Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Dance is pleased to announce this fall’s production of MaDaCol (Mather Dance Collective). Performances are on November 20 - 22 at 7:30 pm at Mather Dance Center, 11040 Bellflower Road, on the Case Western Reserve campus in University Circle. MaDaCol, one of the university’s oldest undergraduate student organizations, offers an important creative outlet for CWRU graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, staff, and greater Cleveland community members. This year’s program will feature an exciting selection of dance works: "Checkmate…?" by Richard Oaxaca, "Awakening" by Zhaonian Li, "I’ve Been Looking for You…" by Lucia Mancha, and "Unification" by Ziyue Wei. "Checkmate…?," by faculty member Richard Oaxaca, uses the game of chess as a metaphor of a battle where each team of dancers is determined to protect their King and Queen and ultimately the kingdom. Through humor and movement inspired by the rules and strategies of chess, one side defeats the other. However, even the best strategies can fail, and some rules were meant to be broken. "Awakening," choreographed by Zhaonian Li, explores awakening that unfolds amidst life’s distractions, navigating disorientation, resistance, and rediscovery. Evolving movement reveals the rise of new awareness, the tension between struggle and release, and the final transformation. Lucia Mancha’s "I’ve Been Looking for You…" explores human relationships, both platonic and romantic, and the paths that lead us to discover and connect. Created on a cast of 12 dancers, duets and trios emerge to demonstrate the individual connections that can be forged from spontaneous encounters. These groupings, punctuated by strong gazes, facings and reaching movements that are often beyond that of physical touch, are dynamic and ever-changing (as relationships often are). But rather than being daunting, as this subject often is, the upbeat, jazz-inspired music suggests a journey filled with optimism, adventure, and inquisitive exploration. "Unification," choreographed by Ziyue Wei, draws inspiration from an ancient Chinese myth KuaFu Chase the Sun and reimagines it as a meditation on people's collective effort. Through the dancers’ separation and convergence, the work traces a journey from individuals suffering in isolation to a powerful unison, highlighting the beauty and resilience that emerge through unity. All tickets are $15 and may be purchased at Mather Dance Center prior to each performance. Cash or check only is accepted upon purchase. Early arrival is suggested due to limited seating. No reservations and no advance sales will be made. For more information on the department, please visit https://case.edu/artsci/dance/