Inertia Dance Company, the theatre and dance department‘s student outreach troupe, begins its Spring 2012 season with a series of performances at the Vandivort Center in downtown Springfield. The performance dates are Thursday, Feb. 16 through Saturday, Feb 18 and all performances begin at 7:30 p.m. You may call (417) 831-8001 or visit vctheatre.com for ticket information.

This year’s program includes student choreography and faculty works by Ruth Barnes (“Slippages”), Darryl Clark (“Ponderings Upon a Pear With Prickly Heat”) and Carla Williams (“The Transformative Properties of Grief”). Three of the student pieces — Jason Ngo’s “Reverie,” Martin Almaraz’s “Reconciliation,” and Abigail Lind’s “Memories of a Tent” — will be presented at the upcoming ACFDA Central region conference, which will take place on campus from March 21-24.

Proceeds from the Vandivort shows will cover travel expenses for Inertia to attend a special performance with Northwestern University’s Tonik Tap ensemble in Chicago in May 2012. In addition to these performances, Inertia has also planned a show for Friday, March 16 at the West Plains campus.