ANN ARBOR—”Ancient Steps, Forward Glances,” the University of Michigan Dance Company’s winter presentation, is organized thematically on the past being prologue. Performances will be Jan. 31, Feb. 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 3 at 2 p.m. in the Power Center for the Performing Arts.

The U-M Museum of Art commissioned U-M dance Prof. Jessica Fogel to create the work in conjunction with the forthcoming UMMA exhibit “Women Who Ruled: Queens, Goddesses, Amazons 1500-1650.” The exhibit runs Feb. 17-May 5 and focuses on the visual representation of powerful women in the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

The time period represented in the UMMA exhibit was an exceptional era in European history when women led numerous states and kingdoms. From the exhibit, which examines and defines a complex system of gender relations, showing how women rulers of that period typecast themselves visually as goddesses, warriors, seductresses, virgins or matrons, in order to construct and enact their leadership, Fogel drew inspiration for “Brave Souls,” one of four new pieces included in the presentation. This particular selection also draws its choreography from discoveries at a contemporary archeological dig, Renaissance and Baroque visual art, and is shaded by the events of Sept. 11. The dance is choreographed to a collage of music ranging from contemporary to Baroque and features a backdrop of slide images of Baroque and Renaissance art as well as images from the present day.

In creating “Brave Souls,” Fogel collaborated with her 14 female dancers to learn from them what they believe makes a woman strong. For one of the seven “scenes” titled “If,” the dancers shared their ideas about “going to battle.”

The dancers also created movement based on moments in their past when they felt powerful. The abstract depictions of these moments form the basis for the final section of the dance, “Conversation.” Some dancers celebrated their physical prowess, one the ability to stand up to a teacher in elementary school, another her solitude on a mountaintop. Others brought forward memories of feeling powerful when nurturing someone, when overcoming their vulnerabilities, or when shedding tears.

With the U-M faculty since 1985, Fogel has danced with several professional companies and has had her choreography produced nationally and internationally since 1974. She was artistic director of Jessica Fogel and Dancers in New York City in 1978-82. Fogel is a founding member of Ann Arbor Dance Works, a collaborative of U-M dance faculty choreographers and composers.

Ticket prices for “Ancient Steps, Forward Glances” are $20 and $15 reserved seating with students $7 with ID.

Tickets are available at the League Ticket Office, located within the Michigan League on U-M’s Central Campus. The Ticket Office is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday. Order by phone at (734) 764-2538. All major credit cards are accepted.

The Power Center for the Performing Arts, located at 121 Fletcher St., is handicapped accessible and equipped with an infrared listening system for hearing enhancement.

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