From the Director... Welcome to the Hayes Christensen Theatre and to our in-person and livestreamed Spring Dance concert, showcasing the strength and versatility of the School of Dance at the University of Utah. Today’s performance will be an eclectic artistic experience. It will display the talent and professionalism of our wonderful students and the artistry and expertise of our esteemed faculty and invited guests. As faculty, we have a responsibility to introduce and challenge our students to a myriad of movement styles to better reflect that which is occurring in the field of dance. The 4 world-premieres you are about to witness span a wide range of physical prowess and artistic expression — from exquisite and ethereal ballet vocabulary to grounded and imaginative contemporary dance. Eugene Ballet’s Resident Choreographer Suzanne Haag, created for us Ornament, a graceful design of patterns and precise movement that shifts and shapes much like a kaleidoscope. On the other hand, internationally renowned artist Rena Butler,
inquires about the interaction between the water in and out of us, magically reflected in ...Off Shore. School of Dance Assistant Professor Melissa Bobick proposes Vox Feminae, as a meaningful interpretation of what neoclassical ballet can be. Our fourth choreographer, Assistant Professor Molly Heller, presents the dynamic Promise the Moon which asks a timeless question: How do we know, what we know? You, the audience, are an integral part of our artistic process, existence and purpose. Watch, listen, be inspired, be entertained — come back. It is so nice to have you sharing this magical space with us. Thank you for being here and I hope you enjoy the show!
Pablo Piantino
Spring Dance Director School of Dance Assistant Professor
Ornament Choreography by
Suzanne Haag Music and/or Sound Design by
Fanny Mendelssohn, String Quartet in E Flat Major Lighting by
Penny Saunders / Emily Bertelli Costumes by
Christopher Larson Rehearsal Assistant
Carly Herrmann Dancers/Performers
Amanda Ahn, Maddie Colesano, Fiona Galvin, Caleb Holt, Amrita Jade, Manami Kawai, Megan Lynch, Jasmine Parente, Chelsea Reusch, Aurora Roach, Annalise Wood, Madeline Franz, Loren Khan (understudy) Ornament is a non-narrative ballet, and though there is no storyline, Mendelssohn’s emotional sound
evokes relationships between the artists on the stage. The title, Ornament, is taken from a quote about the sibling composers Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, spoken by their father; “Music will perhaps become his [i.e. Felix’s] profession, while for you [Fanny] it can and must be only an ornament.” Despite these harsh words, Fanny Mendelssohn’s music, much of which had originally been credited to her brother Felix, has been rediscovered to be appreciated by today’s audiences. My hope is that this piece presents something beautiful, something seemingly ornamental, but that ultimately it gives the audience a sense of connection as heard through the music and seen through the artists’ relationships onstage.
...Off Shore Choreography by
Rena Butler in collaboration with The Cast Music by
Justin Hurwitz, Maurice Ravel, Benjamin Clementine Sound design by
Benjamin Sandberg Lighting by
Emily Bertelli Costumes by
Christopher Larson Rehearsal Assistant
Kimberly Fulmer Dancers/Performers
Kat Dringman, Luna Esmerode, Kiya Green, Olivia Huseonica, Sarah Schiffhauer, Lydia Smith, Mary Timmer Off Shore is a collaborative exploration of symbiosis between the water in
and out of us, reflective in a series of tumultuous emotions. Up to sixty percent of the human body is water, and seventy percent of the earth is covered in water. How can one move freely with the intersection of swells and various degrees of currents to find the shoreline again.
Vox Feminae Choreography by
Melissa Bobick Music by
Colin Stetson, Julia Wolfe, and Bryce Dessner Lighting by
Emily Bertelli Costumes by
Christopher Larson Dancers/Performers
Tess Albert-Stauning, Genevieve Boyle, Edie Clarke, Ruthie Dalby, Sophia Kourtoglou, Mindy Lasko, Natalie Montoya, Kirsten Rye, Annalea Stocking, Sophie O’Brien (understudy) Vox Feminae was created as an artistic collaboration with the dancers of the cast and has grown out of our discussing the difficulty we often confront when trying to speak up and voice a personal opinion in a public forum. For us, as women who have
trained in the historical framework of classical ballet, the challenge of finding our voice can be uniquely difficult. Within traditional ballet training, there are few opportunities for students to voice personal thoughts or opinions. Rather, they are instructed and encouraged to find comfort and routine in silently taking direction. I am hopeful, with a new generation of dancers, that this expectation is slowly changing. In this new work, I am looking for the dancers to embody a sense of urgency. This is a physical representation of the overwhelming emotion we often feel when, in real life, we seek within ourselves the confidence to speak up. This can be true in either the studio or the professional world. My hope for this new generation of female dancers is that they will, with the support of one another, see the value inherent in their own thoughts, opinions, and perspectives, and, with that value in hand, bravely and confidently share their valuable insights with the world.
Promise the Moon Direction
Molly Heller Choreography by
Molly Heller with the performers Music by
Anna Meredith, Anna Von Hausswolff, Mari Samuelsen Lighting by
Emily Bertelli Costumes by
Christopher Larson Dancers/Performers
Stephanie García, Roxanne Gray, Henrik Gustafson, Lily Bella Hammons, Joshua Yago Mora, Abby Pace, Kellie St. Pierre, and Elle Malan Taylor
School of Dance student Jade Sakelaris Photo by Todd Collins
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.
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 Mary Ann Walton Lee – Associate Professor (Lecturer), Artistic Director Tanner Dance 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 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 Emily Bertelli – Production Director William Peterson – Technical Director Rebecca Johnson – Stage Manager Colby Carpenter, Luna Esmerode, Nick Gilleland, Birdie Hadden, Megan Lynch, Sarah Senefsky, Kate Whitfield – Stage Crew Courtney Landry – Video Director Ben Sandberg, Joyce Warner – Videographers
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
ALL PERFORMANCES WILL BE LIVE-STREAMED AT
dance.utah.edu/virtualshows
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.
TAP HERE TO MAKE A DONATION
School of Dance student MaryClaire Whitley Photo by Todd Collins
DANCE.UTAH.EDU @UOFUDANCE 801.581.7327