The K-State dance program will present SpringDance 2009 at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday in McCain Auditorium.

The annual production will feature performances choreographed by K-State dance faculty, along with a special presentation by Chanon Judson, a guest artist from the Brooklyn-based Urban Bush Women dance company. Judson served a dance residency at K-State in February.

Joyce Yagerline, associate professor of dance, said the performance will offer a variety of dance styles this year and compared the audience's experience to that of a buffet.

"You are able to experience different foods you don't normally eat as well as foods you normally do eat, but that are prepared in a different way," she said.

This weekend's performance will feature jazz, tap, modern, contemporary and a ballet-hip hop fusion piece, but Judson will be the featured performer, Yagerline said.

Judson was able to guest-teach classes for the K-State dance department this semester with a grant the department received from the National Endowment for the Arts and Dance/USA program, Yagerline said.

K-State dancers will perform "Walking with Pearl...Southern Diaries" - a piece originally choreographed by Urban Bush Women founding artistic director Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and adapted by Judson for the K-State performers.

Yagerline said K-State will become the first university dance program to perform the piece.

"It's a new experience for everyone and there's something in the show for everyone to enjoy," said Maggie Baumann, junior in sociology and SpringDance participant.

Baumann said one of the performances also will feature a slideshow instead of a traditional background.

"Almost everyone that dances in the piece drums at one time in the dance," she said. "They'll dance, then rotate and play drums. They taught the dancers to become part of the African vibe and to play drums."

Yagerline described the annual performance as "icing on the cake" for the performers after their semester of hard work.

"It gives the dancers the opportunity to perform and I know they love to perform," she said. "It also allows them to apply what they've learned throughout the semester. It's a chance for them to just cut loose and dance."

Tickets for SpringDance are on sale and can be purchased from the McCain Box Office or by calling 785-532-6428. Student tickets are $8, senior citizen and military tickets are $11 and general public tickets are $13.