According to philosopher James K. Feibleman, there are seven traditional accepted fine arts, including sculpture, dance, painting, architecture, poetry, drama and music.

What makes dance unique is that it is the only one where the whole body is used.

“[In dance] feeling is expressed through movement and movement can be through a variety of forms,” Carol Tetmeyer, The Neuman Dance Project production coordinator, said. “That is especially important in the Neuman Dance Project.”

The Neuman Dance Project, a professional dance company founded in 1992 by choreographer Greg Neuman, will be performing in Ames this weekend.

Performing more than traditional ballet, The Neuman Dance Project will perform contemporary, jazz and modern pieces including a commissioned piece choreographed by Iowa State assistant professor of dance, Laurie Sanda.

Set to the music of Kate Bush, Sanda’s “Oracle” is a modern ecological piece with a celtic flare. She derived the idea from Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth.”

“There is the idea of the three witches who are around the cauldron to foretell Macbeth’s future,” Sanda said. “Here, they are foretelling the Earth’s future. The dance is about where we’re headed if we don’t do something. It has a dark side.”

Based in Des Moines, The Neuman Dance Project was started when Neuman, who has studied dance in Germany, London and the United States, wanted the chance to choreograph his own dancers.

As the company began to take shape, it found itself with six to seven core dancers who perform a variety of dance including ballet, contemporary, modern and jazz.

“It is a unique and diverse group with diverse backgrounds,” Tetmeyer said. “We perform ballet, modern and jazz and have people who have studied all of them.”

But the diversity of the company does not stop here. Unlike many choreographers, Neuman encourages the dancers to take more of an active creative role in the dances they perform.

“One thing Greg does is let the dancer bring [his/her] own movements to the dance and encourages [the dancer] to bring themselves into the dance,” Tetmeyer said.

Since the creation of The Neuman Dance Project, the company has performed in full scale concerts, danced by invite and has performed pieces on programs. The company, however, hopes that ’98 will mean more dancing.

Long range plans for The Neuman Dance Project include holding a regular concert series, more touring and more space to work.

“One of our problems is performing space,” Tetmeyer said. “We have auditoriums around the area that we can use but none for large scale seating.”

The Neuman Dance Project does more than dance. One of the company’s goals is to educate audiences in Central Iowa.

“There is a lot of dance in Central Iowa and a lot of good dance,” Tetmeyer said. “You don’t have to go away [to New York] to watch good dance. There are young talented dancers and choreographers in the area with a lot of abilities.

“Greg teaches and does residency work in the schools to help educate students, she continued. “He will spend a half a day to two or three weeks to promote dance. He shows that it is OK, fun and good.”

The Neuman Dance Project will be performing Friday at 8 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. Tickets are $3 for students with a fee card and $5 general admission and are available at the door.