Nothing Too Small

2021-22 Carthage Theatre Department Presents

NOTHING TOO small

Artistic Director

Stacy Pottinger

December 10-11 | 7:30 p.m.

December 12 | 3 p.m.

Wartburg Theatre David A. Straz, Jr. Center

about the show Nothing Too Small brings to the stage layers of experience and perspective through new and legacy dance works created for and embodied by Carthage dancers. The program features works by regional guest artists and faculty, Carthage’s very own emerging choreographers, and iconic American choreographer, Robert Battle.

program Deluge Direction, Brianna Rae Johnson Movement, Taylor Bulanek, Selina Costabile, Caitlyn Feldpausch, Brianna Rae Johnson, Kortni Robinson, Gabrielle Tifft, Emily Jean Zerger Music, Field Recordings by Brianna Rae Johnson Video and Editing, Brianna Rae Johnson Dancers: Selina Costabile, Caitlyn Feldpausch, Kortni Robinson, Gabrielle Tifft, Emily Jean Zerger. Understudy, Taylor Bulanek Form Choreography, Geovanni Virella-Torres Music, Origins (Solo) by Max Richter Dancers: Makayla Steinberg, Geovanni Virella-Torres At The Tone Choreography, Logan Luis Poetry written and performed by Jaden Gardner, ‘24; In a Monastery Garden by Albert W Ketelbey and Peerless Orchestra; Voicemail audio clips provided by: Lisa Gierlach, Linda Gierlach, Nancy Harrington, Nicholas Lopez, Ann Lysne, Teddy Luis Sr., Jennifer Repsher, and Kathleen Williams.

Dancers: Caroline Huttner, Logan Luis, Mara Lysne, Stephanie Majer Galactic Expeditions Choreography, Caitlyn Feldpausch Music, Eclipse by Pink Floyd (performed by Vitamin String Quartet); Learn to Fly by Foo Fighters.

Audio recordings were used courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration archives.

Recordings were sourced from speeches by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and President John F. Kennedy, a conversation between Jack James and John Glenn, and a playback of the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Cargo Dragon spacecraft.

Dancers: Jackie Chiakas, Theresa Kalb, Kailee Pulda, Makayla Steinberg, Katie Wilde Pieces of Me Choreography, Jenny Barreca and dancers Music, Original sound score by Jenny Barreca Dancers: Taylor Bulanek, Alecia Corey, Selina Costabile, Caroline Huttner, Emily Jean Zerger. Understudy, Gabrielle Tifft

This project is guided by the UWM Department of Dance Faculty in partial fulfillment of work towards an M.F.A. in Dance. Partial financial support provided by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts Department of Dance.

program Intermission Time Bending Movement direction and conception, Kristina Saldarelli Music improvisation by Aaron Paulsen Dancers: Alecia Corey, Talia Larsen, Kailee Pulda, Katie Wilde Into Thin Air Choreography, Stacy Pottinger with Geovanni Virella-Torres Music, Airplane Vic Jet Trip #3 and Loops Remix by Stacy Pottinger

Contains samples of “Airplane Vic Jet trip #3” by Victor Witten. Contains samples of “Loops (open).”

Retrieved from Tony Schwartz Collection at the Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division.

Dancer: Geovanni Virella-Torres

“When the Sylphide reappears, James draws out the gossamer veil. With a childish delight, she leaps to catch it as he tosses it into the air. He swears that she shall have it if she will kneel and promise to remain with him always. As she happily agrees, he twines the poisoned scarf around her shoulders. Her wings drop softly to the ground.”

American Ballet Theatre Synopsis: La Sylphide (The Sylph of the Highlands)

Underneath Choreography, Rich Ashworth Music, FoolMoon by Kamauu Dancers: *Taylor Bulanek, *Caroline Huttner, Logan Luis, Theresa Kalb, Kortni Robinson, Sarah Syverud *Caroline Huttner will perform December 11; Taylor Bulanek will perform December 10, 12.

Battleworks Etude (premiered 2003, revised 2012) Choreography, Robert Battle, arranged by Erika Pujič Original Music, by Carl Landa Staging, Coaching, Stacy Pottinger Dancers: Lillian Geuder, Caroline Huttner, Mara Lysne, Geovanni Virella-Torres, Emily Jean Zerger

Battleworks Etude is part of the Dancing Legacy Repertory Etudes™ Collection, conceived and curated

by Carolyn Adams and Julie Adams Strandberg. Stacy Pottinger adapted this version from the six-person staging and coached the RepEtude using Dancing Legacy’s rough-cut instructional and coaching videos.

performers Taylor Bulanek Jackie Chiakas Alecia Corey Selina Costabile Caitlyn Feldpausch Lillian Geuder Caroline Huttner Theresa Kalb Talia Larsen Logan Luis

Mara Lysne Stephanie Majer Kailee Pulda Kortni Robinson Makayla Steinberg Sarah Syverud Gabrielle Tifft Geovanni Virella-Torres Katie Wilde Emily Jean Zerger

production team Artistic Director..........................................................................................Stacy Pottinger Production Stage Manager.................................................................. Rachel Skowronski Assistant Stage Manager.............................................. Caitlin Preuss and Rose Reichert Costume Design............................................Kim Instenes and Geovanni Virella-Torres Technical Director and Light Design.................................................. William Newcomb Light Board Operator...................................................................................... Sarah Loster Sound Board Operator................................................................................Makaila Bangs Deck Crew................................................................................................Lauren Fergusen Wardrobe Crew Head................................................................................. Nicky Caldwell Wardrobe Crew........................................................................ Grace Hanson, Tyler Myer

director’s note Thank you for attending the Department of Theatre’s 2021 dance production, Nothing Too Small. This production includes opportunities for Carthage dancers to embody new works created for them by our guest artists, alongside works that have been restaged and given new life, and new insights by our dancers. The program features works inspired by a range of perspectives, including regional guest artists and faculty, Carthage’s very own emerging choreographers, and iconic repertory of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Artistic Director, Robert Battle. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our work with you in the familiar space of a theatre again. After a year and a half of navigating the unexpected pitfalls and magic of the less familiar digital space, we seem to have a lot to say. We appreciate your support and welcome your thoughts afterward!

Stacy Pottinger, Artistic Director

talkback For more insights into Nothing Too Small works, please join the Artistic Director and choreographers in a Talk- Back immediately following the Saturday, December 11th performance. The Talk- Back will take place in the Wartburg Auditorium. We look forward to addressing viewer’s questions and hearing thoughts about the program.

biographies Stacy Pottinger (Artistic Director/Choreographer) directs the Dance Minor Program at Carthage College and teaches dance studies at both Carthage College and Mount Mary University. She holds a B.F.A. in dance performance from Southern Methodist University, an M.A. in dance education from the State University of New York College at Brockport, and an M.F.A. in dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Ms. Pottinger has worked with many independent dance artists and companies based in Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin and beyond. She performed with the Christopher Watson Dance Company (1996-2009), Biodance (2006-2007), Kinetic Evolutions Dance Company (2009), Danceworks Performance Company (2011) and has worked with internationally known artists including Bill Evans and Juanita Suarez. Her choreographic work has included a variety of interdisciplinary projects and collaborations with composers, musicians, video animators and teaching professionals of varying subjects. In addition to her titles as Director of the Dance Minor, Professor, and Artistic Director of the Theatre Department’s dance productions, Ms. Pottinger is Faculty Advisor for Carthage’s NDEO Student Chapter and National Honor Society for the Dance Arts, she serves as Treasurer for the Wisconsin Dance Council Board of Directors, and she is a member of Dancing Legacy’s Educator’s Cohort.

Kim Instenes (Costume Design), in addition to teaching Costumes and Makeup at Carthage, Kim works as a freelance costume and makeup designer in the Milwaukee/ Chicago area. Professional design credits include SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CASE OF THE JERSEY LILY, DOUBT and JEEVES INTERVENES at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, MARY JANE at Forward Theater, THE GIVER, BIG; THE MUSICAL and THE SNOW at First Stage Children’s Theater, ROMEO AND JULIET at Milwaukee Shakespeare as well as work at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Renaissance Theaterworks, Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Racine Theatre Guild. As the faculty costume designer, she has designed SILENT SKY, A SEAT AT THE TABLE (new play by Regina Taylor) and INTO THE WOODS, to name a few. She holds an MFA in costume design and technology from Ohio University and a BA in theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

William Newcomb (Light Design), holds a B.F.A. degree in Technical Theatre from Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas, and an M.F.A. degree in Arts Administration from Southern Utah University. He was assistant manager of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre for two years before coming to Carthage in 2009. Other credits

biographies include technical director of the Wells Fine Arts Center at Tarleton State University, assistant technical director at Oberlin College, scene shop foreman at Ohio Light Opera, and assistant production manager of the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Mr. Newcomb teaches Play Production I: Stagecraft, Lighting and Sound, and Applied Production in addition to managing the scene shop. He would like to thank Alison and Finley for their love and support.

Rich Ashworth (Choreographer), of Milwaukee, WI, is an educator, choreographer, and performer whose interest in technical foundation and corresponding social cultures have made him a resource in both African Diaspora social and percussive dance communities. Richard attended the University at Buffalo, receiving a BFA in Dance in June 2007. After graduating, Rich performed aboard Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas and upon returning to the States, danced in several crews for live performances and industrials including for artists such as Flo Rida and The Goo Goo Dolls. Rich has performed, choreographed, and toured with several internationally celebrated dance companies including Lehrerdance (dir. Jon Lehrer), Chicago Dance Crash (dir. Jessica Deahr), Be The Groove (dir. Stephanie Paul) serving as educational director, and Chicago Tap Theatre (dir. Mark Yonally), where he served as a choreographer and rehearsal director. As an educator Rich has been on the faculty of several dance based organizations including Dance Masters of America, Flow 40 Dance, Beyond the Stars dance convention, and Interdanza of Mexico. He has taught classes and courses at the University at Buffalo, Hope College, and Salve Regina University. Rich most recently attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, achieving a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance in May 2021.

Jenny Barreca (Choreographer), is a dance educator and choreographer based in northern Illinois. She is an MFA candidate at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and an adjunct faculty member at Carthage College. Jenny began her dance education at the Grayslake Park District at the age of three. She graduated magna cum laude from Grand Valley State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in dance and minor in general business. During her time at Grand Valley, she received the “Upper Division Dance Scholarship” and had the privilege of performing in guest artist works by Richard Bowman, Autumn Eckman, Mark Haim, and Simon Thomas-Train. Her work “comPULSE” was selected by faculty to perform in the GVSU Spring Dance Concert in 2018. In the summer of 2019, she was selected to choreograph for the Trifecta Dance Collective’s “Engage Artist Lab” in collaboration with visual artist Lizzy Cohen. Over the past several years, Jenny has been invited to choreograph for the Carthage College dance program and the Grayslake Central High School Orchesis Dance Company. Her dance on camera work “wishful embodiment” was recently presented in the 2021 Makers in Motion MFA film festival at the University of South Carolina Greensboro. Jenny also teaches at several dance studios and park district dance programs throughout northern Illinois.

Brianna Rae Johnson (Choreographer), with an interest in non-traditional performance space, video, and interactive technology, Brianna creates dance for the stage, gallery, and screen. Her films have been shown in festivals around the world and her choreography has been performed in theatres and art galleries around the United

biographies States. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, and graduated with dual degrees in Dance and Biology and a concentration in American Racial and Multicultural Studies. Upon graduating, she began performing professionally with Robin Stiehm’s Dancing People Company in Ashland, Oregon. In her six seasons with Dancing People Company, she rehearsed full-time, toured nationally and internationally, taught, and choreographed. She has also performed and toured with various Minnesota-based choreographers such as Paula Mann and Mathew Janczewski and is currently dancing in Erin Drummond’s Flyway Dance. While pursuing her M.F.A. in Dance from The Ohio State University, her creative work began to combine video, sculpture, sound, interactive technology, and choreography to create immersive and interactive performances. Since receiving her M.F.A. in 2020, she has taught and created with students at Carthage College, Winona State University, Mount Mary University, St. Olaf College, and Milwaukee’s Danceworks.

Kristina Saldarelli (Choreographer), is a contemporary rhythmic artist, dance educator, and choreographer working in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas. She is an Adjunct Instructor of Theatre at Carthage College where she teaches dance technique and composition courses. She has directed­­Carthage’s student choreographed concert, Away from the Mirror in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021 and is a guest choreographer for the annual fall dance concert. She choreographed Carthage’s spring musical in 2021, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and is currently working on Something Rotten. She received a B.A. in Theatre Arts: Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a M.A. in Communication, Media, and Theatre from Northeastern Illinois University. She is currently pursuing a M.F.A. in Dance from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she has earned merit scholarships from the Peck School of the Arts. Kristina danced professionally from 2005-2018 with the Emmy award-winning JUMP RHYTHM® Jazz Project, a rhythm and energy-based performance company. Her choreographic work has been adjudicated at American College Dance Festival, produced in professional concert venues, and ranked highly in national youth competitions. She was a Guest Adjunct Lecturer of Jump Rhythm® Technique at Northwestern University and is a freelance choreographer and teaching artist currently teaching young children and teens at Movement and Sound Dance in Buffalo Grove, IL. Caitlyn Feldpausch (Choreographer), is a current Carthage College junior majoring in Physics and Math with a minor in Dance. Caitlyn is an ongoing member and current Treasurer of Carthage’s National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) chapter. This is her second semester choreographing for the program. Her previous choreographed work was Innocence Project, which was performed in Away From the Mirror ‘21. Caitlyn has been a performer in biannual Carthage dance shows since her freshman year. She would like to thank Stacy Pottinger for this opportunity. She would also like to thank her peers for presenting the work and making the continued performances possible.

Logan Luis (Choreographer), is a sophomore Elementary Education major with a French minor and Dance minor at Carthage College. This is her third dance show at

biographies Carthage and the first with her choreographic work being performed. She is a member of Carthage’s National Dance Education Organization chapter and serves on the executive board as head of Public Relations. Logan choreographed several works for her high school dance company and she is excited to continue choreographing here at Carthage. Recently, she performed at the Wisconsin Dance Council Conference with Geovanni Virella-Torres in his piece, Method. Logan would like to thank her professor, Stacy Pottinger, for her help and guidance in creating a piece for the show. Logan would also like to thank her friends and family who contributed to the creation of the audio for her piece, At The Tone.

Aaron Paulsen (Percussionist), is a sophomore Music Performance major with a Business Administration minor at Carthage College. This is his first dance show at Carthage and the first with his involvement in creative direction being performed.

Aaron has played for several ensembles for his high school music program and he is excited to continue performing here at Carthage, as he is in several musical ensembles. Recently, he has performed in both Kenosha and Chicago festivals, and makes music comedy content on multiple social media platforms. Aaron would like to thank Kristina for inviting him to work with her on this performance.

Geovanni Virella-Torres (Choreographer and Costume Design), is a senior Graphic Design major with a Dance and Theatre minor at Carthage College. He has performed in six dance concerts at Carthage and choreographed works in five of those shows. His previous works include one contemporary work and three modern works.

He also performed works in concerts such as ‘Get It Out There’ at Danceworks, Inc. and the Wisconsin Dance Council’s Mini Festival. He was awarded Outstanding Achievement in Dance Composition his freshman year for his contemporary piece Sole Conflict and was awarded Outstanding Dance Performance two years ago for his revamped version of Sole Conflict titled Dissonance. He is involved in Carthage’s National Dance Education Organization chapter. He is excited to present his fifth composition, Form, in his last fall dance concert. Geovanni would like to thank his Graphic Design professor, Laura Rodman Huaracha, for encouraging him throughout his design studies at Carthage, his theatre professor, Kim Instenes for developing his creative talents through costumes, and Stacy Pottinger, for presenting him with great opportunities and aiding in his career as a dancer and choreographer.

Rachel Skowronski (Production Stage Manager), is a Senior double majoring in Musical Theatre and Communications with a minor in Dance. This is her first time Stage Managing a Dance Show at Carthage. Other Carthage Stage Management credits include: THE YELLOW BOAT, LAST TRAIN TO NIBROC, and THE ACUPUNCTURIST. Local Stage Management Credits include NEWSIES at Children’s Theatre Academy in Kenosha and Regional Stage Management: VILLA GATSBY at the Citadel Theatre. Her mainstage acting credits include: PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE, WOMEN ON THE VERGE, ROMEO AND JULIET WALK INTO A BAR, PUFFS, THE HANDBOOK, RESONATE, SHIFT, FLYING AND FALLING, and AWAY FROM THE MIRROR. @_rachelskowronski

biographies Robert Battle (Legacy Choreographer), became Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in July 2011, after being personally selected by Judith Jamison, making him only the third person to head the Company since it was founded in 1958.

Mr. Battle has a long-standing association with the Ailey organization. A frequent choreographer and artist-in-residence at Ailey since 1999, he has set many of his works on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, and at The Ailey School.

The Company’s current repertory includes his ballets Strange Humors, The Hunt, In/Side, and Takademe. In addition to expanding the Ailey repertory with works by artists as diverse as Paul Taylor, Rennie Harris, Jirí Kylián, Garth Fagan, and Kyle Abraham, Mr. Battle has also instituted the New Directors Choreography Lab to help develop the next generation of choreographers. His journey to the top of the modern dance world began in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Mr. Battle showed artistic talent early and studied dance at a high school arts magnet program before moving on to Miami’s New World School of the Arts, under the direction of Daniel Lewis and Gerri Houlihan, and finally to the dance program at The Juilliard School, under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy, where he met his mentor, Carolyn Adams. Mr. Battle danced with the Parsons Dance Company from 1994 to 2001, and also set his choreography on that company starting in 1998. He then founded his own Battleworks Dance Company, which made its premiere in 2002 in Düsseldorf, Germany as the U.S. representative to the World Dance Alliance’s Global Assembly.

Battleworks subsequently performed extensively at venues including The Joyce Theater, Dance Theater Workshop, American Dance Festival, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Mr. Battle was honored as one of the “Masters of African-American Choreography” by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2005, and he received the prestigious Statue Award from the Princess Grace Foundation-USA in 2007. He is a sought-after keynote speaker and has addressed a number of high profile organizations including the United Nations Leaders Programme and the UNICEF Senior Leadership Development Programme.

From Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre website: www.alvinailey.org/about/people/robert-battle Dancing Legacy Repertory Etudes Collection Since the establishment of the Dance Minor curriculum at Carthage College in 2009, Carthage dancers have performed studies based on American modern dance repertory works through the Dancing Legacy Repertory Etudes Collection, commissioned by Carolyn Adams and Julie Adams Strandberg. The Repertory Etudes have supported the curricular learning outcomes at Carthage College in numerous ways. As studies of original masterworks, they share expressions of the many influences and perspectives that have shaped the artist and the particular work, including inspirations, teachers, and collaborators. Students have learned biographical history on the artists and collaborators, and they are given the opportunity to participate in the preservation of our dance heritage by learning about the development of the RepEtude, the mission of the Repertory Etudes Project, and why the work is important. For more information about the Repertory Etudes Collection and the work of Dancing Legacy, please visit the organization’s website. www.dancinglegacy.us

carthage faculty and staff Theatre Faculty Nora Carroll........................................................................ Assistant Professor of Theatre Maureen Chavez-Kruger...................................... Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theatre Kim Instenes.................................... Associate Professor of Theatre, Costume Designer Marcella Kearns.................................................................. Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Herschel Kruger................................................. Department Chair, Professor of Theatre Martin McClendon.............................................................................Professor of Theatre William Newcomb............................ Assistant Professor of Theatre, Technical Director Emily Ritger......................................................................... Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Laura Roberts...................................................................... Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Dr. Neil Scharnick.............................................................. Associate Professor of Theatre Musical Theatre Faculty and Staff Dr. Corinne Ness.............................. Professor of Music, Dean of Arts and Humanities, Director of Music Theatre Studies Melissa Kelly Cardamone...................................................................... Staff Accompanist Rayven Dockery........................................................ Adjunct Instructor of Music Theatre Matthew Hougland................. Assistant Professor of Music & Music Theatre Specialist Thomas Novak......................................................... Adjunct Instructor of Music Theatre Lorian Schwaber.........................................Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music – Voice Dance Faculty Jennifer Barreca................................................................................... Instructor of Dance Jenna Jozefowski....................................................................Adjunct Instructor of Dance Stacy Pottinger..................................................... Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theatre Director of Dance Minor Kristina Saldarelli..................................................................Adjunct Instructor of Dance

upcoming events Intercollegiate Exchange Jan. 6-28 | Opening Reception, Thursday, Jan. 13 • 3:30 p.m.

H. F. Johnson Gallery of Art Student Recital: Caroline Lilly Tuesday, Jan. 25 • 7:30 p.m.

A. F. Siebert Chapel • Tickets required Last Five Years Jan. 27-29 • 7:30 p.m.

Recital Hall • Tickets required Little Women Feb. 3-5 • 7:30 p.m.

VPAL • Tickets required V Crushable Feb. 8 - March 11 | Opening Reception, Thursday, Feb. 10 • 3:30 p.m.

H. F. Johnson Gallery of Art Student Recital: Chloe Hilby Monday, Feb. 14 • 7:30 p.m.

Recital Hall • Tickets required Student Recital: Alecia Cory Wednesday, Feb. 16 • 7:30 p.m.

Recital Hall • Tickets required Performing Arts Series: Bridge & Wolak Thursday, Feb. 24 • 7:30 p.m.

A. F. Siebert Chapel • Tickets required The Revolutionists Feb. 25-26 & March 3-5 • 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 27 • 3 p.m.

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