NEWS FROM CAMPUS New Rehearsal Space Energizes BBA Performing Arts

BURR AND BURTON DANCE TEACHER EMILY OWENS ’12 HAS A SPECIAL CONNECTION TO THE NEWLY RENOVATED PERFORMING ARTS SPACE IN LARSON HALL: “ON JUNE 18, 1966, MY GRANDPARENTS, HOWARD AND SANDRA WILCOX, WERE THE LAST TO BE MARRIED IN LARSON HALL WHEN IT WAS STILL A CATHOLIC CHURCH.”

St. Paul’s Catholic Church, built in 1896, was sold in the mid-1960s when the new church opened in Manchester Center. The church eventually became Larson Hall, named for Sarah Given Larson, and has been used by Burr and Burton in various capacities.

Last summer, as media arts programs were relocated to the Riley Center, BBA began renovating Larson Hall to accommodate the Theater and Dance programs. In the process, the drop ceiling was removed, and the original vaulted wood ceiling was restored.

Owens says that the space is, “Truly magical... the new studio space at Larson has provided the department with endless possibilities going forward. We now have much more space and higher ceilings, allowing more freedom and creativity in choreography and workspace. The clean lines, cathedral ceiling, and natural light combined with the original wood paneling and gold inlay of the original church create a very spiritual space to nurture creativity.”

Owens, a class of 2012 alumna of the program she now leads, took over after longtime BBA dance teacher Claudia Shell-Raposa retired last school year.

Theater director Jim Raposa is thankful for the team of local businesses and BBA employees who made the project possible, “I would like to acknowledge the crafts and tradespeople who worked on bringing this reimagining of the space to life–and the BBA facilities crew and administration who supported this project.”