Loss and hope, confinement and liberation, and human relationships and anger are only some of the themes explored through dance in the upcoming show Eclectic Expressions: Sensational Selections of Integrated Movements.

The show, which spotlights student choreographers, will be held at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the Playhouse Theatre.

"It has a little of everything," said Elisha Clark, head of the dance minor. "There's tap, Broadway, modern, serious pieces, funny, sad and hopeful ones -- everyone will find something to like."

The show is the culmination of a semester-long project in which each student was required to choreograph a dance piece, Gina Passero (senior-marketing) said. One or more of the other students in the class will then perform the pieces in Eclectic Expressions.

"It's a harder process than I thought," said Stephanie Grande (senior-elementary education) of coaching her peers. "I have a specific idea of what my dance should be, and it's difficult to get the dancers to portray exactly what I envision."

Grande choreographed the piece entitled "Trapped." She said it begins as a tap number but moves quickly into a dreamlike world with a more liberated dance style. "It represents how we function in society," Grande said. "We become confined to a routine that might not actually be what is best for us. My dance is about branching out and exploring something different."

The project is part of a required class for dance minors. The class is designed so the students will gain an understanding of the process of putting on a show -- the business aspect of it as well as the actual dancing, Clark said.

"These students have put in an incredible amount of work," Clark said. "They have limited time and space to practice, no budget, no extra volunteers, and they even had to make their own costumes. They took those constraints and ran with it. They have a real willingness to push themselves to grow, and it has paid off."

Although the class and, subsequently, the dance minor have limits now, it faced a more dire fate two years ago, Clark said. The minor was almost canceled, but the very students dancing in Eclectic Expressions fought and won the battle to keep it at Penn State.

Students said they have seen a definitive improvement with the minor since that time.

"I was very concerned at the time because I can't imagine not dancing in college," Grande said. "The minor has become stronger and a lot more organized, though, so canceling it now will be a harder case to argue."

Clark, though, said she is not confident for the future of the minor if there is not support from the rest of the Penn State student body.

"Students from outside the dance minor should show a little support by coming to performances like this," she said. "It demonstrates to the higher-ups that dance is a part of Penn State and it is important to keep around."

The performance will run for about one hour and 15 minutes, with an intermission. Each dance will be five to eight minutes long, Passero said.

Passero said students should come to Eclectic Expressions to just enjoy themselves.

"It's a chance to see dance choreographed and performed by Penn State students," she said. "It is relaxed atmosphere and the best part -- it's free."