Ballet Senior Concert — Spring 2023

Ballet Senior Concert 2023

Bossa Nova Baby Choreography: Sarah Wissel Music: “A Little Less Conversation” & “Bossa Nova Baby” by Elvis Presley Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Sarah Wissel Dancers: Mindy Lasko, Chelsea Reusch, Ashlyn Staker, Amber Walterscheid, Sarah Wissel This is a fun, jazzy piece to some of my favorite Elvis songs. I hope this makes you want to dance!

Silkworm Choreography: Amrita Jade Music: Großvater Paradoxon by Arpanet Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Amrita Jade Dancer: Amrita Jade

Approaching/ Arrival

Choreography: Natalie Montoya in collaboration with the dancers Music: “Rowing” by Jóhann Jóhannsson, “San Miguel” by Jordan Seigel, “Tattoo Of A Panda” by Craig Wedren, and “Topanga Canyon” by John Vincent III. Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Natalie Montoya Dancers: Nikki Ferry, Olivia Huseonica, Megan Lynch, and Natalie Montoya Approaching/Arrival explores how we as human beings may interact with other people while working towards a similar goal. Will we choose to let ourselves be intimidated by others? Will we let the voice in our own head stop us from trying? Or will we find a better way?

Sleeping Beauty - 2nd Act Aurora Variation Choreography: Marius Petipa Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Chris Larson

or Scout Sutton Dancers: Scout Sutton Sleeping Beauty was the first ballet I performed in with Ballet West after joining their academy when I was 9 years old and it has been my favorite ever since. I absolutely loved getting to be on stage with the professional dancers and seeing the production come to life. Since then I have performed pieces of Sleeping Beauty at Ballet West Academy’s Spring Show in high school, at a pageant where I was given the title of Miss Grantsville 2021, and most recently at Grantsville City’s yearly celebration to honor my hometown. I am so excited to be completing my time here at the U with a piece from the ballet that is so close to my heart!

Shade and a Song Choreography: Olivia Huseonica Music: “Overture (Instrumental)” by Sleeping At Last Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Holly Kuyt Dancers: Holly Kuyt “Blessed are those who plant trees under whose shade they will never sit”

To those that have planted trees for me: I am immensely grateful for your continuous love and support. To those that will rest in the shade of my trees: it is an honor to contribute to your journey.

May we all have the opportunity to dance in a forest.

Oblation to Antinous Choreography: Samuel Johnson Music: Tomb by Richard Schrieber Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Samuel Johnson Dancers: Ruthie Dalby, Genevieve Boyle, Manami Kawai, Devin Hammond Oblation to Antinous is an imagined ritualized spectacle dedicated to the deified Antinous of ancient Greece.

Following Antinous’ mysterious death, the Cult of Antinous was formed, solidifying him into Greek myth as a powerful symbol of a heroic gay man.

Ancient Greeks venerated, worshiped and prayed to Antinous, and my choreography is merely an expression of reverence to one of the world’s earliest

gay icons.

Goodbye is not forever Choreography: Dakota King Music: A compilation of music edited

by Dakota King. “Down to the river to pray” By Allson Krauss, “My sweet lord”

By George Harrison, “Man in the mirror”

By Michael Jackson, “America” By Neil Diamond, “Intro/Spectrum” By HÆLOS Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Dakota King Dancers: Genevieve Boyle, Emma Feddo, Dakota King, Jersey King, Natalie Montoya, Amber Walterscheid, Sarah Wissel Goodbye is not forever is a tribute to and in remembrance of Matt Cieslak, Lessa Lloyd, John Clawson, and Alaina Burrows. Dakota lost these four loved ones unexpectedly this past year in a span of 6 months. This story based piece set in the present shares the unique personalities of Dakota’s loved ones from her perspective. This work gives a closer look into the mind and memory of Dakota. She will take you

back to these traumatic experiences, sharing with you her journey of joy, grief, recovery, and comfort.

Natalie Montoya will play Dakota’s Great Grandma, Alaina Burrows. Emma Feddo will play the role of Dakota’s Papa (Grandpa) John Clawson. Sara Wissel will represent Dakota’s former High School Dance Company Teacher, Miss Lloyd. Amber Walterscheid will play Dakota’s Uncle Matt Cieslak. Jersey King will represent Dakota, her mind, and her emotions. Finally, Genevieve Boyle will represent Life, death, and whatever higher power you might believe in.

Hold your loved ones close today and forever because they will be gone much too soon.

On My Love Choreography: Olivia Huseonica Music: “Yuri On ICE” by Taro Umebayashu Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Chris Larson Dancer: Olivia Huseonica This work is a visual reflection on

my journey in dance. I dedicate this performance to everyone who has been at my side on this adventure thus far.

Your love means everything <3 “There’s a place you just can’t reach unless you have a dream too large to bear alone” -Yuri on Ice

Where Do We Go When the Show is Over?

Choreography: Luna Esmerode in collaboration with Daniel Cohen Music: “New Start” by Martin Phipps Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Chris Larson Dancers: Luna Esmerode and Daniel Cohen Nothing is certain. Wouldn’t it be better if we embrace the unknown? Special thanks to Daniel Cohen for being an amazing partner and friend. And thank you to my family, whose support I could not live without.

Romeo and Juliet - Juliet’s Variation Choreography: Kenneth MacMillan Music: Sergei Prokofiev Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Chris Larson Dancer: Mindy Lasko I loved this variation from the very first day I learned it in our pointe class. Thank you to all my teachers and mentors who have helped me achieve so much.

Don Quixote Grand Pas De Deux Restaging: Jay Kim Music: Ludwig Minkus Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Chris Larson Dancers: Caleb Holt and Megan Lynch This was the first classical pas de deux I performed at the U, and it felt fitting to have it be the last. Thank you to

everyone who has made my time here so special. Here’s to our next adventures in life.

GAGA Choreography: Amber Walterscheid Music: “Bad Romance”, “Poker Face”, “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga Lighting Design: Emily Bertelli Costume Design: Amber Walterscheid Dancers: Fiona Galvin, Olivia Huseonica, Ashlyn Staker, Scout Sutton, Amber Walterscheid, Sarah Wissel This piece is paying homage to queen Gaga herself, and a tribute to dancing with some of my closest friends to some bomb-ass music. Thank you for rockin’ with me one last time :) “Don’t ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are” Lady Gaga

Thank you to everyone, and all our love!

The Class of 2023

THE PEOPLE OF THE SCHOOL OF DANCE FACULTY Christopher Alloways-Ramsey – Assistant Professor, Ballet Recruitment Director Melissa Bobick – Assistant Professor Douglas Corbin – Professor (Lecturer), Musical Director Daniel Clifton – Assistant Professor (Lecturer), Modern Dance Minor Advisor Joselli Deans – Associate Professor Natalie Desch – Assistant Professor, Modern Dance Recruitment Director Pamela Geber Handman – Professor Eric Handman – Associate Professor, Associate Director for Graduate Studies Molly Heller – Assistant Professor Satu Hummasti – Associate Professor, Associate Director for Undergraduate Studies Jay Kim – Associate Professor, Associate Director for Faculty, IBSI Director Kym McDaniel – Assistant Professor, Screendance Program Head Christine McMillan – Assistant Professor (Lecturer), Ballet Program Head Melonie Murray – Associate Professor, Director, School of Dance Pablo Piantino – Assistant Professor, Assistant Director for Student Support Sara Pickett – Associate Professor (Lecturer), Modern Dance Program Head Ben Sandberg – Assistant Professor (Clinical), A/V Specialist Brent Schneider – Professor Maggie Wright Tesch – Professor (Lecturer), UBSI Director Luc Vanier – Professor

ADJUNCT FACULTY Rosie Banchero - Adjunct Assistant Professor Lynne Larson - Adjunct Assistant Professor Mary Ann Lee - Associate Professor (Lecturer) Justine Sheedy-Kramer - Adjunct Assistant 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 Jon Scoville - Associate Professor Emeritus

Donna White - Professor Emerita Joan Woodbury - Professor Emerita

MFA CANDIDATES Constance Anderson – MFA Candidate Kimberly Fulmer – MFA Candidate Stephanie García – MFA Candidate Roxanne Gray – MFA Candidate Rebekah Guerra – MFA Candidate Carly Herrmann – MFA Candidate Irishia Hubbard – MFA Candidate Joshua Mora – MFA Candidate Thea Patterson – MFA Candidate Tyler Schnese – MFA Candidate Kellie St. Pierre – MFA Candidate Samantha Stone – MFA Candidate

ADMINISTRATION Melonie Murray - Director Will Maguire - Administrative Officer Nick Harding – Administrative Assistant Tyler Kunz - Marketing & Design

COSTUME SHOP Christopher Larson – Costume Shop Director Madeleine Mann – Technician, Draper Clover Kelly – Technician, First Hand Makayla Cussen – Technician, Stitcher

ACCOMPANISTS Amy Bach – Accompanist Vilena Barekyan – Associate Instructor, Accompanist Mark Chaney – Accompanist Wayne Coons – Associate Instructor, 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 Stephen Valdean – Accompanist Wachira Waigwa-Stone – Accompanist Kimball Whitaker – Accompanist

PT/ATC Trina Bellendir – Physical Therapist Christopher Michaels – Athletic Trainer

PRODUCTION Production Director – Emily Bertelli Technical Director – William Peterson Stage Manager – Rebecca Johnson, Susan Burnap Stage Crew – Madeline Franz, Birdie Hadden, Zephan Holt, Olivia Huseonica, Megan Lynch Livestream Director – Ben Sandberg Videographers – Courtney Landry, Leo Lynn

The School of Dance acknowledges and thanks the following donors for their generous support during fiscal year July 1, 2021- June 30, 2022 INVESTORS $15,000+ Dick and Timmy Burton Foundation

Dianne Howe, PhD

The Huntsman Foundation

Kristen Westmoreland

Jon and Karen Huntsman Sr.

Andrea Nelson

Paul and Cheryl Huntsman

Wendy Colesano

Duncan Maio, JD and

Grant and Maria JoAnna Ahn CONTRIBUTORS $2,500 - $14,999

Mary Weaver

Gordon and Connie Hanks

Kristin Liszkowski

GAM Foundation Jazz SLC

Isabel Shimanski

The Brass Ring Foundation

Cafe Zupas

Melinda Nordeng

Leigh Selting and Marsha Knight

Brandon and Christie Walker

Janet Bowersox Satu Hummasti

BENEFACTORS $1,000 - $2,499 Anne Riffey

FANS up to $199

Andrea Lunsford

Eric and Pamela Handman

Jerome and Abby Fiat

Robyn Connors

Jean Sabatine

Grant Smith, PhD

Ira Belcove and Elizabeth Marcus

State of Utah

Andrew and Allison De Camara

Cortney Hurst

Martha and John Veranth

Ellen Bromberg Rollie Wagstaff

PATRONS $500 - $999

Jacob and Catherine Nelson

Luc Vanier and Elizabeth Johnson

Maureen McGill

Sean Carter

Wendy Thompson

Brent Schneider and Kim Blackett

Armand Harris Jr.

The Field Foundation

Tatsumi Misaka* and

Anonymous

Jeanette Misaka, PhD

Thomas and Sidney Armstrong

Andrew and Alice Sullivan

Michael Lavine and Sybil Huskey

Julie Schwartz

Jamie and Stephanie Schuette

David Thompson Diana D. Taylor

FRIENDS $200 - $499

Brian and Mary Haan

Edward Folts

Thomas Welsh, PhD and

Arkansas Community Foundation

Sue Carpenter

CENGAGE Learning

Robert and Leigh King

Eastern Arts Society

Gary and Kristine Kolbeck

Dance in the School of Dance is approached as a mature artistic pursuit that may deal with a broad spectrum of human conditions and issues in today’s society.

As such, there may be subject matter, language, physical movement, and/or presentation of the human body in our performances that go beyond mere entertainment, and which may be seen as challenging for an audience member based upon one’s values, assumptions, and life experience.

The University of Utah Indigenous Land Acknowledgment The University of Utah has both historical and contemporary relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Given that the Salt Lake Valley has always been a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples, we acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes and is a crossroad for Indigenous Peoples.

The University of Utah recognizes the enduring relationships between many Indigenous Peoples and their traditional homelands. We are grateful for the territory upon which we gather today; we respect Utah’s Indigenous Peoples, the original stewards of this land; and we value the sovereign relationships that exist between tribal governments, state governments, and the federal government.

Today, approximately 60,000 American Indian and Alaska Native peoples live in Utah.

As a state institution, the University of Utah is committed to serving Native communities throughout Utah in partnership with Native Nations and our Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.

DANCE.UTAH.EDU @UOFUDANCE 801.581.7327