GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Imagine images of Colorado National Monument conveyed through movement of the human body.

Local dancer and choreographer Connie Monroe is working on a 30-minute piece designed to evoke the monument — the dance will be performed at a Performing Arts Festival held at Mesa State College in August.

Monroe loves Colorado National Monument and wanted to create this piece to honor the monument during its centennial year, MSC dance professor Melonie Buchanan Murray said.

A portion of the work, a piece titled “Erosion,” will be performed at the college's annual spring dance concert April 22-23.

“It's quite beautiful,” Murray said.

“She's created images of the monument with the human body, the dancers themselves. It's exciting, very athletic.”

Also performing at the concert, Holly Lampe, a guest artist from California, has choreographed a work that incorporates hip-hop, jazz and tap into one piece that will include 23 dancers on stage at the same time.

The Beyond Boundaries Dance Collective will perform a work by Juliet Forrest of Goucher College.

Other choreographers include college faculty Matthew Lindstrom, Kathleen Riskey and Theresa Kahl. Student choreographers include Kaleigh Guseman, Laura Bradley, Alexis Evans, Matt Corbett, Sarah Bullock and Jennifer Madsen.

Murray said she's impressed with this year's student choreographers.

“They're so talented. They're all really high-caliber. I think our student choreographers are putting out some of the best student choreography we've ever seen here.

“This will be one of the most athletic concerts we've ever had.”

GO&DO What: Spring Into Dance concert When: April 22 at 7:30 p.m., and April 23 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Where: Moss Performing Arts Center, Robinson Theatre Cost: $10 adults; $8 seniors; $6 students Info: 248-1604