artistic director
Andrea Taylor started dancing with her parents at age 0. She enjoyed her early training in ethnic forms of dance as well as creative dance from her mother and Ruth Wheeler, co-director and founder of Boston based Dance Collective. Gymnastics, Scottish and finally modern/jazz/blues with Ann Brown Allen in Cambridge were her training until age 16. After receiving her BFA in Dance from UMass Amherst, she began her professional career in contemporary dance forms. She danced with Danny Sloan, Paradigm Dance, Brightman and Co., Concert Dance Company as well as solo artists such as Micki Taylor-Pinney, Miguel Lopez, Milton Myers, Dawn Kramer, Rozanne Kraus, Julie Ince-Thompson and 19 years with Prometheus Dance Company. Her teaching has included international and contemporary dance forms. Andy has taught for Harvard, Boston University, Northwestern, Northeastern, Emerson, Tufts, Boston Conservatory and Dancing Arts Center of Holliston. She currently teaches for the Folk Arts Center of New England, Royal Scottish Country Dance Society/Boston Branch, and Mass Movement as well as open classes at the Dance Complex in Cambridge ages 16 to 93. She is artistic director for Back Pocket Dancers, an intergenerational dance company, Mladost Folk Ensemble, a youth international folk dance group, and the Wheaton College Dance Company. Andy is an adoring admirer of Lynn Simonson and loves teaching residencies in schools and for independent educators. Dance is a satisfying, overwhelming, strengthening, challenging, freeing discipline that applies to and enhances every day of life.
This performance includes use of bright lights and strobe effects throughout the program.
Please take precautionary measures as needed.
Pieces including strobes are marked with this symbol:
Any audio or video recording of this production is prohibited
the wheaton college dance company presents
Andrea Taylor, Artistic Director
the company
Addie Busacco ’26, co-captain
Cassandra Heleen ’26, co-captain
Emma Baran ’27, dame
Summer Ramos ’27, dame
Natalie Chapman ’27
Leah Corne ’28
Isabel Desrosiers ’28
Reese Gordon ’28
Emily Mellow ’28
Kiera Tramble ’29
Alayna Ellis ’29
« continuum
program
Title Choreographer (Music) (Lighting Design)
Like Him Isabel Desrosiers (Like Him by Tyler, The Creator) (Kassandra Muñoz)
Addie Busacco, Cassandra Heleen, Emma Baran, Summer Ramos, Natalie Chapman, Leah Corne, Isabel Desrosiers, Reese Gordon, Emily Mellow, Kiera Tramble, Alayna Ellis
Awakening
Tanya Aritao (Vitalida del mar and Caballito by Guitarricadelafuente) (Max Ponticelli)
Addie Busacco, Cassandra Heleen, Emma Baran, Summer Ramos, Natalie Chapman, Leah Corne, Reese Gordon, Emily Mellow, Kiera Tramble
Hypnosis Caitlin Kennedy Foley (Hypnosis by Travis Lake) (Declan Kennedy)
Addie Busacco, Cassandra Heleen, Emma Baran, Summer Ramos, Leah Corne, Isabel Desrosiers, Reese Gordon, Emily Mellow, Kiera Tramble
Beautiful Strangers YEONJUN, Jaepy, Kingbaer, Kain, Hollatoka (Beautiful Strangers by TOMORROW x TOGETHER) directed by Keandre Alexander (Jill Brown)
KAOS: Keandre Alexander, Heidi Ricker, Shayrah Prado, Zefiro Macera, Julie Maxwell, Lia Arellano
United in Grief
Abi Twigg (United in Grief by Kendrick Lamar) (Ben Zaborski)
Addie Busacco, Cassandra Heleen, Emma Baran, Summer Ramos, Natalie Chapman, Isabel Desrosiers, Reese Gordon, Emily Mellow, Kiera Tramble
INTERMISSION
Chromakopia Ayva Crosby, Addie Busacco, Cassandra Heleen St. Chroma by Tyler, The Creator, feat. Daniel Caesar) (Kristina Kalogeras)
Dance Co & TRYBE: Addie Busacco, Cassandra Heleen, Emma Baran, Summer Ramos, Natalie Chapman, Leah Corne, Isabel Desrosiers, Reese Gordon, Emily Mellow, Kiera Tramble, Ayva Crosby, Jenna Miller, Riley Cox, Ella Pendola, Annalisa Mcpherson, Evren Israel
program
Title Choreographer (Music) (Lighting Design)
Rush Emma Baran (Rush by Troye Sivan) (Max Ponticelli)
Addie Busacco, Cassandra Heleen, Emma Baran, Summer Ramos, Natalie Chapman, Leah Corne, Isabel Desrosiers, Reese Gordon, Emily Mellow, Kiera Tramble, Alayna Ellis
HOT TO GO
Emily Mellow (HOT TO GO! by Chappell Roan) (Atlas Curran-Barker)
Tap Out Loud: Ayva Crosby, Cassandra Heleen, Summer Ramos, Natalie Chapman, Laura Maramo, Emily Mellow, Leah Corne, Shayna Fishman, Addie Busacco, Molly Magarian
No. 1 Party Anthem Leah Corne (No. 1 Party Anthem by Artic Monkeys) (Jill Brown)
Addie Busacco, Cassandra Heleen, Emma Baran, Summer Ramos, Natalie Chapman, Leah Corne, Isabel Desrosiers, Reese Gordon, Emily Mellow, Kiera Tramble, Alayna Ellis
Heaven I Know
Cassandra Heleen (Heaven I Know by Gordi) (Atlas Curran-Barker)
Addie Busacco, Cassandra Heleen, Emma Baran, Summer Ramos, Natalie Chapman, Leah Corne, Isabel Desrosiers, Reese Gordon, Emily Mellow, Kiera Tramble, Alayna Ellis
guest artists
KAOS is Wheaton’s K-pop cover dance team dedicated to demonstrating the art of K-pop, its influence on today’s culture, and its roots from Hallyu (“Korean wave”). We strive to make the campus more aware of K-pop dance and culture through performances and collaborations.
Members: Daniella Joseph ‘26, Charlotte Varga ‘26, Shayrah Prado ‘26, Julie Maxwell ‘26, Keandre Alexander ‘27, Nico Adams ‘27, Zefiro Macera ‘27, Rin Turley ‘27, Heidi Ricker ‘28, Myrsa Prinston ‘28, Annalisa McPherson ‘29, Caitlin McGovern ‘29, Malia Arellano ‘29
Tap Out Loud is Wheaton’s audition tap dance club! We meet several times a week to prepare for performances throughout the year and learn dances choreographed by our own members. Our biggest performance is Dance Fest along with the other dance clubs on campus (shoutout to TRYBE, Paraiso Latino, S.O.L.E,, and KAOS!!!), but we also perform in other events throughout the year and collaborate with clubs outside of the dance community as well. We also host open rehearsals for all levels of tappers!
Members: Ayva Crosby ‘26, Addie Busacco ‘26, Cassandra Heleen ‘26, Toriana Roe ‘26, Natalie Chapman ‘27, Laura Maramo ‘27, Atlas Curran-Barker ‘27, Summer Ramos ‘27, Leah Corne ‘28, Emily Mellow ‘28, Shayna Fishman ‘28, Molly Magarian ‘29
TRYBE is Wheaton’s first student-led dance group on campus. We are a hip-hop and multicultural dance group that not only respects each other’s cultural knowledge and differences but also comes together in unity to proactively promote and celebrate these differences.
Members: Ayva Crosby ‘26, Tanvi Kshatriya ‘26, Daniella Joseph ‘26, Jennalee Miller ‘27, Ella Pendola ‘27, Emma Baran ‘27, Riley Cox ‘27, Zach Rakotomaniraka ‘27, Mialy Randriamiharisoa ‘27, Keandre Alexander ‘27, Iman-Lauren Zeze ‘27, Annkeila Rosario ‘27, Finn Portley ‘28, Nanoa Randriamiharisoa ‘28, Layla Dasilva Askew ‘28, Evren Israel ‘29, Annalisa Mcpherson ‘29
guest choreographers
Tanya Aritao, class of 2012, is delighted to have returned to Wheaton to choreograph for the Dance Company for the first time since 2013. Tanya’s piece, Awakening, blends flamenco elements with contemporary dance, reflecting the evolution of her movement practice over the years. Tanya graduated magna cum laude with a Major in Studio Art and a Minor in Dance, and was the recipient of the Lillian Hellman Prize in Theatre and Dance Studies. Tanya was a member of the Wheaton College Dance Company all four years and served as Co-Captain her junior and senior years. She was also a member and manager of TRYBE.
Tanya, originally from the Philippines, is an artist, social entrepreneur and strategic adviser. Tanya currently lives in London where she is the Head of Portfolio Strategy and Engagement at The Earthshot Prize - the world’s most prestigious and impactful environmental award, founded by HRH Prince William in 2020, to identify, celebrate, and back ambitious climate leadership from every corner of the globe.
Caitlin Kennedy Foley is a 1998 cum laude graduate of Wheaton College. She was a member of the Wheaton Dance Company for all four years and was a co-captain of the company for her junior and senior year. She received her master’s degree in education from Anna Maria College in 2007. She is a grade five teacher in the Northborough Public Schools and teaches dance at Premier Dance in Auburn. Caitlin and her husband, Jason, have three daughters and reside in Auburn. This is the eighth time she has choreographed for the Wheaton College Dance Company and she is thrilled to be returning once again.
Abi Twigg, class of 2023, is from Pembroke, Massachusetts. She grew up dancing since she was two years old, studying tap, ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and musical theatre. She was a member of Dance Company for all four years she was at Wheaton. She was also a member of Tap Out Loud. She graduated with a BA in psychology major with a double minor in public health and dance. She is absolutely thrilled to share her passion and choreography with you, and is honored to return as an alumni choreographer for her Wheaton dance family!
student choreographers
Addie Busacco, class of 2026, is from Allamuchy, New Jersey, and is currently pursuing a major in psychology and minors in sociology and dance. Her other involvements on campus consist of being members of Tap Out Loud and Hungry Lyons House. This marks her fourth year with the Dance Company, and she is thrilled to help bring the collab with TRYBE to the Wheaton stage. Addie’s dance training began at the age of two, and she has since trained in many styles including ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, hip-hop, tap, and musical theater at the North Jersey School of Dance Arts and the New Jersey Civic Youth Ballet. Addie is beyond excited to perform alongside such a talented group of dancers and is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to co-choreograph with such amazing people!
Ayva Crosby, class of 2026, is from Easthampton, Massachusetts. She is a psychology major with a dance minor and is Co-Director of TRYBE, as well as one of the senior advisors of Tap Out Loud. She danced at Hackworth’s School of Performing Arts for about 15 years, competing in many different styles of dance. She is so grateful to have been a co-choreographer for the TRYBE and Dance Company collab and can’t wait to see the dance come together on stage!
Cassandra Heleen, class of 2026, is from Middleboro, Massachusetts. She is a double major in biology and English and is Co-Captain of the Dance Company, as well as one of the Senior Advisors of Tap Out Loud. She grew up dancing at Erica’s Dance Academy, where she trained for 16 years in styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, lyrical, hip hop, musical theatre, and acro. This is her fourth year in the Company and 20th year dancing. She is so excited to dance alongside such wonderful and talented dancers and people!
Emma Baran, class of 2027, is from Raynham, Massachusetts. She is a criminal justice major with minors in political science and psychology. Growing up Emma danced at Dance Theater of New England training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and lyrical. Currently, Emma teaches and choreographs for her home studio while in her third year of dancing with Dance Co. She is super excited to share the stage with her friends and showcase everyone’s talent!
Isabel Desrosiers, Class of 2028, is from Somerset, Massachusetts. She is majoring in economics with a minor in public health and is a proud member of the Dance Company. Isabel spent the majority of her dance journey at A Step Above Dance Academy, where she trained in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop for ten years. Now in her second year with the Company and her thirteenth year dancing, she is thrilled to share her choreography on stage and can’t wait to see how her fellow dancers bring it to life!
Leah Corne is a sophomore studying biology, pursuing a pre-optometry track and a minor in dance at Wheaton. She is from Tolland, Connecticut and is beyond excited to be choreographing her first piece for the company! She grew up dancing at Toriography Dance Center, training for 14 years in tap, contemporary, jazz, ballet, and lyrical. This is her second year in the company and her 16th year dancing. Along with being a member of the Dance Company, she is also the secretary of Tap Out Loud. She is so honored to be a part of this talented company and to showcase everybody’s artwork on stage!
technical credits
Technical Director/Projection Design Max Ponticelli
Stage Manager Phoenix Clarke ’27
Assistant Stage Managers
Atlas Curran-Barker ’27
Charlie Staley-Brain ’27
Light Board Operator Jade Quero ’29
Sound Board and Projection Operator Max Ponticelli
Wardrobe Molly Magarian ’29
Lighting Designers Max Ponticelli
Kristina Kalogeras
Ben Zaborski ’26
Jill Brown ’26
Atlas Curran-Barker ’27
Declan Kennedy ’27
Kassandra Muñoz ’27
Technical Support Kristina Kalogeras
theatre staff
Associate Director, Arts Events & Publicity/Graphic Designer Jessica F. Kuszaj
Technical Coordinator for the Arts Kristina Kalogeras
Box Office
Carmen Almonte ’26
Bessie Reina Figueroa ’26
Maggie Gould ’26
Aslan Gustafson ’27
Annkeila Rosario ’27
Rose Gifford ’28
Annalise Layng ’28
special thanks
The Company would like to extend their sincere thanks to all those who devoted their time and talent to this performance. We would also like to thank all of our guest artists, choreographers and our amazing tech crew for their contributions. Thank you all for making this show a success!
—The Company
Alayna Ellis ’29
Max Ponticelli
Jessica Kuszaj
Cheryl Mrozowski
Andrea Taylor
Leticia Guerrero
TRYBE
Tap Out Loud
KAOS
Shelby Smiley
Student technical and box office crew