fall 2023
Contemporary New Works
From the Director Welcome to Contemporary New Works at the University of Utah’s School of Dance. Tonight, we presents works by guest artists jo Blake and Gesel Mason, along with faculty artist Sara Pickett and Daniel Clifton. These works come to life through the talents of the majors and minors in the School of Dance. Countless hours of dedication and creativity in the studio culminate in the dances you’re about to witness, dances that celebrate creativity, physicality, humanity, and our collective exploration of self, one another, and the world around us. Pieces in tonight’s show explore subject matter, utilize language, incorporate physical movements, and present the human body in ways that transcend mere entertainment. Dance is inherently a collaborative endeavor — as Concert Director for Contemporary New Works, I’d like to extend my appreciation to the exceptional contributions of our technical, audio/video, costume, and marketing professionals. Their unwavering dedication and hard work have been instrumental in bringing this performance to life. It’s through these collaborative efforts, both within and beyond the studio, and your presence, whether in person or virtually, that Contemporary New Works becomes a reality. I also wish to acknowledge that this theater in
which we gather today sits on land that had until recently been under the stewardship of the Ute, Paiute, Goshute, Shoshone, and Diné peoples, and is sacred to them and their ancestors. Members of the Salt Lake and Utah communities continue to benefit from the use and occupation of this land since the arrival of colonial settlers about 200 years ago. I acknowledge that industrialism threatens the place-based knowledge of the Ute, Paiute, Goshute, Shoshone and Diné peoples, and that their continued examples of land stewardship offer good practices in preservation and sustainability. Please take a moment to reflect and act to better build relationships with local Native communities that honor and support these Indigenous lands. On behalf of my colleagues in the University of Utah School of Dance and Guests, I extend our heartfelt gratitude for joining us this evening. We hope you thoroughly enjoy the show. Daniel Clifton
Ribbons of Rust and Analog Magnetic Memories A collaborative creation with the performers, costume shop, lighting design, sound engineer, and Daniel Clifton. director and sound design/score:
Daniel Clifton additional music:
“I’m a Victim of This Song (Wicked Game)” from Pipilotti Rist’s Dirty Edits Vol. 1 (A Collection of Dirty Classics) “Hard Places” by H.E.R. Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America “Antifa Baker” by Dreamcrusher movement generation and performance:
Addison Cambia, Birdie Hadden, Madeline Nelson, Olivia Schmaltz, Ela Solmsen, Madi Taylor, Em Zinn lighting:
Emily Bertelli
sound engineer:
Ben Sandberg costumes:
Makayla Cussen, Clover Kelly, Madeleine Mann, Christopher Larson set:
William Peterson from the choreographer:
Ribbons of Rust and Analog Magnetic Memories is an immersive performance that weaves together nostalgia, post-punk, memory, lost connections, and the activation of voice. Drawing inspiration from post-punk aesthetics, it incorporates music, visuals, and spoken word to evoke nostalgia and explore the interplay between individual memories and the collective consciousness. The piece invites the audience to reflect on the shaping of identity through memory and rekindle lost connections by sharing their stories. I would like to thank the amazing performers for their dedication, creativity, and wonderful sense of humor that allowed for a rehearsal/ creation process that was deep and fun. Special gratitude goes out to Douglas Corbin for his conversation about music and willingness to try out some ideas, all of which added depth and richness to our performances and to Satu Hummasti for her invaluable feedback and guidance throughout the creative process.
a single strand in a spider’s web choreographer:
jo Blake music:
“Thunder and Lighting,” “Rain,” and “Snow” by Ezio Bosso costume:
Christopher Larson performers:
Sophia Anderson, Haley de Camara, Anna Grace Cox, Lily Hammons, Hannah Hudson, Grace Hurley, Cooper Sullivan, Isabella Shippen, Keily Tafiti rehearsal assistant:
Rebekah JoAnn Guerra lighting:
William Peterson from the choreographer:
“a single strand in a spider’s web” is dedicated to WSU dancer Courtney Conver
Harris and Utah legend, Joan Woodbury. Thank u to the UofU dance artists who joined me on this journey! Your ability to devour material, explore possibilities, and nurture my creative intention was the biggest gift. Thank u, Rebekah, for taking the reins from the beginning of this process- you know me more than i know myself. This adventure would not be possible had it not been for the support of my alma mater, the U of U School
Seraph care statement:
Art can inspire, titillate, provoke and transform. Please be advised that Seraph utilizes graphic sound bites depicting physical violence, racism, and homophobia from current and archival news clips. choreographer:
Gesel Mason music:
“Prayer (Skit)” by DMX from It’s Dark and Hell is Hot (1998), “Fratres” by Arvo Pärt (1980), “If” by Ari Frankle from R/S ~ ReSettlement (1991), “Tabula Rasa by Arvo Pärt (1977), text from ABC News/Nightline and other online sources edited and mixed by Daniel Clifton.
lighting:
Emily Bertelli performers and movement generation:
Allison Shafter, Clytie May, Sicily Demmerly, Terra Killpack-Knutsen, Emily Marsh, Yolimar Rodriguez Rivera rehearsal assistant:
Constance Anderson from the choreographer:
“Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another; ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’” (Isiah 6:2-3) I created and performed a solo titled “Black Angel” in response to the brutal murder of James Byrd Jr. in Jasper, TX in 1998. Byrd was abducted, beaten, chained to the back of a pickup truck and then dragged down a county road to his death. Byrd’s gruesome slaying led to the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, signed by President Barack Obama in 2009. Restaged for six dancers 25 years after Byrd’s death, this work grapples with humanity’s ongoing relationship with violence and hate.
One and Nine choreographer:
Sara Pickett in collaboration with the dancers music:
Amber Mark, Franc Moody, SBTRKT, Ezra Koening costumes:
Christopher Larson lighting:
Emily Bertelli performers:
Caitlyn Camchong, Lauren Ellsworth, Ellie Germaine, Alyssa Gibson, Madeline Golingo, Gillen Howard, Esther Simmons, Mckenna Steneman, Annalise Wood from the choreographer:
This work started by considering how social media creates space for performing and watching. In the process we asked questions of identity in these roles and looked to create movement that captured the individual performative nature inherent in these formats. What emerged was a celebration of the group and joy in dancing for and with one another.
About Our Choreographers
Daniel Clifton
Daniel Clifton is a choreographer, composer, performer, and educator. Daniel’s artist practices began with photography and music in his hometown of Niceville, FL, where he spent many years writing and playing music in punk and jazz bands. He then spent almost 20 years working in NYC creating dances and collaborating and performing with artist such as Martha Clarke, Tere O’Connor, Nicholas Leichter, Bill Young and Colleen Thomas, and Julia Ritter. His dances have been presented at Sugar Space, Henry Street Settlement, DNA, The Kitchen, IL FAUT BRULER POUR BRILLER, The A.W.A.R.D. Show!, ADF, Dancespace. Clifton currently lives in Salt Lake City and is on faculty at the University of
Utah. His recent work includes collaborating with Satu Hummasti and as a member of the Salt Lake Electric Ensemble. Has also taught at The University of the Arts, Florida State University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the American Dance Festival, ADF China, and the Korean Dance Festival.
jo Blake Joseph “jo” Blake, a graduate of the University of Utah (BFA, 2003) and the University of Washington (MFA, 2017), is an artist who has performed, taught and choreographed throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia. Inspired by his
passion for community-based engagement, social justice, and educational theory, jo continues to pursue impactful projects in Utah and beyond. jo is the Director of joBdance. | a conceptual experience, an interdisciplinary project-based company with collaborations in dance, sound score, and visual arts. His eveninglength premiere, (dis)connect., an immersive multimedia experience exploring the tensions created by technology between individual and community received rave reviews (Seattle, WA). As a member of internationally-recognized Salt Lake City-based Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company (2003-2013), he performed in works by Joan Woodbury, Shirley Ririe, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Alwin Nikolais, Doug Varone, Wayne McGregor, Carolyn Carlson, Bill T. Jones, Susan Marshall, as well as many other influential dance makers. As a graduate student, jo had the opportunity to perform in works by Yvonne Rainer, Zvi Gotheiner, Anna Sokolow, Trisha Brown, Brian Brooks, and Shapiro & Smith. jo’s community-based projects include the YCC Family Crisis Center, Minding Motion for Graceful Aging, Yoga Behind Bars, and Mark Morris’s Dance for PD. His work has been seen nationally in Washington, Utah (Westminster College, Weber State University, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Alum’s Momentum, Municipal Ballet, The Penguin Lady), and Minnesota. He has performed for Senga Nengudi, Stephanie Liapis, Chamber Dance Company, Loudhound Dance, RawMoves, Tandy Beal and Co, NOW-ID | Now International Dance Co. (SLC), as well as local and national performance artists/companies. jo is Dance Program Director and Assistant
Professor of Dance at Weber State University (Ogden, UT), 2021 WSU Presidential Awards for Community-Engaged Faculty Member, Ogden City Arts 2021 Mayor’s Award for the Arts, Advisory Board Director of Student Initiatives with the National Dance Education Organization, Board of Trustees Committee Member of RirieWoodbury Dance Company, and a member of the Ogden City Arts Advisory Committee.
Gesel Mason
Gesel Mason is a choreographer, performer, educator, and arts facilitator. She is Artistic Director for Gesel Mason Performance Projects and
Associate Professor of Dance and Choreography at the University of Texas at Austin. She was a member of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and Ralph Lemon/Cross Performance Projects. She has also performed with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Repertory Dance Theatre of Utah, and under the direction of Chuck Davis, Jacek Łumiński (Silesian Dance Theatre), Murray Louis, and Victoria Marks. Her company, Gesel Mason Performance Projects (GMPP), serves as a medium for her creative work. GMPP is a project based dance company that seeks to create meaningful, relevant, and compelling art events as a way to encourage compassion and inquiry. In her work, Mason utilizes dance, theater, humor, and storytelling to bring visibility to voices unheard, situations neglected, or perspectives considered taboo. Numerous venues and festivals have presented Mason’s choreography including John F. Kennedy Center, American Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, the International Association of Blacks in Dance, and numerous colleges and universities. Gesel Mason graduated from the University of Utah with a BFA in Modern Dance in 1995. She was awarded the very first College of Fine Arts Distinguished Alumni Award in Spring 2009 for the former Department of Modern Dance. Significant awards have included: National Endowment for the Humanities (2020), New England Foundation for the Arts (2020, 2007), Rauschenburg Artist in Residence (2019), National Performance Network(2019, 2009, 2002), National Endowment for the Arts (2016, 2004), Whiting Foundation (2018), and University of Colorado Boulder Research & Innovation Seed Grant (2018). In 2017, Mason was one of four choreographers commissioned to create
work for American Dance Festival’s “Footprints.” In 2015, Mason received a Map Fund for her project “antithesis,” which challenged how female sexuality is perceived, performed, and (re)presented. Mason was one of six choreographers selected by the Joyce Theater for a Rockefeller Residency Initiative in 2011 and received the Millennium Stage Local Dance Commissioning Project from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2007. For over 20 years, Mason has been committed to supporting and celebrating the contributions of African American artists and communities. Her solo performance project, NO BOUNDARIES: Dancing the Visions of Contemporary Black Choreographers, has featured the work of Kyle Abraham, Robert Battle, Rennie Harris, Dianne McIntyre, Donald McKayle, Bebe Miller, David Rousséve, Reggie Wilson, Andrea E. Woods Valdéz, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. NO BOUNDARIES, highlighted by NPR, Google Arts and Culture, and Dance Magazine, is evolving into a digital humanities archive to illuminate the unique legacies and aesthetics of these choreographers. In 2020, Mason was awarded a NEH Digital Humanities Advancement Grant, with co-director Rebecca Salzer of the University of Alabama, in support of the digital archive’s curation, research and development. Her current choreographic project Yes, And, centers Black womanhood as the norm and operating force in the creative process. It is an evolving performance project activated by the question: Who would you be and what would you do if, as a Black woman, you had nothing to worry about? The project is supported by National Performance Network, NEFA National Dance Project, and an inaugural Texas Performing Arts/Fusebox Festival Residency. Yes, And’s most recent evolution will premiere in July 2022 at Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens in
Washington D.C., presented by Dance Place. For more information visit www.geselmason.com.
Sara Pickett Sara is a dance educator and dancer maker. She spends as much time in nature as possible in the desert, on water, or on snow. She wonders about what kind of dance makes her happy within the seriousness of it all. And purple is joy.
About Our Rehearsal Assistants
Constance Anderson Constance Anderson is a current MFA Modern Dance candidate and Teaching Assistant at the University of Utah. She founded her company, Sock Opera Dance, in 2019 to explore the relationship between dance choreography and its venue. She combines philosophy and movement, reframing the proscenium theatre as a site for site-specific choreography
Anderson formerly created work in central Wisconsin, forming an artist’s collective, vying for all artists to have a platform. She choreographed for the Wisconsin University System’s Theatre and Dance departments, creating original work and setting repertory choreography for Li Chiao-Ping Dance. She has continued to set work in Salt Lake City, Utah, in film, dance, and theatre.
Rebekah JoAnn Guerra
Rebekah JoAnn Guerra is an American choreographer, and the Artistic Director of her company, Ballet Opéra de Guerra. The company works with multidisciplinary artists, researching the stage as a playground of cultural contradictions, inner dramaturgy, and domestic politics. Guerra’s choreographic culture originates from classical ballet, dance theatre, Afro-Latinx contemporary
dances, and Ohad Naharin’s movement language, Gaga. In her work, audiences can embody introspection, empathy, and reciprocity. From 2000-2011 Rebekah studied at Riverside Children’s Theatre. She began formal dance training in 2011 (nineteen years old) at Riverside Community College, Dance Arts of Los Angeles, Westside School of Ballet, and Dance Arts of Orange County. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside in 2018. From 2017-2021 she worked as a freelance artist in Los Angeles, California, performing works by Micaela Taylor, Ohad Naharin, Sofia Olga Carreras, Roya Carreras, Sue Roginski, Rosa Rodriguez-Frasier, Alfonso Cervera, Stephanie Zaletel, Byungyu Kim, Kenneth Walker, Bobbi Jene Smith & Or Schraiber, Sidra Bell, and Danielle Agami. In 2023 Ballet Opéra de Guerra was invited to perform “no te demores” at Capitol Theatre for the “Dance For Life” Suicide Awareness Gala. In 2022, she choreographed “No Exit” at the Repertory Dance Theatre in collaboration with composer Avner Dorman and musicians, Inbal Segev and Julien Labro. Rebekah’s work has been presented in France, New York, New Jersey, China and Utah. When Rebekah is not dreaming of making dances with amazing people, she is working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Ballet Department at the University of Utah and as a Pilates Instructor at the I. J. & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center.
The University of Utah Land Acknowledgement 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)
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
Melonie Murray – Professor, Director, School of
COSTUME SHOP
Dance
Christopher Larson – Costume Shop Manager
Pablo Piantino – Assistant Professor, Director of
Madeleine Mann – Draper
Undergraduate Studies
Clover Kelly – First Hand
Sara Pickett – Associate Professor (Lecturer),
Makayla Cussen – Head Stitcher
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Sofia Marie Lusitana, Katie Winslow,
Ben Sandberg – Assistant Professor (Clinical), A/V
Brianne Corbridge – Stitchers
Specialist Mary Ann Walton Lee – Associate Professor
ACCOMPANISTS
(Lecturer), Artistic Director Tanner Dance
Amy Bach – Accompanist
Maggie Wright Tesch – Professor (Lecturer), UBSI
Vilena Barekyan – Accompanist
Director
Mark Chaney – Accompanist
Luc Vanier – Professor
Wayne Coons – Accompanist Jordan Fajardo-Bird – Accompanist
ADJUNCT FACULTY
Max Hall – Accompanist
Rebecca Aneloski – Adjunct Instructor
David Herrmann – Accompanist
Rosie Banchero - Adjunct Assistant Professor
Tristan Moore – Accompanist
Lynne Larson - Adjunct Assistant Professor
Brian Pappal – Accompanist
Christine Moore – Adjunct Assistant Professor
Tatsiana Rasmussen – Accompanist
Justine Sheedy-Kramer - Adjunct Associate
Sarah Richards – Accompanist
Professor
John Rukavina – Accompanist
Jasmine Stack - Adjunct Assistant Professor
Wachira Waigwa-Stone – Accompanist Kimball Whitaker – Accompanist
FACULTY EMERITI Bené Arnold – Distinguished Professor Emerita,
PT/ATC
Distinguished Alumna
Christopher Michaels – Athletic Trainer
Ellen Bromberg – Distinguished Professor Emerita Jacqueline Clifford - Professor Emerita
PRODUCTION
Abby Fiat - Professor Emerita
Em Bertelli – Production Director
Barbara Hamblin - Associate Professor Emerita,
William Peterson – Technical Director
Distinguished Alumna
Rebecca Johnson – Stage Manager
Phyllis Haskell - Professor Emerita,
Susan Belnap – Assistant Stage Manager
Distinguished Alumna
Madeline Franz – Audio Board Operator
Stephen Koester - Professor Emeritus
Maxwell Vannocken-Witmer
Sharee Lane - Associate Professor Emerita
– Lighting Board Operator
Conrad Ludlow - Associate Professor Emeritus
Susan Belnap, Derek Morales, Abish Noble
Loabelle Mangelson Clawson - Professor Emerita
– Stage Crew
Shirley Ririe - Professor Emerita
Isis Freiberg – House Manager/Scenic Construction
Brent Schneider – Professor Emerita
Rebecca Johnson – Scenic Painting
Jon Scoville - Associate Professor Emeritus
Ben Sandberg – Video Director
Donna White - Professor Emerita
Vikas Chowdary Kommalapati, Courtney Landry,
Joan Woodbury - Professor Emerita
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. Tap here to make a gift now.