The Virginia Commonwealth University department of dance and choreography will present eight innovative works by choreographers from across the world and right here in Richmond. More than 30 VCU Department of Dance and Choreography students will perform the works this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

For many of the students in the department, this is the first time they have worked on such a wide array of new works with such a diverse group choreographers, the chairman of the department said.

"Never before have our students been privileged to work so intensively with such a wide range of artists during one year," James Frazier said in a news release for the VCU Dance NOW event.

The event will feature work from guests such as Heidi Weiss, a dancer/choreographer who hails from Germany; Daniel Gwirtzman, director of Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company in New York; Tania Isaac, who was born in the West Indies but now lives in Philadelphia; and Meisha Bosma who has danced with a company in Israel.

During the past year, the artists visited the department, teaching students their works. During their residency, the artists offer students an opportunity to talk with professionals in the dance world.

"The guest artist residencies … allow the students excellent opportunities to make strong connections with working artists that could serve them well as they finish school," said Lea Marshall, producer and assistant professor in the department.

The work of the visiting artists ranges from two-person to 10-person performances. The dancers/choreographers typically stay for a week or so, but after that, it is largely up to faculty and students to practice the works.

"For example, Dr. James Frazier oversaw the ongoing rehearsal (of a piece), set during the fall by guest artist Heidi Weiss," Marshall said.

When they weren't busy helping students learn the works of the guest artists, four of the department's faculty members choreographed their own performances for the event. Judith Steel's "A Poised and Delicate Balance," Scott Putman's "On The Shelf Of Memory In The Temple Of A Compressing Heart," Frazier's "The Seeds of Something More" and Martha Curtis' "Muxing Hank" will be performed as part of the VCU Dance NOW event.

The event is unique not only because of the diversity of its choreographers, but it also offers Richmond a chance to see new works that are emerging in the wider dance community.

"The Richmond community does not have regular access to the work of emerging, independent artists outside Virginia," Marshall wrote in an e-mail.

The event offers a look at more than just new works in the dance world; many of the performances are a convergence of many different types of art. Curtis' performance features a dancer interacting with a sculpture by VCU sculpture student Steve Stackpole. Curtis' performance will also incorporate a sound score by Matt Charboneau, who recently graduated from the VCU Department of Kinetic Imaging.

The event also highlights the lesser acknowledged, although immensely important, aspects of the performances, including costume design, scene design and lighting design.

While Thursday, Friday and Saturday's performances will be performed for an audience, the students were the ones who got the most out of the experience, Marshal said.

"(These experiences) offer dance students – particularly those interested in both performance and creative work – a model of success attainable through a distinct combination of dedication and resourcefulness," Marshall said.

All performances begin at 8 p.m. at the Grace Street Theater, located at 934 West Grace St. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $5 for VCU students with a valid student ID. To reserve tickets call 804-828-2020.