UConn Dance and University Ballet 2023 | Jorgensen Center Tue, Nov 28, 7:30

Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Tuesday, November 28th 7pm

UConn Dance Company Presents:

Fall 2023 Showcase

Pandemonium Choreographer: Emma LaFrance Music: Pandemonium by NF Dancers: Olivine Harvey, Trevor Mazzei, Karla Perez, Samantha Snevily, Emma LaFrance, Sara Donnelly, Mikayla Clemens, Lauren Melocowsky, Bridget Quiroga, Kayla Holmes, Amber Kohl, Natalie Possidento, Caitlyn Tavares, Julia Schuhmann, Mads Carey “This dance was made to capture the definition of Pandemonium: wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar. I’m so proud of all these dancers for taking on this unique challenge and can’t wait to show everyone their hard work!”

Love In the Dark Choreographer: Layla Redente Music: Love in the Dark by Adele Dancers: Haley Jackson, Meghan Stanton, Alaina Gobbi, Ashley Johanson, Rachel Carbone, Abby Hurd, Jill Maranda, Sofia Papanikolaou, Lucy Carlos, Lauren Melocowsky, Emma Stone, Caroline Badot, Julia Schuhmann, Jenna Coplon, Jess Cohen, Julia Peyton, Layla Redente “This song tells the story of someone making a tough decision to leave a relationship despite their partner wanting them to stay. The dancers do an amazing job of telling this story and I am so excited to share it with everyone!”

Kendrick Choreographer: Emma Grau Music: Kendrick Lamar Mashup - N95, King Kunta, Alright Dancers: Haley Jackson, Emma Grau, Karla Perez, Sara Donnelly, Emma Sherman, Kylee Raiano, Natalie Posidento, Jenna Copolon, Jess Cohen, Gabriella Setiadi, Jasmine Yee, Olivine Harvey “This is a super fun hip hop piece with a lot of little acting moments. I am so proud of all my dancers for making my vision come to life and I can’t wait to share what we have been working so hard on with you!”

Guest Performance: Extreme Measures Kill For Your Love Choreographer: Alaina Gobbi Music: Kill For Your Love by Labrinth Dancers: Trevor Mazzei, Alaina Gobbi, Haley Jackson, Meghan Stanton, Emma Grau, Karla Perez, Layla Redente, Abby Hurd, Lucy Carlos, Isabella Friedrich, Amber Olgac, Caroline Badot, Julia Schuhmann, Jenna Coplon, Gabrielle Setiadi, Taedra Tsecaris, Natalie Possidento “Kill For Your Love” is a cool contemporary piece based on doing anything you possibly can for one person. I hope you enjoy what we have been working hard on all semester. It was a blast to choreograph!”

Loving You Choreographer: Olivine Harvey Music: I’ve Been Loving You Too Long by Otis Redding Dancers: Meghan Stanton, Olivine Harvey, Ashley Johanson, Rachel Carbone, Madeline Peling, Mikayla Clemens, Emma Sherman, Jill Maranda, Kim Kabulis, Emma Stone, Caitlyn Tavares, Jess Cohen, Julia Peyton “Having the opportunity to choreograph this semester has made me fall even more in love with this company. Thank you all for being you, and for continuing to make the stage the most special place.”

Home With You Choreographer: Trevor Mazzei Music: Home With You by FKA Twigs Dancers: Emma Grau, Emma LaFrance, Samantha Snevily, Abby Hurd, Madeline Peling, Bridget Quiroga, Isabella Friedrich, Amber Olgac, Alexis Kreuscher, Julia Schuhmann, Jenna Coplon, Taedra Tsecaris, Jasmine Yee, Emily Ieronimo, Mads Carey “The whole story of my piece is based on the idea of wanting someone so badly it hurts, resulting in a massive spiral of thoughts and emotions. Everyone experiences this differently, so I tried to make the dance as dynamic as possible to portray that.

Thank you so much for watching and I hope you enjoy the show!”

You Give Love a Bad Name Choreographer: Karla Perez Music: You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi Dancers: Olivine Harvey, Meghan Stanton, Emma LaFrance, Alaina Gobbi, Layla Redente, Rachel Carbone, Emma Sherman, Madison Veilleux, Kylee Raiano, Lucy Carlos, Bridget Quiroga, Emma Stone, Amber Kohl, Emily Ieronimo, Taedra Tsecaris, Jasmine Yee “For this dance, I wanted my dancers to capture the emotions of anger and passion Bon Jovi talks about in this song. I’m so proud of these ladies and all the work they’ve put into this piece, and I can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve done!”

Video Lose Control Choreographer: Haley Jackson Music: Lose Control by Missy Elliot Dancers: Trevor Mazzei, Emma Grau, Alaina Gobbi, Layla Redente, Samantha Snevily, Sara Donnelly, Abby Hurd, Sofia Papanikolaou, Olivia Parker, Kylee Raiano, Lauren Melocowsky, Kim Kabulis, Amber Olgac, Amber Kohl, Alexis Kreuscher, Caroline Badot “This high energy hip hop dance is about the euphoric moments of going out with friends. I imagined the aura of this dance to encapsulate the feeling of when you are in the center of a crowd, listening to your favorite song, with nothing else on your mind. “ Older Than I Am Choreographer: Meghan Stanton Music: Older Than I Am by Lennon Stella Dancers: Ashley Johanson, Rachel Carbone, Madeline Peling, Sammi Esposito, Mikayla Clemens, Jill Maranda, Madison Veilleux, Olivia Parker, Kim Kabulis, Bridget Quiroga, Jess Cohen, Isabella Friedrich, Amber Kohl, Caitlyn Tavares “Older Than I Am is about the battle between having to grow up fast while still wanting to be a kid. The right side of the stage represents innocence and the left side of the stage represents adulthood and growing up and the stage is the bridge between the two. “ 4:44 Choreographer: Abby Hurd Music: 4:44 by Jay-Z Dancers: Trevor Mazzei, Abby Hurd, Haley Jackson, Olivine Harvey, Emma Grau, Karla Perez, Emma LaFrance, Alaina Gobbi, Layla Redente, Samantha Snevily, Sara Donnelly, Madeline Peling, Sammi Esposito, Sofia Papanikolaou, Kylee Raiano, Lucy Carlos, Kayla Holmes, Emma Stone, Isabella Friedrich, Amber Olgac, Alexis Kreuscher, Caroline Badot, Taedra Tsecaris, Emily Ieronimo “4:44 is both a love letter and an admission of infidelity. This dance represents the many emotions of an affair; including grief and heartbreak from one partner, as well as the regret and confusion of the other

Finale Choreographers: Layla Redente and Alaina Gobbi Music: Just Dance by Lady Gaga “Finale is extra special as it is the one time all company members are able to come together and dance as a whole. This number gives off the best energy to close out another amazing UDC Showcase!"

Executive Board: President: Madeline Peling, Senior Vice President: Abby Hurd, Senior Secretary: Rachel Carbone, Junior Treasurer: Sara Donnelly, Senior Public Relations Chair: Samantha Snevily, Junior Showcase Manager: Ashley Johanson, Senior External Affairs Chair: Layla Redente, Junior Thank you from UDC! UDC would like to extend our great gratitude to the Jorgenson staff and faculty including our advisor Rodney Rock, Bryan Wosczyna, and lighting and sound tech.

We would also like to thank our guest performance by Extreme Measures, our stage manager Annika Hearle, Deborah Gacek from the SCC, and Laurie Nichols from UConn Hillel.

Lastly, our family and friends for their endless love and support!

Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Tuesday, November 28th 8:30pm

Synopsis Clara Stahlbaum and her family and friends are having a lovely evening at the Stahlbaum’s Christmas Eve party. Her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, brings delightful presents including life size kissing dolls for the children and a special nutcracker for Clara. Clara falls in love with her nutcracker immediately.

Later that night, she has a dream that her living room has been overtaken by an army of mice, led by the Mouse Queen. As the mice advance their attack on Clara, her nutcracker comes to life and summons his army of toy soldiers to conquer the mice. Just when the battle is looking grim, Clara throws her shoe at the Mouse Queen, which distracts the Queen enough to allow the Nutcracker to defeat her.

After the victorious battle, the angels introduce her to the Sugar Plum Fairy and guide her to the snowy forest where she dances with the Snow Queen, snowflakes, and icicles. Then, Clara travels to the Land of Sweets where she meets the royal sweets: Hot Chocolate, Tea, Marzipan, Candy Canes, and Coffee.

The Flowers and Dew Drop Fairy finish off Clara’s visit to the Land of Sweets with a dazzling waltz before all of the characters Clara has met bid her goodbye.

Junior Board Executive Board Fundraising Chair: Lauren Busavage President: Samantha Muia Program Chair: Sophia McManus Vice President: Katie O’Brien New Member Chair: Jaclyn Kurys Treasurer: Kailee Chhun Inventory Chair: Isabel Nieves Secretary: Catherine Cala Attendance Coordinator: Meghan Jezik Member Chair: Daniella DiBlasio Tech Chair: Sage Hanlon Thank You To Bella Bondar – Bondar family John Busavage- Busavage Family Rodney Rock and the Jorgensen Staff

Cast SCENE I: The Christmas Party Party Girls Staged by: Alyssa Frechette Anna Bondar, Catherine Cala, Sage Hanlon, Samantha Muia, Isabel Nieves, Tatiana Prip Clara Katie O’Brien Herr Drosselmeyer Waldo Klein Kissing Dolls Staged by: Catherine Cala Kailee Chhun and Meghan Jezik SCENE II: The Battle and the Dream Staged by: Katie O’Brien and Daniella DiBlasio Mouse Queen Daniella DiBlasio Mouse Princesses Ariana De La Rosa Roman and Sophia McManus Mice Anna Bondar, DaSyah Crespo, Claire Hadley, Olivia Marolda, Maddie Mooney, Sofie Poestovit Nutcracker Lauren Busavage Lead Soldier Hope Romain Soldiers Devin Barbour, Claire Grant, Ademide Ogunsina, Zoe Seese, Lia Walsh Angels Staged by: Sage Hanlon Kyra Johnson, Regan Moran, Tatiana Prip, Anastasia Serating

SCENE III: The Snowy Forest Staged by: Sage Hanlon Snow Queen Catherine Cala Snowflakes (en pointe) Sophia Hatzis, Meghan Jezik, Olivia Marolda, Talia Schwartz, Alana Tagliabue Snowflakes (on flat) Lily Coombs, DaSyah Crespo, Ariana De La Rosa Roman, Zoe Seese Icicles Annabele Brown, Helen Gross, Sophia McManus, Maddie Mooney, Angelina Stofka, Hope Romain, Lia Walsh, Hailey Weber SCENE IV: The Land of Sweets Castle 1 Sugar Plum Fairy Samantha Muia Hot Chocolate Staged by: Kailee Chhun Lead Hot Chocolate: Claire Grant Kailee Chhun and Lily Coombs Tea Staged by: Samantha Muia Lead Tea: Isabel Nieves Sophia Hatzis and Alana Tagliabue Staged by: Tatiana Prip

Marzipan

Lead Marzipan: Jaclyn Kurys Olivia Marolda and Anastasia Serating

Candy Canes Staged by: Alana Tagliabue Lead Candy Cane: Anna Bondar DaSyah Crespo, Hadley Cucco, Claire Hadley, Ariana De La Rosa Roman, Sofie Poestovit, Zoe Seese

Staged by: Meghan Jezik

Coffee

Lead Coffee: Sage Hanlon Jaclyn Kurys and Talia Schwartz

Waltz of the Flowers Staged by: Samantha Muia, Alyssa Frechette, and Sage Hanlon Demi-soloists (en pointe): Jaclyn Kurys and Tatiana Prip Flowers En Pointe: Sage Hanlon, Kyra Johnson, Isabel Nieves, Anastasia Serating Flowers On Flat: Lauren Busavage, Kailee Chhun, Hadley Cucco, Daniella DiBlasio, Meghan Jezik, Sofie Poestovit Dew Drop Fairy Alyssa Frechette Castle 2

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Congratulations to our seniors!

Kailee Chhun

Daniella DiBlasio

Katie O’Brien

Samantha Muia

Hope Romain

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