A Series of Choices

Fall 2023 Ballet Showcase

A SERIES OF CHOICES

From Concert Director

Melissa Bobick

Welcome to the 2023 Ballet Showcase Concert, A Series of Choices. Thank you for coming to support our students. The group of diverse works that you will see tonight was created throughout the fall semester. The choreographers are Juniors and Seniors in the Ballet Program who have chosen to register for the third semester

of Choreography. They audition, cast, and then work with their peers to create a longer work than most of them have ever choreographed before. Tonight, you will see a range of choreographic styles from Ballet to Broadway Jazz. As a class, we have become very invested in each other’s work during the semester. Each choreographer spends a lot of time sharing initial inspirations, and their classmates give thoughtful feedback that helps to shape and solidify their choreographic ideas. Being the instructor for this class is incredibly fulfilling. I enjoy encouraging the students to move beyond the mechanics of choreographic tools to begin combining movement with intention.

I love helping them discover what they want to say through their choreography and watch them as they better understand their unique artistic voice. I hope you enjoy A Series of Choices.

Of a Rose Choreography

Brianne Corbridge Lighting Design

Em Bertelli Costume Design

Makayla Cussen and Clover Kelly Music

Maurice Ravel: String Quartet Movement IV. Vif et agité. Performed by Quatuor Ébène Dancers

Sarah Conover Hui, Mia Krause, Isabel Nieves Carrasquillo, Katherine Patterson, Emily Pope, Helen Rawls, Eva Thompson Notes From the Choreographer

My grandmother was a gardener. When she was limited to her bedroom and I was one of her caretakers, she asked me to pick a rose from her garden and put it in a little vase on her bedside table. The rose offered her something beautiful in a difficult time. Of a Rose represents the beauty that we create and can look to in difficult moments.

Bela Lugosi’s Dead Choreography

Aurora Roach Lighting Design

Rebecca Johnson Costume Design

Makayla Cussen Music

Bela Lugosi’s Dead by Bauhaus Dancers

Emilie Bishop, Corinne Fellerhoff, Madeline Franz, Hailey Jackson, Hannah Kiers, Kirsten Rye, Ela Solmsen Notes From the Choreographer

A vampire coven dances through the night, while claiming its next victim.

Unity Unveiled Choreography

Meleah Paishon Lighting Design

Em Bertelli Costume Design

Makayla Cussen Music

Andante con Moto - Piano and Strings, Intermezzo in C Minor - Money Wins, and Andante Espressivo - Number One Boy by Nicholas Britell Dancers

Tally Ballas, Abby Barber, Sicily Demmerly, Meshayla Gardinier, Sophia Kourtoglou, Lydia Morris Notes From the Choreographer

“Unity Unveiled” is an exploration of the intricate tapestry of human emotions set against the backdrop of the college experience. By integrating the motifs of shyness, sadness, and revelations, my aim was to create something that is universally relatable, going past the boundaries of

age and life stage. The motif of shyness is expressed through tentative movements, capturing the shared struggle of navigating unknown territories. My piece aims to articulate the hesitations and vulnerabilities in making connections, creating a collective understanding that resonates with the audience, no matter their current life stage. The term “revelations” holds personal significance for me, as it holds the transformative power inherent in navigating experiences of sadness and shyness. My ultimate aspiration is for everyone to use these challenges as catalysts for unity, coming together to create lives enriched by an acknowledgment and appreciation of the collective journey.

Kinetic Arrangements Choreography

Edie Clarke Lighting Design

Em Bertelli Costume Design

Makayla Cussen and Clover Kelly Music

M.A.Y. in The Backyard by Ryuichi Sakamoto Dancers

Anette Garcia Fuentes, Sophie Kane, Maggie Maierle, Fernanda Rodríguez Montellano, Alexa Rassbach, Mckenna Steneman, Katherine Yezer Notes From the Choreographer

This piece offers a glimpse into movement that plays to music intricacy and expressions created when movement and music dynamically interact. Drawing inspiration from neoclassical traditions, the piece blends the elegance of classical technique with a contemporary edge.

Creating this piece has been the beginning of my journey as a choreographer but an extension to my dance journey in its entirety.

A huge thank you to my amazing cast and all who helped bring this piece to life.

Intimate Solitude Choreography

Corinne Fellerhoff Lighting Design

Em Bertelli Costume Design

Makayla Cussen Music

Orbit by Henry Fellerhoff Dancers

Madeline Nelson, Sophia Kourtoglou, Jensen Rasmussen, Mackenna Bonner, Aurora Chernis Notes From the Choreographer

Finding comfort and power in independence by drawing from our experiences connecting with others.

Already, Not Yet Choreography

Abby Barber Lighting Design

Em Bertelli Costume Design

Makayla Cussen Music

1st movement- Paris (Refuge) by All Sons & Daughters, Leslie Jordan, and David Leonard; 2nd movement- No Man’s Land (Piano Trio No. 1) by Ezio Bosso Dancers

Claire Campbell, Alexandra Cherenson, Ellie Germaine, Lucia Navarro, Willow Owens, Meleah Paishon, Helen Rawls, Ashlyn Staker Notes From the Choreographer

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 I pray that this piece touches your heart as it reflects the tension that we live in while

becoming who we were created to be and the ways in which the promises of heaven on earth are already and not yet.

Heads Will Roll Choreography

Kendall MacMillan Lighting Design

Rebecca Johnson Costume Design

Makayla Cussen and Clover Kelly Music

Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs Dancers

Brooke Baldwin, Mackenna Bonner, Anna Grace Cox, Fiona Galvin, Maggie Maierle, Haley Parsons, Kirsten Rye, Lizzie Turley, Regan Wilkens Notes

Dance can be serious, meaningful, fun, and emotional. I wanted to create a fun energetic piece that shows the versatility of dance.

Heads Will Roll is a jazz piece on pointe that is athletic, thrilling, and entertaining. I hope you enjoy it!

1,000 Watts Choreography

Sarah Schiffhauer Lighting Design

Em Bertelli Costume Design

Makayla Cussen Music

Emptihood by Cedric Vermu, O God Protect Me by Ben Frost Dancers

Isabelle Aaron, Miriam Au, Sicily Demmerly, Jessie Emma Friend, Anette Garcia Fuentes, Alyssa Gibson, Tori Gilbert, Amanda Holt, Grace Hurley, Hannah Kojouri, Sofia Marie Lusitana, Lucia Navarro, Willow Owens, Aurora Roach Notes

Initially, my inspiration stemmed from the profound feeling of frustration with a desire to convey tension through movement. It delves into the struggle between personal freedom and the constraints of a rule-bound

structure. The choreography explores the push and pull of these opposing forces, aiming to culminate in a moment of complete release.

Attosecond Choreography

Amrita Jade Lighting Design

Em Bertelli and Beckett Chambers Costume Design

Christopher Larson Music

#1 by Aphex Twin, Bullets (Rochester Club)

by DarilliBeats and K1ng Digital Dancers

Caitlyn Camchong, Aurora Chernis, Sarah Conover Hui, Sophie Gilpin, Ada Gouse, Reagan Manwaring, Fernanda Rodriguez Montellano, Regan Wilkens, Sophie O’Brien Notes

There are as many attoseconds in one second as there have been seconds since the birth of the universe.

Point of View Choreography

Sofia Marie Lusitana Lighting Design

Em Bertelli Costume Design

Makayla Cussen and Sofia Marie Lusitana Music

The Main Sequence composed by Luke Howard Dancers

Tally Ballas, Tori Gilbert, Eva Thompson Notes

As dancers, we spend an absurd amount of time viewing ourselves through a mirror.

It can be shocking to see a photograph or video of ourselves dancing, because we don’t see ourselves reflected exactly as we imagine. In the same way, how one perceives themselves can be vastly different than how others perceive them. I translated this idea to movement throughout my creative process. As I experimented with original

movements that felt comfortable to the dancers, I discovered that the inner aesthetic directly affects the outer aesthetic, and one’s ‘point of view’ can contribute to the overall perception of beauty.

Doce Lembrança Choreography

Mei Iguchi Lighting Design

Em Bertelli Costume Design

Makayla Cussen Music

Do Mangue a Manga by Barbatuques Dancers

Claire Campbell, Madeline Franz, Jensen Rasmussen, Katherine Yezer, Alexa Rassbach Notes

Little things in life can have the biggest effects on us. Simple, everyday events that we may not have given much consideration to at the time, might turn into priceless memories that endure a lifetime. This piece in particular, was inspired by a period in my life in which I would go to this huge market in São Paulo, Brazil (my hometown) with my dad when I was younger. Whenever I think about this simple moment, I feel joyful.

Mujeres de Fuego Choreography

Fiona Galvin Lighting Design

Em Bertelli Costume Design

Makayla Cussen and dancers Music

Backstage Romance by Ricky Rojas, Robyn Hurder & Original Broadway Cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical Dancers

Brooke Baldwin, Ellie Germaine, Lizzie Turley, Miriam Au, Ashlyn Staker, Haley Parsons, Kendall MacMillian, Meshayla Gardinier, Mia Krause, Paige Smith Notes

Powerful. Sexy. Women.

Chairs provided by the University of Utah Props Department.

University of Utah Land Acknowledgment We acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes. The University of Utah recognizes and respects the enduring relationship that exists between many Indigenous peoples and their traditional homelands. We respect the sovereign relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government, and we affirm the University of Utah’s commitment to a partnership with Native Nations and Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.

THE PEOPLE OF THE SCHOOL OF DANCE FACULTY Christopher Alloways-Ramsey – Assistant Professor, Recruitment Director Melissa Bobick – Assistant Professor Douglas Corbin – Professor (Lecturer), Musical Director Daniel Clifton – Associate Professor (Lecturer) Joselli Deans – Associate Professor Natalie Desch – Assistant Professor, Recruitment Director Pamela Geber Handman – Professor Eric Handman – Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies Molly Heller – Assistant Professor Satu Hummasti – Associate Professor Jay Kim – Associate Professor, IBSI Director, Director of Undergraduate Studies Kym McDaniel – Assistant Professor, Screendance Program Head Christine McMillan – Associate Professor (Lecturer) Melonie Murray – Professor, Director, School of Dance Pablo Piantino – Assistant Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies Sara Pickett – Associate Professor (Lecturer), Director of Undergraduate Studies Ben Sandberg – Assistant Professor (Clinical), A/V Specialist Mary Ann Walton Lee – Associate Professor (Lecturer), Artistic Director Tanner Dance Maggie Wright Tesch – Professor (Lecturer), UBSI Director Luc Vanier – Professor ADJUNCT FACULTY Rebecca Aneloski – Adjunct Instructor Rosie Banchero – Adjunct Assistant Professor Lynne Larson - Adjunct Assistant Professor Christine Moore – Adjunct Assistant Professor Justine Sheedy-Kramer – Adjunct Associate Professor Jasmine Stack – Adjunct Assistant Professor FACULTY EMERITI Bené Arnold – Distinguished Professor Emerita, Distinguished Alumna Ellen Bromberg – Distinguished Professor Emerita Jacqueline Clifford – Professor Emerita Abby Fiat – Professor Emerita Barbara Hamblin – Associate Professor Emerita, Distinguished Alumna Phyllis Haskell – Professor Emerita, Distinguished Alumna Stephen Koester – Professor Emeritus Sharee Lane - Associate Professor Emerita Conrad Ludlow – Associate Professor Emeritus Loabelle Mangelson Clawson – Professor Emerita Shirley Ririe – Professor Emerita Brent Schneider – Professor Emerita Jon Scoville – Associate Professor Emeritus Donna White – Professor Emerita Joan Woodbury – Professor Emerita

MFA CANDIDATES Constance Anderson – MFA Candidate Emma Capen – MFA Candidate Kimberly Fulmer – MFA Candidate Roxanne Gray – MFA Candidate Rebekah Guerra – MFA Candidate Carly Herrmann – MFA Candidate Irishia Hubbard – MFA Candidate Ruger Memmott – MFA Candidate Alexia Poutrino Maikidou – MFA Candidate Samantha Stone – MFA Candidate ADMINISTRATION Melonie Murray – Director Will Maguire – Administrative Manager Merritt Mecham - Marketing & Design Hope Ferguson – Office Assistant Kaylin Wilson – Office Assistant COSTUME SHOP Christopher Larson – Costume Shop Manager Madeleine Mann – Draper Clover Kelly – First Hand Makayla Cussen – Head Stitcher Sofia Marie Lusitana, Katie Winslow, Brianne Corbridge – Stitchers ACCOMPANISTS Amy Bach – Accompanist Vilena Barekyan – Accompanist Mark Chaney – Accompanist Wayne Coons – Accompanist Jordan Fajardo-Bird – Accompanist Max Hall – Accompanist David Herrmann – Accompanist Tristan Moore – Accompanist Brian Pappal – Accompanist Tatsiana Rasmussen – Accompanist Sarah Richards – Accompanist John Rukavina – Accompanist Wachira Waigwa-Stone – Accompanist Kimball Whitaker – Accompanist PT/ATC Christopher Michaels – Athletic Trainer PRODUCTION Em Bertelli – Production Director William Peterson – Technical Director Rebecca Johnson – Stage Manager Beckett Chambers – Assistant Lighting Designer Liam Oaks – Audio Operator Maxwell Vannocken-Witmer – Lighting Operator Anna Winslow – House Manager Susan Burnap, Derek Morales – Stage Crew Ben Sandberg – Video Director Joonsoo Park, Samuel Schild – Videographers

The School of Dance akcnowledges and thanks the following donors for their generous support during fiscal year July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 Contributors | $2,500+

Christie Walker Brandon Walker Gordon and Connie Hanks

Benefactors | $1,000 - $2,499 Andrew De Camara Allison De Camara Jean Sabatine Anne Riffey John Veranth, PhD and Martha Veranth Abby and Jerome Fiat

Patrons | $500 - $999

Henning Haffner Sophie Kane Cafe Zupas Lou Leberti The Field Foundation Sheila Ainlay and Michael Steiner Sean Carter

Friends | $200 - $499

Brent Schneider and Kim Blackett Rae Barnes Arkansas Community Foundation Melonie Murray, PhD and Steve Murray Edward Folts The Benevity Community Impact Fund Intel Corporation Corporate Office Andrea Nelson Eastern Arts Society Michael and Carolyn Stransky Karyn Strickler Brenda Daniels Melissa Panek Dixie Moore West Point Ballet Academy Brendan M. Guiliano

Jennifer Guiliano Andrew and Alice Sullivan Jonathan Scoville and Tandy Beal

Fans | $100 - $199

CENGAGE Learning Robyn Connors Isabel Shimanski Grant Smith, PhD Marsha Knight and Leigh Selting Kim Morris and Rheba Vetter, PhD Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. Eric and Pamela Handman Chipotle Mexican Grill Lisette Miles A. Kent Greene, JD and Jan Greene Judith and Bruce Frumker Jean Christofferson Paul Keir Bob Knous Marla Polk Linda Jellison Joe Rejsek Dianne Shelden Howe Trust Dennis and Margaret Tesch Janet and Gregory Shaw Wendy Thompson Patricia Rubley and Raymond Rubley, Jr. Maureen McGill Dianne Howe, PhD Thomas Welsh, PhD and Sue Carpenter Priscilla Campbell, CPA Michele and Lawrence Holzman

SELECT PERFORMANCES WILL BE LIVE-STREAMED AT https://www.dance.utah.edu/ performances-events We recognize that the arts are a vital part of our connection to one another, and we need connection now more than ever.

So, we, in the School of Dance, have made the decision to provide free access to any patron who would like to be moved by our movement this year.

For those who would like to help us make our art available to more, or who would like to support the work of our talented faculty, staff and students, we welcome your financial contributions.

But for now and while we can, we’re letting the art be free.

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This year marks the College of Fine Arts 75th anniversary, and as new faces join our community, we can’t help but think of all who came before, leaving their mark on the unique history of the College of Fine Arts. Each is a vital component of our expanding creative ecosystem.

We are filled with gratitude for where we have been and anticipation for where we’re headed.

Your gift in honor of this monumental landmark — no matter the size — fuels dreams taking root in the College of Fine Arts. Thank you for investing in our future.

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