Loud, fast-paced music vibrates while dancers whirl, swivel, spring and even gyrate. Blackness. A serene melody now fills the room as the performers gracefully glide across the stage in a string of intricate movements executed with exact precision.

This is just a taste of the variety of styles that will be exhibited during the second annual Choreographer's Showcase at 8 p.m. today and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at White Hall Dance Theater in White Building.

The performance, sponsored by the College of Health and Human Development, displays eight pieces choreographed by members of Orchesis and numbers from an independent student, Reuben Confer, and a faculty member, Erica Kaufman.

Nikol Peterman (freshman-theater) views the show as beneficial to the department. "People get to see everything that's going on in the dance program."

A decision was made last spring to combine faculty and student projects along with Orchesis' work into one showcase with shows twice a year.

"We were giving four concerts a year, so we consolidated it to two," said dance program director Patricia Heigel-Tanner. "It's more efficient for time and energy."

The show is a collage of modern dance, jazz and classical ballet performed to various pieces from Enya and U2 to Tchaikovsky and Peter Gabriel.

Each piece presents a message to the audience, whether it is to always be strong or to become aware of how society treats people with differences.

"Combining faculty, student groups and independent choreography brought a nice cohesive energy to the show," said instructor and faculty choreographer Erica Kaufman.

Orchesis member Dana Verdoorn (sophomore-psychology) said it is a good idea to combine the groups because it places all the choreographers on the same level.

Tameka Brown (sophomore-business education) said they are there to accomplish the same goals. "We're all here for one reason. We love to dance," she said.

Heigel-Tanner said the students gain a great deal from this.

"I think it's an enriching experience . . . because, here, students are able to create something on their own," she said. "Once you have planted that seed and let it grow and blossom and then see it through costumes and rehearsals and lighting to the stage, it's like, I did it."

Note:

-- Tickets cost $5 for general admission and $4 for students and are sold at the door.