April 8, 1997 Department of Dance Contact Ruth Heller (541) 346-3387 or John R. Crosiar 346-3135 EUGENE--Jackie Conrad will present the premiere of "Creating Family," a dance master's degree thesis concert, at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, at the University of Oregon. The free performance will be presented in the Dougherty Dance Theatre on the third floor of Gerlinger Annex, 1484 University St. Dougherty Dance Theatre has been redesigned for "Creating Family" to include a set and three-sided seating. Due to the reconfiguration of the theater, limited seating will be available. With the five dances in "Creating Family," Conrad explores diverse definitions of what constitutes family. These explorations include examining society's influences on families, the needs individuals seek to have met by family members, varying personal definitions of family, family traditions and rituals, and the changes that families experience over time. Four of the dances focus on relationships between family members such as partners and siblings. Throughout rehearsals, Conrad and the performers have been writing about their own family experiences. These writings have been compiled onto a backdrop. During an intermission, the audience will be given the opportunity to write accounts of their own family experiences on the set. A fifth dance will evolve from the dancers' improvisations inspired by the set. The concert will feature performances by UO graduate student dancers Shannon Duncan, Angela Demmel-Nagel and Lynn Fall, and by UO undergraduate student dancers Jenni Bryson, Sara Ekelund, Jonette Ford, Megan Gillis, Jenny Moye and Kindra Windish. A native of Illinois, Conrad relocated to Eugene upon completing her Illinois teaching certification for dance in secondary education. Currently, she is a graduate teaching fellow in the Department of Dance. Conrad is the University of Oregon recipient of the National Dance Association 1997 Recognition of Outstanding Masters' student award. "Creating Family" is funded in part by a graduate research grant from the UO Center for the Study of Women in Society. For information, call the UO Department of Dance, (541) 346-3386. -30- #P-2223/A&E