The EIU Dancers will preform its 33rd annual spring concert titled “Inspired Connections” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Theatre of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The doors open 30 minutes before each performance.

“Inspired Connections” is an energetic production that consists of 17 different dance pieces, said Antoine Thomas, the director of EIU Dancers. The dance pieces will include ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern dance and character pieces. Each piece will range with different musical artists from modern hits to hits from the 70s.

“Inspired Connections” is based on the interpretation of relationships and how each of those connections inspired them as performers and dancers.

“Each of our pieces are inspired by connection that our choreographers have made in life,” he said. “When we started the year I explained the concept of the show to our dancers and asked them to think about friends, family and people they loved who inspired them to be better or change. We then choreographed around these connection.”

Thomas has been the director of the EIU Dancers for 4 years.

“My favorite part of the show is our students. As a director I love seeing the students come alive,” he said. “They get the experience of participating in a company and getting a glimpse of what it means to be a dance professional.”

Thomas said this performance should help inspire students to reach their goals, because of the obstacles the dance group faced.

“The show is a testament of what is possible for a group of people when they join together,” he said. “For a school that doesn’t have a dance program this show is about what is possible if you will work for a dream. We hope that it will inspire other to follow their dreams.”

Auditions for EIU Dancers are in April and September, and rehearsals start immediately after that for a spring concert.

“We have a class for 2 hours a week, then we practice routines for about 4 hours a week,” Thomas said.

The department of kinesiology and sports studies, theatre arts and the DanceLife Center sponsor the EIU Dancers.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. Tickets can be bought at the Dounda Fine Art Center Box Office or online.

Shauna DeLacey can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].