Raw Edges XXV

MERCYHURST INSTITUTE FOR ARTS AND CULTURE PRESENTS

MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY DANCE DEPARTMENT

C. NOELLE PARTUSCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER

RAW EDGES XXV

WITH THE MERCYHURST DANCERS

MARK SANTILLANO AND C. NOELLE PARTUSCH, ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 7 P.M.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2 & 7 P.M.

SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2 P.M.

MARY D’ANGELO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

BringUsBack

Choreography: Katie Bleu

Music: 10,000 Miles by Mary Chapin Carpenter; Excerpts from Mark Isham’s Tom Plays with Geese, Military Sendoff, Epilogue, Dress-up, and Polliwog

Joanna Clifford, Gabrielle Harris, Rebecca Jones, Madeleine Plourde, Caitlin Settle, Moira Sullivan, Katelyn Turner-Leftwich, Olivia Turner-Leftwich

Understudy: Natalie Cecil

Your lost and lonely soul can rest in my home. It is safe and warm here…

BroadcastingtoDamagedSouls

Choreography: Maia Cieply

Music: String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor by Dmitri Shostakovich; Heaven's Dust 2 by Michael Wall

Katie Bleu, Hannah Dragan, Jakquelyn Gauker, Isabella Johnson, Abigail Lipa, Sophie Satoh, Madison Wanamaker

Understudy: Nicole Hirsch

Passage

Choreography: Charlotte Meilaender

Music: 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87: Prelude No. 4 in E Minor: Andante by Dmitri Shostakovich; Piano Trio in A Minor, Op. 50 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; Requiem, Op. 89 B. 165: Introitus: Requiem aeternam by Antonin Dvořák

Joanna Clifford, Nadine Fox, Gabrielle Harris, Katherine Kilbourn, Madeleine Plourde, Nadia Stronkowsky

GameofLife

Choreography: Amelia Waddell

Music: All Eyes on Me by OR3O; Plink, Plank, Plunk by Lee Anderson and BBC Concert Orchestra; The Book of Love by Peter Gabriel; The Bidding by Tally Hall; On the Radio by Chip Taylor; Under the Mountain by Kelsey Woods.

Costumes: Royal Academy of Ballet and Dance

Life/Host: Danielle Tuomey

Death: Meggie Peterson

Birth: Mara Isaacson, Megan Wade

Infancy: Natalie Cecil, Erin McKenna

Middle School/Preteen: Mollee Neblett

Teen Love: Joanna Clifford, Anna Menarchek

Adulthood: Jakquelyn Gauker

Old Age: Nicole Hirsch

MovingtoLivewithParkinson’s

Choreography: Meggie Peterson

Music: Gold, Green by John Metcalfe; Never Give Up (Epic Instrumental) by Fearless Motivation Instrumentals

Drew Bauerle, Elena Bobby, Nadine Fox, Kara Hallstrom, Isabella Johnson, Rebecca Jones, Morgan Masters, Mia Semieraro, Caitlin Settle, Alyson Szewczyk

Understudy: Erin McKenna

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that progressively impacts the brain’s ability to communicate effectively with the body. The impact of Parkinson’s can be both physically visible or invisible as well as impacting mental/emotional well-being. Movementbased therapies are often used to treat Parkinson’s because they focus on muscle to brain connections and control over the body. The purpose of this performance is to demonstrate and bring awareness to what Parkinson’s is, how movement-based treatments can help combat the effects of the disease, and how these things impact real people in real life.

UnitedWeRock

Choreography: Danielle Tuomey

Music: Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio 2002 Remaster by the Ramones; Bad Reputation by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts; Do You Wanna Dance? -2017 Remaster by the Ramones; Social Debate by The Ejectors; Sheena is a Punk Rocker2017 Remaster by the Ramones; I Love Rock ‘N Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts; WPLJ 95.5 New York Radio Broadcast Set Design: Danielle Tuomey, Andrew Ferguson

Maeve Bishop, Elena Bobby, Jakquelyn Gauker, Nicole Hirsch, Anna Menarchek, Sophie Satoh, Amelia Waddell, Megan Wade, Madison Wanamaker

Inspired by my dad and his '80s Texas punk rock band, The Ejectors, United We Rock is for anyone and everyone who has ever felt misunderstood or in need of a way to go against the grains of society.

BetweenShadesofBlue

Choreography: Erin Leach

Music: Lonely; My Life; It’s Ok all by Imagine Dragons

Kara Hallstrom, Mara Isaacson, Katherine Kilbourn, Abigail Lipa, Mollee Neblett, Nadia Stronkowsky, Moira Sullivan, Katelyn Turner-Leftwich

ToGiveYouComfort

Choreography: Hannah Dragan

Music: QKThr by Aphex Twin; Limerence by Yves Tumor; Fly the Voodoo Skies by Macabre Plaza

Drew Bauerle, Kaitlyn Bazala, Maia Cieply, Charlotte Meilaender, Meggie Peterson, Alyson Szewczyk, Amelia Waddell

“Turns out my life purpose isn’t supposed to be as small and silent and accommodating and convenient as possible.”

Isha

Choreography: Kaitlyn Bazala

Music: Le Donna Pie by Jack Sarnese and Josh Sarnese

Costumes: Courtesy of Pazaz Christian Dance Academy

Natalie Cecil, Mara Isaacson, Erin Leach, Erin Mckenna, Madeleine Plourde, Mia Semieraro, Caitlin Settle, Madeleine Sipos, Moira Sullivan, Olivia Turner-Leftwich, Megan Wade

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

Proverbs 31:25

~BRIEFPAUSE~

InvisibleVisualization

Choreography: Rebecca Jones

Music: The Days Go By by Max Richter; Now We are Free by 2CELLOS; Promise by Thomas Bergersen

Costumes: Diana Aradine, Rebecca Jones, and SoMar Dance Works

Gabrielle Harris, Isabella Johnson, Katherine Kilbourn, Erin Leach, Anna Menarchek, Morgan Masters, Madeline Sipos, Nadia Stronkowsky, Sophie Satoh, Katelyn Turner-Leftwich

FULL-TIMEDANCEFACULTY

JENNFER MCNAMARA

Assistant Professor, is delighted to be a part of the Mercyhurst University Dance faculty Raised in upstate New York, she spent two seasons with Richmond Ballet, most notable for the chance to perform in Kurt Joos’s The Green Table and Balanchine’s Serenade on the same program. She spent the next 11 years with Eugene Ballet, where she toured the United States, Canada, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Syria, Jordan, and Tunisia. She was grateful to grow as an artist in narrative ballets including performing the role of Lucy in Charles Bennett’s Dracula. She also created leading roles in many of artistic director Toni Pimble’s contemporary works, as well as being sought by guest choreographers for her artistic contributions. After performing in Paul Vasterling’s Seasons, Jennifer was invited to become a principal dancer with Nashville Ballet; in her six years there, she was especially noted for dramatic portrayals such as the Chosen One in Salvatore Aiello’s The Rite of Spring and the title roles in Dennis Spaight’s Scheherazade and Paul Vasterling’s Romeo and Juliet and Lizzie. She also performed roles in the classical canon including Myrtha in Giselle, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Odette/Odile in Swan Lake.

After retiring, Jennifer sought to combine her love for teaching, words, and making things; she was an adjunct professor at Middle Tennessee State University and the ballet mistress for the Centennial Youth Ballet, she taught contemporary ballet for New Dialect’s daily company class, and she was on the faculty of the School of Nashville Ballet. Jennifer has designed and built costumes for her own choreographic works as well as on commission for others; these creations have been the subject of gallery exhibitions on the intersection of dance and fashion, and as a part of an Isadora Duncan celebration.

As a Pilates Master Instructor and an intuitive dancer-teacher, Jennifer offers insightful inquiry into the science and art of movement as they intertwine in each individual’s body; she is also passionate about the intersections of equity and dance pedagogy, and coaching dancers in the tradition passed to her by the late Elaine Thomas of the Royal Ballet. She is a past recipient of the Individual Artist Fellowship (Dance) from the Tennessee Arts Commission and is pursuing a teaching certification through the National Dance Education Organization. In 2021, she served as the internal copy editor and wrote a chapter for the book Masculinity, Intersectionality & Identity: Why Boys (Don’t) Dance

Jennifer earned her M.F.A. in Dance from Hollins University in 2018.

FULL-TIMEDANCEFACULTY

C. NOELLE PARTUSCH (SENIOR CAPSTONE ADVISOR)

Professor, Dance Department Chair, and Artistic Director of the Mercyhurst Liturgical Dance Ensemble, specializes in Labanotation and Liturgical dance. She earned her B.F.A. from the State University of New York College at Purchase in 1988, a Labanotation Teacher’s Certificate from the Dance Notation Bureau in New York City in 1989, and her M F A from The Ohio State University in 1992. Ms. Partusch teaches ballet, pointe, dance conditioning, dance appreciation, kinesiology, Labanotation, and has taught a special interdisciplinary course called “The Sacred and the Beautiful ” In 2015, she developed a new academic course called “Liturgical Dance: Concepts and Perceptions” that is offered as a selection of courses within the Catholic Studies Minor at Mercyhurst University. She choreographs for concert dance, opera, and dance in worship Noelle served as the associate artistic director of Alaska Dance Theatre for 11 years and danced professionally with Atlanta Ballet II, Buffalo Ballet Theatre, Buffalo Inner-City Ballet, Empire State Ballet, Alaska Dance Theatre, and the Anchorage Opera. In addition, she was adjunct faculty for the University of Alaska Anchorage Department of Theatre and Dance and Alaska Regional Director of the Sacred Dance Guild. She is also a member of the Sacred Dance Guild, International Council of Kinetography Laban (ICKL), and CORPs de Ballet, International. Ms. Partusch was invited to give presentations on Liturgical dance at the conference “Performing Arts Training Today” in Bovec, Slovenia, and at the National Church Musician’s Conference at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In addition, she was invited to be one of three keynote speakers at the 2016 Northwest PA Synod Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For over 20 years, Ms. Partusch has danced in many churches and worship settings and acts as Artistic Director to the Mercyhurst University Liturgical Dance Ensemble where she mentors the next generation of leaders in Liturgical dance. With this ensemble, she has traveled to New York City; Atlanta, Georgia; Sydney, Australia; and Jerusalem, Israel to attend “Project Dance” and present her choreography. Most recently Ms. Partusch traveled with 14 members of the Liturgical Dance Ensemble to Norwich, United Kingdom, where they led a sacred dance workshop and performed an entire concert of Liturgical Dance at Westacre Theatre.

FULL-TIMEDANCEFACULTY

MARK SANTILLANO (SENIOR CAPSTONE ADVISOR)

Assistant Professor, has had a multifaceted career in the arts. His work as a dancer, choreographer, educator, photographer, videographer, editor, musician, composer, writer, and actor culminates in dance works that are pan-genre, multi-media, and interdisciplinary, and range from the poignant to the preposterous. Mark earned a B.F.A. in Dance and B.S. in Communications from Southwest Missouri State University, and his master's from Wesleyan University. Mark toured the world with Pilobolus Dance Theatre and was a company member of Indianapolis’ Dance Kaleidoscope. As a member of Actor Equity Association his credits include international tours of The King and I, West Side Story, and A Chorus Line. Mark has had his choreography presented in Sweden, Korea, Austria, Regional Dance America, Beef & Boards Dinner Theater, Firehouse Dinner Theater, the San Diego Civic Dance Company, and numerous colleges across the country Along with Solveig Santillano, Mark is co-founder/co-director of SoMar Dance Works. Established in 1999, SoMar is in-residence at Mercyhurst and has received numerous grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Mark served as an Artist-inResidence at his alma mater, SMSU, prior to coming to Mercyhurst in 2000 He teaches modern, jazz, tap, musical theatre dance, contemporary partnering, choreography, and is resident photographer, videographer, and media archivist for the Dance Department. Mark is also recipient of an Erie Arts & Culture Artist Fellowship and has served on the board of directors for the Erie Dance Consortium and the American College Dance Association.

FULL-TIMEDANCEFACULTY

SOLVEIG SANTILLANO

Associate Professor, teaches choreography, modern, dance appreciation, dance conditioning, dance history, senior seminar, and yoga studies. Holding an M.F.A. (Hollins), M.A.L.S. (Wesleyan), and B.F.A. (Julliard), Santillano is a CLMA (Integrated Movement Studies) and ISMETA registered Dance Therapist and specializes in somatic disciplines. A recipient of Wesleyan’s Rulewater prize for her research on yoga and dance, Santillano is a (R.Y.T. @500 hours) registered yoga teacher with Essential, Advanced (Open Sky Yoga), and Restorative Yoga (Judith Hanson Lasater) certifications. Currently studying with Douglas Brooks, Judith Hanson Lasater, Francois Raoult, Ernesta Corvino, and Bill Evans, she is a certified Bill Evans teacher, is trained/taught Stott Pilates. Her rich performance career includes: Anna Sokolow’s Players Project, Ruby Shang and Dancers, Prometheus Dance Theatre, Boston Arts Group, Spencer/Colton, Nancy Compton, Neta Pulvermacher, and six years of international touring with MOMIX Dance Company as a soloist, choreographic collaborator, with whom she appeared in Italian television specials and an IMAX film for the Korean Film Festival. Her work as a choreographer/director/performer/collaborator has culminated in the co-founding and co-directing (with partner Mark Santillano) of SoMar Dance Works, the contemporary inresidence dance company at Mercyhurst University. Their work has been presented internationally (Sweden, Austria), nationally and regionally (AZ, CA, CT, ME, MI, NY, NC, PA, and SD) and locally (extensively) Long time Pennsylvania Partners of the Arts grant recipients (2007-present), the duo was awarded Erie Arts and Culture’s first Established Artist Fellowship (2016), and celebrated their company’s 20th anniversary in 2019. Santillano dedicates her life to teaching, coaching, and direction inspired by ongoing somatic, dance, and yoga research, the intersection of arts, advocacy, and community service. Her teaching credits include overseeing/directing the dance department and student company at Salem State College (MA), teaching national-international master classes, and serving on the faculty at Erie Dance Conservatory, Lake Erie Ballet, Springfield Ballet, Lexington School of Ballet, H.T. Chen & Dancers (NYC), the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, health/wellness facilities including Manhattan Body (NYC), YMCA, Manchester Health Club, Success Naturally Yoga Center, and Inner Balance Pilates. She serves as faculty advisor for the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) and the Yoga Club, attends, teaches, and presents at regional to international workshopsconferences, and is dedicated to building and serving community as an artist and educator, supporting young artists in their (holistic) pursuit of excellence, optimal human movement potential, meaning making, and cultivation of their personal “voice.”

DANCESTAFF

RICHARD DIFIORE

Music Director and Principal Pianist, holds a master's degree from the University of Florida in piano performance. Richard has been in high demand as a dance accompanist for many years and taught at Florida State University as a visiting professor in the School of Dance before coming to Mercyhurst In addition to his duties here, he has played for many summer dance programs and intensives including American Dance Festival, American College Dance Association, Chautauqua Institute, and Perry-Mansfield Summer Dance Intensive. Richard is also an accomplished collaborative pianist and has accompanied many recitals, both instrumental and vocal, and is active as a vocal coach for singers. In addition to playing for both ballet and modern classes, Richard teaches music for dancers at Mercyhurst University.

ANDREW FERGUSON

University Technical Director, is from Ocala, Florida, and began working in technical theatre eight years ago. Andrew graduated from Mercyhurst University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Education Technical theatre continues to be a passion of his that has led him to work with artists from all around the world on productions varying from ballet to vaudeville, and everything in between. He has worked as a technical director for ballet and opera, as well as the Mercyhurst Institute of Arts and Culture (MIAC) During his career, he has worked with Moscow Ballet, Dorrance Dance, Pilobolus, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Martha Graham Dance Company, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Chita Rivera, Bernadette Petters, Judy Collins, Darlene Love, Dave Brubeck, Jane Lynch, and many more Andrew has led technical artistry for ballet productions such as Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Little Match Girl, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and more. Operas include Madame Butterfly, The Magic Flute, Amahl and the Night Visitors, L’elisir d’amore, La Boheme, and more than can be listed. When rarely not in a theatre, Andrew can be found battling with par on a golf course. He loves spending time with his wife Emily and their three dogs, and enjoying the simple things in life.

OWEN HITT

Theater Technician, has worked in tech for three years and has been with Mercyhurst for the past seven months assisting in lighting design, sound design, set construction, and any other technical projects that may arise. He also helps with productions at the Warner Theater and Erie Insurance Arena as a stagehand Owen is a graduate of Mercyhurst University and spent the past two and a half years working as a Systems Engineer in Media Security for the Walt Disney Company in Los Angeles. He has always considered theater and dance to be a part of his life, having received a minor in theater at Mercyhurst and acting in 20 productions over 15 years at Fairview High School, Mercyhurst University, and the Erie Playhouse. When Owen is not working in the theater he can be found at home, spending time with his beautiful wife and their two sleepy cats, or in front of the computer, working on some crazy tech project and playing video games.

DANCESTAFF

HAROLD HOTCHKISS

M F A , Assistant Technical Director, has been working in technical theatre for 22 years Harold is a native of Buffalo, New York, and a graduate of the University of Buffalo He completed his M F A in Theatre Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During Harold’s time in theatre he has worked with many educational institutions such as Mercyhurst University, Penn State Behrend, Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, California, University of Buffalo, and more. Currently he divides his time working as an assistant technical director in Erie, Pennsylvania, and production manager/technical director in Hayward, California. Outside of the theatre Harold enjoys working in the garden with his wife, Gillian.

DANIELLE KAISER

Administrative Assistant, Adjunct Faculty, Dance Club Advisor, Dance Team Coach, is a native of both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania She holds her B A in Dance and B A in Secondary Education Mathematics from Mercyhurst as well as her M.F.A. in Choreography from Jacksonville University. Danielle has been the recipient of the Mercyhurst Egan Scholarship from 2006 to 2010 as well as the Etoile Leadership Award in 2010. She was also honored with the Howard Gilman Fellowship Award through Jacksonville University’s M F A program, acting as the cohort and faculty liaison from 2017 to 2019 Having trained with Tauna Hunter, Michael Gleason, Christina Hay, C Noelle Partusch, Mark and Solveig Santillano, Nathaniel Johnson, Christina Teague-Mann, Ana Sanchez-Colberg, and Cari Frieberger, she has had opportunities to work closely with artists such as Lily Baldwin, Marianela Boán, Alonzo King, Elena Estanol, Bill Evans, Erin Tisdale, Momix Dance Company, Pilobulus, and Valerie Valentine She has previously appeared as company member with SoMar Danceworks, the Mercyhurst University Dance Team (captain), and the Erie Bayhawks AAA NBA dance team (captain). Danielle has appeared onstage both nationally and internationally with PGT Entertainment and Princess Cruises, Ltd. on board the Dawn, Emerald, and Grand Princess vessels, performing as an aerialist, ballet soloist, and assistant company performance manager. Her choreography has been presented aboard the Dawn Princess with Princess Cruises Ltd as well as with the Mercyhurst University Department of Dance, Cleveland Ballet Conservatory, Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre, Jacksonville University’s M.F.A. program, and Erie Dance Theatre, NYCDA, and RDA Northeast. Danielle’s choreography presented at the Northeast Regional Dance America has been nominated for the prestigious Monticello Choreography Award in 2015 and the National Choreographic Award in 2019 Danielle currently serves as adjunct faculty and administrative assistant to the chair of the Dance Department at Mercyhurst, where she is also the advisor to the Dance Club and head coach of the Dance Team. She is the primary ballet instructor and advisor for Little Dance Studio in Erie, Pennsylvania, as well as a freelance teacher and choreographer in the northeast region. Danielle is the Artistic Director and Founding Board Member for Seiche Dance Collective; Erie’s newest not-for-profit professional dance company Her passion resides in preserving the integrity of dance education by using her knowledge in both the education and dance fields to facilitate the future generation of dancers, choreographers, and dance educators.

JOHN PRIOR

Assistant University Technical Director is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, having graduated from Central High School. John has extensive experience working on the technical elements of production. He continues his 13-year run working as a stagehand for Erie’s Warner Theatre and the Erie Insurance Arena John has also worked for Grisé Audio Visual for the last 6 years This is John’s second year working for the Mercyhurst University Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center, where he continues to contribute his help and expertise to the Dance Department. When John is not offering his technical expertise here and around the Erie area, he enjoys his passions of golf and music.

DANCESTAFF CLAUDIA POTOCKI

Wardrobe Mistress, is an Erie native whose passion for sewing began with her mom and grandma, but is mostly self-taught. Claudia has created beautiful costumes not only for Mercyhurst but also for local dance organizations including The Dance Company, Erie Dance Conservatory, SoMar Dance Works, Lake Erie Ballet, Kristen’s Dance Company, and regionally for the Olmstead Performing Arts Center and the Pennsylvania Governor’s School of the Arts. Claudia has been with the Mercyhurst Dance Department since 2000. She has enjoyed working with artists from around the world, including past and present Mercyhurst Dance faculty, Luis Montero, Natalia Krasovska, Bruce Marks, Bill Evans, and many more. Some of her favorite accomplishments and joys were costuming for The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Symphonie Italienne, La Fille Mal Garde, and ‘Tis the Season.

BOB STEINECK

Lighting designer, is currently resident lighting designer for Texture Contemporary Ballet, Pittsburgh Playwright’s Theatre, Mercyhurst University Dance Department, Rennie Harris’ PureMovement and RHAW, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, and Raphael Xavier Company. Mr. Steineck has toured throughout the U.S. and abroad with both Rennie Harris Companies, PureMovement and RHAW, Reed Dance, Squonk Opera, the Lyon Opera Ballet, Sankai Juku, Phoenix Dance Company, Kirov Ballet Academy, and the "America Tour" for Stars on Ice. Television/Video/DVD credits include A Gathering of Sons for Pittsburgh Festival Opera, the DIZZY GILLESPIE Allstar Big Band for A&E Cable, the SPYRO GYRA concert for PBS, and JOHNNY A TRIO by Warner Bros Publications He has designed for several corporate events including Mon Valley Sizzles at the Historic Carrie Furnace. His most recent lighting designs include the world premiere of A Gathering of Sons commissioned by Pittsburgh Festival Opera, and two nationally touring productions: Point of Interest for Raphael Xavier and Lifted for Rennie Harris PureMovment. Other designs include Boundless for Texture Contemporary Ballet, In the Company of Ghosts for Adrienne Wehr and Frank Ferraro, Xerxes, and Sweeny Todd for Pittsburgh Festival Opera.

STUDENTCHOREOGRAPHERS

KAITLYN BAZALA

from Scottdale, Pennsylvania will be graduating from Mercyhurst this spring with a B.F.A. in Dance and continuing her professional career at Ballet Theatre of Maryland. Kaitlyn has performed with SoMar Dance works, the Liturgical Dance Ensemble, Point Park’s Conservatory of Performing Arts, and Keystone Contemporary Ballet.

KATIE BLEU

Katie has received training in ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary ballet, musical theatre, and pointe with Laurel Ballet Performing Company, West Point Ballet, and throughout college at Mercyhurst University. During her summers, Katie has attended intensives such as Alonzo King Lines (online program), Attack Theater, Diffusion Dance Company and others. Katie has also apprenticed with Texture Contemporary Ballet and been a company member with SoMar Dance Works for two seasons. Katie will receive her dance degree in May 2023. .

MAIA CIEPLY

A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Maia attended Interlochen Arts Academy, where she graduated with a major in dance in 2019. Maia is currently a senior at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. She graduates in spring of 2023 with a B.F.A. in Dance and a B.A. in Integrated Media and Strategic Communications. While at Mercyhurst, she has been able to perform in Giselle, Swan Lake, and many works choreographed by students and faculty.

HANNAH DRAGAN

Hannah began her pre-professional ballet training at Cincinnati Ballet Academy. She will be graduating from Mercyhurst with a B F A in Dance and a minor in Fashion Merchandising Here she has been able to dance principal and soloist roles, choreograph many works for productions at the school, and serve as the president of Dance Club. After graduation, she hopes to become a professional dancer and continue in her choreographic journey

REBECCA JONES

grew up exploring and dancing in Sweet Home, Oregon She trained primarily with Corvallis Academy of Ballet and Willamette Apprentice Ballet, while also studying at various summer programs across the country. Currently, she is striving to graduate from Mercyhurst University in the spring of 2023 with a B.F.A. in Dance and a minor in Arts Administration. While at Mercyhurst, Rebecca has grown in her passion for choreography, dance education, and performing.

STUDENTCHOREOGRAPHERS

ERIN LEACHI

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Erin will graduate from Mercyhurst University with both a B F A in Dance and a B A in Health Science Erin is excited to begin working towards her Doctor of Physical Therapy at Carlow University this fall and looks forward to incorporating dance and pedagogy into her life as she pursues her dream of becoming a physical therapist for dancers.

CHARLOTTE MEILAENDER

Charlotte is a ballet artist from upstate New York. Before pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance, she performed with Genesee Dance Theatre, where she received much of her training During her time at Mercyhurst, Charlotte has debuted her own choreography for both stage and film, and is excited to present her capstone choreography project as a culmination of her research on the universality of artistic expression

MARGARET (MEGGIE) PETERSON

From Syracuse, New York, Meggie is currently finishing her B.F.A. in Dance and minor in Mathematics at Mercyhurst University. During this time she has danced in Giselle , Swan Lake , and The Nutcracker, as well as numerous other classical, modern, and contemporary works by choreographers such as Sidra Bell, C. Noelle Partusch, Mark Santillano, and Solveig Santillano. In 2022, Meggie interned and performed with Ballet Concerto. This year she also performed with SoMar Dance Works for their Slice of Life concert.

DANIELLE TUOMEY

Danielle is from Frederick, Maryland, and will graduate this spring with a B.F.A. in Dance and double minor in Business Administration and Communications Some of her favorite performances while at MU were Sidra Bell’s Savage Birds, the Swan Lake pas de trois staged by Jennifer McNamara and Matthew Christensen, and Club Confiteor choreographed by Ramani Rosa. She is extremely grateful for her dedicated cast and cannot wait for you to see the show!

AMELIA WADDELL

Amelia is from Buffalo, New York, and will graduate from Mercyhurst University with a B.F.A. in Dance. She will be going on to attend graduate school for her Master’s in Athletic Training with the goal of working with dancers in the future. She has performed with the Mercyhurst Dance Team recently as one of the dance captains. Amelia is ecstatic to perform in her last Raw Edges and to showcase her choreography.

DanceChairandProfessor

C.NoellePartusch

ProfessorEmeritus

TaunaHunter

AssociateProfessor

SolveigSantillano

AssistantProfessor

MarkSantillano

JenniferMcNamara

Artist-in-Residence

LesleyBories-Scalise

Photographers

RickKlein

MarkSantillano

Technical Director

Andrew Ferguson

Assistant

Technical Director

John Prior

Harold Hotchkiss

Theater Technician

Owen Hitt

Technical Assistant

Adam Schlereth

Lighting Designer

Bob Steineck

Adjunct Faculty

Matthew Christensen

Angela DiFiore

Michael Gleason

Danielle Kaiser

Production Assistants

Music Director & Principal Pianist

Richard DiFiore

Accompanists

Nicholas Nasibyan

Christian Goulione

Admissions Coordinator

Julie Benson

Wardrobe Mistress

Claudia Potocki

Administrative Assistant

Danielle Kaiser

Archivist

Mark Santillano

Sophie Satoh (Production Practicum Supervisor)

Katherine Kilbourn

Technical Crew

Emma Berkheiser, Shyla Clifford, Ainsley Dunning, Nancy Fisher, Kathryn Gianforcaro, Montana Pastore, Olivia Showers, Nicole Walters

Additional Administrative Support

Drew Bauerle, Katie Bleu, Joanna Clifford, Ainsley Dunning, Nadine Fox, Kara Hallstrom, Mara Isaacson, Rebecca Jones, Erin Leach, Annie Markel, Charlotte Meilaender, Anna Menarchek, Meggie Peterson, Jillian Pohl, Nadia Stronkowsky, Katelyn Turner-Leftwich, Olivia Turner-Leftwich, Amelia Waddell

Drew Bauerle

Katie Bazala

Maeve Bishop

Katie Bleu

Kaitlyn Brooks

Natalie Cecil

Maia Cieply

Joanna Clifford

Hannah Dragan

Nadine Fox

Jakquelyn Gauker

Kara Hallstrom

Gabrielle Harris

Nicole Hirsch

Mara Isaacson

Isabella Johnson

Rebecca Jones

Katherine Kilbourn

Abigail Lipa

Erin Leach

Morgan Masters

Erin McKenna

Charlotte Meilaender

Anna Menarchek

Mollee Neblett

Meggie Peterson

Madeleine Plourde

Sophie Satoh

Mia Semieraro

Caitlin Settle

Madeleine Sipos

Nadia Stronkowsky

Moira Sullivan

Alyson Szewczyk

Danielle Tuomey

Katelyn Turner-Leftwich

Olivia Turner-Leftwich

Amelia Waddell

Megan Wade

Madison Wanamaker

Alyssa C. Alger

Samuel P. Black

Marie Blum ‘08

Danielle Bogan

Rachel Brown ‘12

Kathy Burns

Dara Carman ‘08

Molly Boswell Caruso ‘05

Liz Clain-Stefanelli ‘09

Dr. Diane Cochran ‘78

Patrick Conroy

Mary Ellen Dahlkemper

Paul Davie

Amy Deer ‘12

Sondra Depalma ‘97

Lorraine Dolan

Brooke Driver ‘03

Michael Duffy

Amanda Edge

Jeffrey W. Evans

Jeanne Fornarola ‘79

Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Mary Gamble

Christine Geren ‘98

Claire Giardina

Girl Scouts Western PA

Michael S. Gleason

Hailey Glover ‘11

Kelly Haggerty

Theresa Hall ‘91

Maureen Haraczy

Claire Hinde ‘11

John and Julia HoranYoung Artists’ Conservatory

Sarah Hricko ‘11

Tauna Hunter

Christine Konzel

Kara Jones Louis ‘07

Sara Lawrence-Sucato ‘06

Noelle Lelakus ‘08

Faith Lifshen

David Livingston

Charles McAveney

Megan McHale ‘00

Gerry McMurdy

Martin Meislin

Isabel Milkovich

Mary Rose Milkovich

Caroline Millikin ‘05

Amanda Mountain ‘04

Kathleen Pae

C. Noelle Partusch

Augustine Pescatore

Jordan Pirrone

Modern Dental Group

Mr. & Mrs. Alan and Rosemary Rainbow

SafeNet

Mark and Solveig Santillano

Tawny Schaffer

Victoria Scott ‘12

Cora Mae Sinke

Elizabeth Sinke

Charles L. Sinke

Victoria Smith ‘07

Jane Steineck

Amy Stoddart ‘93

Patricia Sullivan

Pamela Swaney ‘06

Roger Szotko

Michele Tapajna

Rachel Torgeson

Karen Tyler

Bernardine Vojtko

Barbara Vredegoogd

Pamela A. Vouri

Gregory Warren

Christine Wilbur ‘11

Peter Wilbur

Barbara Story Walk ‘57

In memory of Adele de Walt

Pat Yahn

Lori Yusz

Rachel Zak ‘97