Bullying takes center stage next month when Point Dance Ensemble (PDE) features “Dear Bullies” during its 18th annual performance.

The show will be performed for the public at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at Sentry’s [email protected], 1800 North Point Drive, Stevens Point.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. They are available through Central Wisconsin Tickets at www.cwtickets.com, calling 715-498-2339 or at the door.

“I don’t think I could have picked a better year to join PDE,” said Madeline Wojchik, 14, of Plover. Wojchik has been involved in dance – ballet, tap, jazz and modern – for 11 years and currently dances with Dance Dynamics.

“I am really passionate about bullying because when I was younger, I witnessed it many times,” she said. “Now, after so many years, it has made me stronger as a person and able to stand up for myself. I think that this performance is really important because it involves a topic that affects students every day.”

“Dear Bullies” is based on a national effort that offers skills to address bullying and offers youth the opportunity to learn through the arts. The civility program began last year and continues through this spring with after-school dance programming at the Boys & Girls Club of Portage County Plover-Whiting location. PDE also performed the piece for students at McKinley Elementary School on Thursday, Feb. 23, and will offer two performances Friday, March 3, for other area students.

The PDE collaboration includes music composed by Aaron Marx, wearable art designed by local puppeteer Pam Corcoran, choreography by Pamela Luedtke, and a live music improvisational score performed by University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point percussionist John Leja and violin by local musician Emma McAlister.

The piece consists of spoken words drafted from letters that were written by students recalling events that took place being a victim of bullying or witnessing an act of bullying.

“I hope to spread how serious bullying can be, but also give awareness on how to fix it,” Wojchik said. “Bullying happens in every school in one way or another, and can change a person’s life.

“I think it’s important to always be kind to people, whether you may like them or not, and to build others up with you,” she said. “I think this dance displays kind actions and how they can unite people together.”

Corcoran hopes to do the same with her puppeteering, which includes a large creature, Sully, lengths of fabric to elicit emotional responses and science fiction imagery to address cyber bullying.

“My personal feeling is that everything one reads, sees, hears – well, experiences – becomes a part of who they are,” Corcoran said. “The more students are exposed to stories of kindness and empathy, the more likely kindness and empathy will become part of their being.”

Collaboration on the piece has been going on for about a year.

The annual performance also features choreography by guest artists including Colleen Coy, Amy Beversdorf, PDE alumnus Tristan Koepke and additional repertory choreographed by PDE company members and Luedtke.

Coy choreographed “Undividing” during PDE’s summer intensive in July 2016. The repertory explores isolation verses freedom with sets designed and constructed by Hector Hill. Beversdorf choreographed “Sing with Me,” a dance piece exploring fun childhood friendships between girls. Koepke, a 2003-07 alumnus of PDE, instructed a Master Class with members of PDE and set “Exceptional” in collaboration with his cast of eight.

PDE is a local, nonprofit dance company that was founded in January 2000. Its mission is to promote the art of dance in the central Wisconsin area through educational workshops, performances and other artistic opportunities. PDE offers a professional experience for young dancers and introduces them to different aspects of dance including performing, rehearsing, choreographing and teaching.

PDE company members for the 2016-17 season include Josie Colombe, Alana Culver, Jenna Boeck, Jaycee Glen, Emily Glodowski, Dominque Jamison, Nadia Lind, Terez Luedtke, Sydeny Mattmiller, Bryanna Kirsch, Ariel Seefelt, Kiya Singewald, Gabby Sroda, Jenna Stolt, Marissa Stolt, Alida Richards, Olivia VanArk, Kennedy VanderLoop, Skyler Wachsmuth, Alexis Wanserski and Madeline Wojchik.

PDE is supported in part by a grant funding through the Central Wisconsin Community Foundation, the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts, and as well as support from private donors.

For more information, contact Luedtke at 715-592-4140 or [email protected] or visit PDE’s website at www.pointdance.org. PDE is also on Facebook.