The University of Iowa Department of Dance celebrates 40 years of Dance Gala this season, with more than 40 students performing on the Strauss Recital Hall stage.

This weekend, undergraduate and graduate students will present a series of works in a virtual End of Semester Event hosted by the Department of Dance.

The dance company’s home performance will virtually premiere Saturday at 8 p.m. The performance will showcase five works, with styles of Brazilian frevo, house dance and hip-hop, contemporary postmodern, and more.

The International Writing Program and Department of Dance collaborated to present visual interpretations of written works and look into the future with their Eyes Closed Eyes Open multidisciplinary event, which premieres on Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m.

The final solution for how best to hold Dance Gala ended up being the fifth contingency plan put in place to adapt to a post-COVID world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has halted many longtime traditions this year. But the University of Iowa Department of Dance was not going to let it stop the 39th edition of Dance Gala.