea to flood the stage was discussed late in the show’s production process. Spontaneous changes and difficult procedures plague the design and construction process.

“This is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” said Mike Schafer, a design and technology graduate student and the technical director of the NIU Fall Dance Concert.

In theater, these last-minute changes are common but inspired and they serve as some of the best moments in the production.

The open-mindedness and spontaneity carry over into the audition process for the dance productions.

“All shows are open to all NIU students that audition,” Frasz said. “A lot of people have extensive dance training, but they don’t want it to be their life work, it’s more their avocation.”