Long hours of choreography and training.

Sore feet at the end of the day.

Months of preparation.

Hours under brightly colored lights that generate heat on the stage.

All of this will come together tonight with the opening performance of the annual “An Evening of Dance” in Russell Miller theatre in the fine arts center.

The show starts tonight and will run until April 29. All performances will begin at 8 p.m. except on April 27, when the performance starts at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $10 and reservations can be made by calling the ticket office.

Performances will showcase talent from dancers involved with the Western Kentucky University Dance Company. The show will conclude the work done by students this semester.

About eight feature dances will be performed to a diverse collection of music including ballet, soul and African jazz. The dances were choreographed by Elaine Husted, faculty and guest choreographer from Middle Tennessee State University.

The dancers auditioned for parts in the fall and 20 were selected, said Amanda Clark, assistant dance professor and choreographer.

“The best of the best were picked out,” Clark said. “Just about anybody was considered for a feature part. Everybody was able to showcase their talent.”

Some of the pieces will be taken to Italy as a part of an annual program funded in part by Western and performed by 11 students. This is the third year the dance company will perform for an Italian audience with the Balletto, an Italian ballet company.

The entire experience should be eye-opening to the students attending, Assistant Dance Professor Clifton Brown said.

“The trip will give them a chance to get professional experience with an international company,” Brown said. “They will get a cultural exchange that should impact their entire lives.”

St. Louis senior Sally Fakes will perform in the show and travel to Italy. This will be her third time traveling there.

“It’s just a lot of fun.” Fakes said. “It takes a few days to get used to the change, but the jet-lag and cultural differences are worth it.”

Fakes will perform in five dances. This is the fourth “An Evening of Dance” production she has been in. The show has helped her gain stage experience as well as physical benefits.

Fakes said the show has helped her make her cardio better.

“You need to move around a lot and keep that energy,” she said.

One of the pieces choreographed by Husted is a modern piece called “IS.” It’s a quartet of women who utilize the floor and patterns.

“The play is what it is,” Husted said. “This piece is open to interpretation.”

Husted said she enjoyed working with Western students for a change.

“It was nice coming here to get a different perspective because each department has their own emphasis,” she said. “Western has a strong emphasis on ballet, while MTSU focuses on modern dance. But all the dancers here were very versatile and talented.”

Reach Jill Erwin at diversions@chherald.com.