IOWA CITY, Iowa – Dance Nation, Clare Barron’s contemporary dramatic comedy that celebrates female ambition and self-discovery, will be presented in Iowa City from February 2-10. Directed by Sarah Gazdowicz (MFA ’23), the production brings fierce femininity to the stage while simultaneously nailing the absurdity and seriousness of dance.

Dance Nation is set in a small, Midwest town, and follows a group of pre-teen dancers competing to get to Nationals in Tampa Bay, Florida. The dancers, all girls and Luke, are collectively fighting for glory while more than just choreography weighs on their minds. The dancers grapple with hyper-competitiveness and the literal monstrosity of growing up–every move they make is a step toward finding themselves and unleashing their power.

The cast explores the acute weight of adolescence and the process of discovering your identity within a complexity of contradictions. “The girls in the play are dealing with all these questions of who’s the best, who deserves to be recognized, what to do when the system is unfair, how to be friends and compete at the same time, how to stand up for yourself when you’ve been trained not to,” Barron explains in an essay for the show’s opening at Playwright’s Horizon in 2018. Gazdowicz elaborates, “There is magic in watching these young female characters discovering the power within themselves, outside of the constructs of the patriarchy.”

Dance Nation is not just another coming-of-age tale, switching from the ordinary to surreal in a second. Heartfelt scenes of characters’ adult selves speaking to the audience with nostalgia, sadness, or compassion for their younger selves are juxtaposed with moments of animalistic ferocity as the characters seemingly grow fangs. “The ferocity of this show is also created through language,” Gazdowicz explains. “The strong language is not meant to shock the audience, but to demonstrate their intense desire. It’s a bold declaration of courage, of not being afraid to take up space.”

The creative team brings this powerful production to life using their own personal connections to the world of dance and the joy found there. Choreographer and UI MFA Dance student Brady Van Patten exists at the intersection of theater and dance, bringing a strong theatrical sensibility to the stage. Through movement, Van Patten leads the cast to explore what it means to have a body, be seen in that body, and exist in this world.

Audiences will reflect on the universal shared experiences of youth that are both breathtaking and heartbreaking. Dance Nation will awaken your inner teenage self, dare you to dream, and inspire you to embrace your individual vivacity.

Performance times are February 2 at 8:00 p.m. (Opening), February 3 at 8:00 p.m., February 4 at 2:00 p.m., and February 7-10 at 8:00 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit hancher.uiowa.edu/tickets or call Hancher Box Office at 319-335-1160.

Please be advised that this play contains strong language; discussions of suicide, violence, sexual violence, self-harm, and sexual themes; and depictions of self-harm, violence, and simulated masturbation.

Dance Nation is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com