Director’s Note I am so happy to welcome you to Affinity: Dana Hall Dance Moving Together 2021. Under normal circumstances, we’d all be gathering in Bardwell Auditorium to enjoy the creative contributions of our dance community. Of course, like all things, this event is different in this context. I’m thrilled that this platform transcends geography and provides an opportunity for those who wouldn’t normally be able to attend the dance concert to join us. I hope you all experience a degree of the amount of joy and harmony we feel when dancing and creating dance. I am a lifelong member of the dance community. As we are rounding out a year unlike any year any of us have ever experienced, I have been reflecting deeply on what dance means to me, what it means to our Dana Hall community, and its impact on a more global scale. The effects of the pandemic have certainly placed significant constraints on the way we learn dance and the way we share dance. It has been challenging throughout these last twelve months to not get bogged down by these constraints; to be as productive in our creative discipline; to see the silver lining beyond the limitations. From behind our zoom screens or masked and distant, in person, we miss and crave the energy exchange, the human connection, the sheer exhilaration we feel when we dance and create together. However, when we flip that perspective, those of us who know the power of dance realize that even through all of these barriers, dance has brought us together and made us stronger. For many of us, it’s been our salvation. The time we dedicate to our craft serves as a release. It provides us balance and a lens through which we can make sense of the world around us. I feel fortunate to share space - whether virtual or in person - with our dance students. The time we spend in classes moving and creating is time to be protected and cherished. It has been a privilege to watch these dancers evolve into the artists and performers that they’ve become, even in these challenging circumstances. It is my hope that they will carry the elements of joy, balance, creativity, healing, love, and connection from the studio out into the world. Thank you for joining us, and I hope you enjoy Affinity. Devon Fitchett Performing Arts Department Head Director of Dance Affinity, Artistic Director
September Choreographed, filmed, and edited by Mikaela Bradley Music by Earth, Wind & Fire Danced by Natalie Chenard ’22, Aimée Coleman ’22, Eleanor Fazio ’21, Elizabeth Fazio ’23, Julia Freedman ’22, Hannah Haddadi ’24, Eva Happel ’22, Caroline Lagarde ’23, Ava Morvillo ’23, Eleanor Wellington ’21, Ilyssa Yan ’23 Label Me Choreographed by Olivia Blaisdell in collaboration with the dancers Filmed and edited by Olivia Moon Photography / halfasianlens Music/Sound by Michael Wall Danced by Eleanor Fazio ’21, Ava Morvillo ’23, Eleanor Wellington ’21, Hallie Zhou ’24 The Sun Still Burns Choreographed, filmed, and edited by Devon Fitchett Music by Leslie Odom, Jr. Danced by Natalie Chenard ’22, Eleanor Fazio ’21, Hannah Haddadi ’24, Ava Morvillo ’23, Eleanor Wellington ’21, Ilyssa Yan ’23, Hallie Zhou ’23 Dang! Choreographed and edited by Eleanor Fazio ’21 Filmed by Elizabeth Fazio ’23 Music by Mac Miller feat. Anderson .Paak Danced by Eleanor Fazio ’21 and Eleanor Wellington ’21 Faith Choreographed, filmed, and edited by Mikaela Bradley Music by Galantis and Dolly Parton feat. Mr. Probz Danced by Emma Beardsley ’22, Nabiha Chowdhury ’24, Phoebe Frechette ’22, Emma Gershberg ’22, Risha Gopal ’23 Swann Li ’24, Xiangyi Wang ’24 Work Choreographed, filmed, and edited by Devon Fitchett Music by Charlotte Day Wilson Danced by Eleanor Wellington ’21 Prodigy Choreographed, filmed, and edited by Mikaela Bradley Music by Nathan Lanier Danced by Lily Brinkman ’22, Alexis Brunelli ’24, Aimée Coleman ’22, Zihan Cui ’24, Elizabeth Fazio ’23, Julia Freedman ’22, Lily Kamizuru-Bowman ’23, Veronika Kirsanova ’22, Caroline Lagarde ’23, Imogen Mistry ’24, Naa-Teki Nartey ’22
Nothin’ on Me Choreographed, filmed, and edited by Devon Fitchett Music by Little Dragon, Cordae feat. Anderson .Paak, TropKillaz, J Balvin, and Anitta Danced by Emma Beardsley ’22, Alexis Brunelli ’24, Nabiha Chowdhury ’24, Haninah Forrest ’21, Phoebe Frechette ’22, Emma Gershberg ’22, Dawnya Green ’21, Daniele Musni ’21, Naa-Teki Nartey ’22, Erinda Ratchford ’24, Emma Shaich ’22, Xiangyi Wang ’24, Hallie Zhou ’23 Purl Choreographed, filmed, and edited by Devon Fitchett Music by Agnes Obel Danced by Eleanor Fazio ’21 Gold Choreographed and edited by Hallie Zhou ’23 Music by Wake Owl Filmed and danced by Ava Morvillo ’23, Estella Yan ’23, Ilyssa Yan ’23, Hallie Zhou ’23 Valerie Choreographed, filmed, and edited by Mikaela Bradley Music by Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse Danced by Lily Brinkman ’22, Alexis Brunelli ’24, Natalie Chenard ’22, Aimée Coleman ’22, Zihan Cui ’24, Elizabeth Fazio ’23, Phoebe Frechette ’22, Julia Freedman ’22, Dawnya Green ’21, Eva Happel ’22, Veronika Kirsanova ’22, Caroline Lagarde ’23, Imogen Mistry ‘24, Daniele Musni ’21, Naa-Teki Nartey ’22, Erinda Ratchford ’24 Maybe This Time Choregraphed and edited by Eleanor Wellington ’21 Filmed by Ivy Wellington ’24 Music by Liza Minelli Danced by Eleanor Fazio ’21 and Eleanor Wellington ’21 Back to Earth Choreographed, filmed, and edited by Devon Fitchett Music by Ras G Danced by Natalie Chenard ’22, Eleanor Fazio ’21, Hannah Haddadi ’24, Erinda Ratchford ’24, Eleanor Wellington ’21, Ilyssa Yan ’23, Hallie Zhou ’23 Rollicky Waltz Choreographed, filmed, and edited by Devon Fitchett Music by Duke Ellington featuring the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (arr. R. Collier)
Danced by Lily Brinkman ’22, Natalie Chenard ’22, Eleanor Fazio ’21, Hannah Haddadi ’24, Lily Kamizuru-Bowman ’24, Swann Li ’24, Imogen Mistry ’24, Ava Morvillo ’23, Erinda Ratchford ’24, Eleanor Wellington ’21, Ilyssa Yan ’23, Hallie Zhou ’23
About the Contributing Artists Devon Fitchett, Artistic Director of Affinity, is the Performing Arts Department Head and Director of Dance at Dana Hall School where she teaches modern, ballet, jazz, and hip hop and directs Dance Repertory Group. She received her early dance training under the direction of Jim Viera and Jeannette Neill at Boston Youth Moves. She continued dancing under the direction of Marcy Plavin at Bates College where she received a B.A. in American Cultural Studies with a concentration in Dance. She has performed with Emily Beattie, Prometheus Dance, and Ben Munisteri Dance Projects, among others, at the Altogether Different and Lincoln Center Out of Doors festivals, Gowanus Guest Room, Tanzmesse International Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and Dance for Life Boston. Along with dana e. fitchett and Liza Hostetler-Ingalls, she created Avid Zeal Dances in 2014. Devon has served on the faculty of the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio and Boston Youth Moves teaching all levels and ages in disciplines including ballet, modern, and jazz. She has also taught master classes and performed at studios, high schools, and universities across the U.S. and abroad. Devon has developed repertory for regional colleges and universities and has been a movement consultant and assistant director for Boston-based theater company, Bad Habit Productions. In 2017, Devon received Dana Hall School’s Congdon Sabbatical. During this time, she lived in Ubud, Bali in Indonesia where she studied traditional and contemporary Balinese dance intensively under the direction of master teachers and directors of Gamelan Semara Ratih, Anak Agung Gede Anom Putra and Ni Gusti Ayu Sukmawati. Devon has been the Director of Dance at Dana Hall School since 2006. She is grateful to have a space to develop her creative ideas and to share her passion with students who are equally as passionate about dance and who have a substantial capacity for absorbing and processing movement and movement concepts. Having the opportunity to witness the precise moments of significant progress her students experience in the studio and on stage is one of the most rewarding aspects of her career. She thanks her students for sharing their hard work, discipline, balance, and passion. Mikaela Bradley, Dance Faculty and Resident Choreographer for Affinity, teaches tap, ballet, modern, and jazz at Dana Hall School. She also teaches ballet, contemporary, modern, and dance composition at Centerstage Dance Academy. Mikaela attended Springfield College where she had the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with choreographers such as Cynthia Nazzaro, Michelle Marroquin, and Fritha Pengelly. She graduated in 2014 with a BA in dance. Upon graduation, Mikaela received the Friends of the Arts Award, which is presented to a senior in the Arts Department who holds the highest GPA. After graduation, Mikaela began working at Centerstage Dance Academy and in the public school system in Lowell, MA. It was here that Mikaela decided she wanted to combine her love of dance with her passion for education, which ultimately led her to Dana Hall. Most recently, Mikaela had the opportunity to set work on and teach technique classes to two local dance companies: Betula Movement Company and OnStage Dance Company. Mikaela also guest taught jazz and tap at a dance convention for the Dance Teachers Club of Boston. Mikaela graduated from the Dance Teachers Club of Boston in 2009 and received a Massachusetts State Licensure in Dance for Pre-K through grade 12 in 2015. She believes strongly in continual education for both teachers and students.
Rebecca Brill Weitz is a theater maker, technician and teacher from Massachusetts who is thrilled to be back in her home state after spending several years in New York and Connecticut. Since graduating from Connecticut College with a degree in Performance Design and Technology and a minor in Dance, Rebecca has held several positions in theater production and management. This includes Production Manager and Master Electrician at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Associate Production Manager at Tinc Productions working with both Manhattan School of Music and Slava’s Snowshow on Broadway, and Associate Producer at Musical Theatre Factory. She has also worked as lighting designer for dance for choreographers such as David Dorfman, Shani Collins, Heidi Henderson, Jennifer Nugent & Paul Matteson. Olivia Blaisdell – 2020-2021 Guest Artist in Dance – is a Boston-based, multidisciplinary artist with specific passions in photography, film, and dance. Her work, in all mediums, is greatly centered around her self-identity. As a queer, femaleidentifying, Asian-American woman, Olivia uses her artistic platform to highlight voices in her communities that, in day to day life, are suppressed. Olivia was born in Connecticut, but raised in Los Angeles, where she grew up studying dance at The Vonder Haar Center for the Performing Arts. She returned to the East Coast to attend high school at The Walnut Hill School for the Arts where she studied dance. She has also trained with Hubbard Street, Joffrey Chicago, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Currently she dances with KAIROS Dance Theater and VLA Dance, and trains in pole fitness on the side. While Olivia graduated with a degree in Health Science from Boston University this past May, she had other plans for her future in mind. For the fifth year, Olivia is currently managing her freelance photography business, Olivia Moon Photography/halfasianlens, with focuses in movement photography and portraiture. She has worked with artists such as Whitney Browne and has studied photography at Jacob’s Pillow and the Art Center College of Design. Freelancing requires toes in many different areas (not literally); some of her other interests and jobs include arts administration, project management, and social media management. Eleanor Fazio ‘21 is from Weston, Massachusetts. She has been dancing for 11 years. She previously danced at a competitive dance studio and has been dancing at Dana Hall School since 8th grade. She dances because she loves to perform and she appreciates the creative outlet dance gives her. She has worked with many teachers, including Kerrin Michaels, Ivaylo Alexiev, Wendy O’Byrne, and Brea Perdue. The song Ellie chose to create her piece to this year is Dang! by Mac Miller. She explored using mirrors as a way to give more dimension to her piece and to bring to life her love for dancing in the mirror as a way to destress.
Eleanor Wellington ‘21 has been dancing since the age of two. She began taking classes at All That Jazz dance studio in Newton and fell in love with the art. She came to Dana Hall School in sixth grade, and took both tap and hip hop that year. Ellie was enthralled by the rigor and creative aspects of the program and has been dancing at Dana Hall School ever since. She participated in her first dance concert in seventh grade. Ellie loves to dance because it’s the easiest way besides talking to express her emotions and let go of outside stresses. This is Ellie’s third year in rep, and she’s excited to combine her passions for film and dance and share her choreography through a new medium. Hallie Zhou ‘23 began dancing at the age of four as a student at Boston Ballet School. She trained in classical ballet and took years of classes in character and ballet repertoire. At Dana Hall School, Hallie takes classes in a variety different styles of dance such as jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, and modern. Hallie loves to dance because it is a way to learn to combine skill and technique with freedom, and it allows you to explore beauty through movement. Despite difficulties regarding the pandemic, her piece, Gold, was able to be executed. Gold was choreographed with the intent of making it possible to perform in different spaces.
Acknowledgements Dana Hall Dance would like to thank Dana Hall School’s Advancement, Buildings and Grounds, Business, and Communications Offices, the Dining Center Staff, Judy MacDonald, Adam Richins Photography, Capezio Wellesley, and Peter Frechette P16, 22.
Production Team Artistic Director: Devon Fitchett Resident Choreographer: Mikaela Bradley 2020 - 2021 Guest Artist in Dance: Olivia Blaisdell Technical Director: Rebecca Brill Weitz Student Choreographers: Eleanor Fazio ’21, Eleanor Wellington ’21, Hallie Zhou ’23