Meet The Choreography Committee

Abby Wojehowski- PT Choreography Committee

Abby Wojehowski is a 3rd year biomedical engineering student. She has been a part of Vis Viva every semester since joining RIT and has loved her time. She had choreographed a couple dances for the club and had been on the Performing Team since Freshman year, so this semester she decided to branch out and help choreograph for the Performing Team and had a great time! She can’t wait to come back and dance in the Fall.

Makenna Davis - PT Choreography Committee

Makenna Davis is a first year Management Information

Systems

Major. She is very excited for everyone to see the dances she helped create this semester. This is her first time on the choreography committee and she loved every second of it. She can’t thank Carly, her choreo coordinator, and Abby, her other committee member, enough for making choreo sessions memorable and enjoyable. She is very proud of the pieces they have made and is excited for them to hit the stage.

Rachel Horrigan - Company Choreography Committee

Rachel Horrigan is a fourth year Motion Picture Science student from Needham, Massachusetts. She started dancing when she was four years old training primarily at Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Walnut Hill. Rachel has had an amazing semester choreographing alongside Anna Caron and Katie Miller and would like to thank them for the experience.

Katie Miller - Company Choreography Committee

Katie Miller is a 1st year chemistry major and cross-registered student from NTID. She grew up dancing at Betty Jo’s Dance Center, and trained in ballet for one year at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Katie is excited to be a part of the Company Choreography Committee this semester, and would like to thank Anna and Rachel for their wonderful support and friendship.

Meet The Choreographers

Hannah Boettcher

Hannah Boettcher is a 2nd year PA student from Brewerton, NY and a member of the RIT Varsity Women’s Rowing Team. She started dancing at CMC Dance Company at the age of two, and began competing when she was five. Hannah has been trained in all styles of dance but does not have a favorite, however she accredits her love for tap to several of her amazing teachers over the years including Marjorie and Madison Taylor, Barbara Pregont, and Lorri Leonardi. She would like to thank her duo partner and co-choreographer Yaya for pushing her to improve, dealing with all of her issues, and for being a longtime friend. She hopes you enjoy the show!

McKayla Rohmer

McKayla Rohmer is a fourth year Mechanical Engineering BS/ME student. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old mainly in the style of tap but also doing jazz, ballet, and hip-hop. She was a dancer and choreographer in her community’s K-12 dance program, Diane’s Dancers, in her hometown of Jordan, NY. McKayla is grateful to be a part of the Vis Viva family where everyone has made a supportive and stress relieving environment. Her main goal when choregraphing is to make a dance that’s fun to perform and watch. McKayla would like to thank her parents and her friends inside and out of the Vis Viva family, she would not have made it here without them.

Crea Kirkland

Hello! My name is Crea Kirkland and I am a second-year Mechanical Engineering Major here a RIT. I have enjoyed dancing since the age of three and I am so happy I get to continue my favorite hobby during my time in college, especially with Vis Viva! This semester, I had the opportunity to choreograph my first dance, which is a lyrical/contemporary dance to the song Creep by Michelle Branch. The group of dancers who are performing in Creep have not only helped bring this dance to life, but they have also helped me bring a close to that unfortunate chapter of my life while giving me hope as I begin the next chapter, navigating adulthood and the exciting new opportunities that await me. I am so very grateful for this group of dancers and the rest of my team at Vis Viva! <3

Adeline Schraver

Adeline is a third year graphic design student who has been a member of Vis Viva for three years. In high school Adeline danced competitively at Fitzsimmons Dance Factory in Fairport, NY. Addie would like to thank her family for always believing in her and continuing to encourage her artistic endeavors. She would like to also thank her small group for working so hard this semester and helping share her story.

Bronwyn McDermott

Bronwyn has been a member of Vis Viva since her first year. Before coming to RIT, she danced at Pinnacle Performing Arts in her hometown of Northfield, Minnesota. At RIT, Bronwyn is a second year Biomedical Sciences major and plans to attend medical school.

Bari Hayden

Bari is a third year Graphic Design student that has been part of Vis Viva for 3 semesters. She has found it so refreshing to be part of a loving dance environment that Vis Viva provides. She is excited to continue dancing with Vis Viva for her final year at RIT and hopes you enjoys the showcase!

Yasmin Khan

Yasmin Khan is a first-year biology student from Syracuse, New York, hoping to attend veterinary school after her undergraduate years at RIT. She started dancing at the age of 3 at CMC Dance Company and has danced competitively for 10 years. She has grown up dancing in multiple different styles, but her favorites are tap and hip-hop. She would like to thank her family and friends from back home and here at RIT for always supporting her and for making her freshman year one she’ll never forget. She’d also like to thank her duo partner, co-choreographer, and good friend, Hannah Boettcher, for continuing to craft dances with her and do what they love, together. She hopes you all have a great time and enjoy the show!

Tira Heiss

Tira Heiss is a first-year student and performing arts scholar at RIT and pursuing a major in graphic design and a minor in marketing. She is from Cleveland, Ohio and trained at Studio J Academy of Dance from age three through her senior year of high school. Her training spanned various styles, including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical, musical theater, hip hop, and jazz funk. She danced competitively with her studio from 2015 to 2023 and has passed Cecchetti Ballet exams in levels I through IV. Outside of her home studio, Tira has participated in Inlet Dance Theatre’s summer dance intensive where she spent 2.5 weeks learning Hawkins modern dance technique and Non-Traditional Partnering technique. She has also been a company member of RythmiCLE Tap Company (formerly Cleveland Tap Repertory) since 2019 due to her passion for tap dance and to learn from some of the best instructors and choreographers in the field. This is Tira’s second semester as a member of Vis Viva Dance Company, and her first full-length piece of choreography. She wants to thank all of the E-board for making Vis Viva possible and creating such a welcoming environment as well as her fellow dancers for all of the dedication that has gone into learning her piece. She is grateful for all of the friends made along the way and is excited to perform for you all today. Enjoy the show!

Brooke Buttner

Brooke Buttner is a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering BS/ME student from Allen, Texas. This is their eighth semester with Vis Viva and their seventh semester as a choreographer. Although Brooke stopped taking dance classes after 2nd grade, their love of dance never stopped. They would like to thank their friends and parents for putting up with their constant improv dances and Vis Viva for being such a wonderful family.

Erin Gillette

Erin Gillette is currently a fourth-year student studying Mechanical Engineering. She is so happy to be back dancing with Vis Viva this semester, as well as choreographing. She started dancing at the age of 12 and has always been drawn to musical theatre and performing on stage. Continuing to dance at RIT has been a great experience for Erin, as well as making amazing friends and having a blast choreographing a dance to one of her favorite musicals. Erin wants to thank her friends and family for their constant support!

Abigail Murray

Abigail Murray is a fourth year ASL interpreting student from Rochester, NH. She started dancing at five years old and grew up in her home studio, Sole City Dance. Her favorite dance styles are contemporary and ballet. Abigail has been involved with Vis Viva since her freshman year. Some of her highlights were getting to work with their performing team, company choreography committee, as well as choreographing small groups. She is graduating this semester and will dearly miss this group. Abigail looks forward to working as an ASL interpreter in the community with a focus on international settings. She has loved being able to dance throughout college and thanks Vis Viva for making it possible.

MaryAlice Ball

Maryalice Ball is a fifth year, chemical engineering student and has been with Vis Viva Dance Company since her first semester. She wants to thank her Vis Viva family for an amazing five years of dance while at RIT. She would like to remind them that no matter what life throws at them to continue to dance, big and proud. She also thanks her family and friends for their constant support. Finally, a special thanks to Momma B for showing her the gift of dance, she will forever be grateful. (Go Bills!)

Bethany Folchi

Bethany Folchi is a graduating honors student studying for a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology and a double minor in Music and Technology and Manufacturing Systems at RIT. Bethany has been dancing for eighteen years in the styles ballet/pointe, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical and contemporary. Bethany is grateful for the opportunity to continue dancing and performing with not only Vis Viva, but with Dance at RIT by guest teaching and participating in workshops. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support in all she does, and Vis Viva for being a place to nurture her passion for dance all throughout her time at college. She will greatly miss Vis Viva and is excited to see the company grow in the future.

Georgana Williams

Georgana Williams is graduate student studying Echocardiography. She has a Bachelors degree in Photographic science with a focus in Color Science. She also has a minor in Applied Cognitive Neuroscience. Dance has always been a part of her life since she was 4 years old. This is her 9th semester dancing with Vis Viva Dance Company and she loves every Sunday dancing and learning with her friends. Georgana is from a small town in Pennsylvania where she danced for 15 years and apprenticed for 7 years. Over the course of her dance career she has practiced ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, and jazz. Georgana is so happy she decided to join Vis Viva and make her life-long friends. She has loved the opportunity to choreograph and be a part of Eboard for Vis Viva and she will miss everyone in this company dearly (especially Lindsay Pierce).

Logan McCurry

I am a 2nd year majoring in chemistry. I have been a part of the student run dance club Vis Viva Dance Company, dancing in the Limitless, Radiance, and Golden Year showcases. I am from Churchville, Pennsylvania. My prior experience is dancing for 11 years at Kelly Richards School of Dance where I participated on the competition team, before joining Vis Viva in the fall of 2021. I would like to thank my family and friends, both here at RIT and back at home for always giving me the support and love I needed to continue dancing and now choreograph.

Halie Lago

Hi all, I am Halie Lago and I have been dancing since I was three at Tawn Marie’s Dance Centre in Liverpool, NY. My love for dancing has continued through choreographing this semester. Over the 2022 summer, I was told that I was no longer able to dance due to herniated disks in my back. The news was shocking, but we all knew my passion was too grand to be stopped. I am so happy to be back this semester to choreograph the dance “If Only” and hopefully this is only the beginning of the choreographing journey!

Madelyn Rominger

Madelyn is a proud 2020 alumni of RIT and the Vis Viva Dance Company. She is an Accounts Payable Specialist and lives in Bufalo, NY. Alongside her best friend Kaitlin, she was invited back to choreograph a piece, “Mastermind”, for the company. She is so proud of the dancers and cherishes choreographing with her best friend. She also helped choreograph “Baby I’m a Star” with MaryAlice, a dance finally hitting the stage from 2020!

Kaitlin Levine

Kaitlin graduated from RIT/NTID in 2020. She is a Vis Viva Alumni and is so proud of how the company has grown. She is a professional ASL Interpreter and choreographer/teacher at Studio B Dance Co. in Liverpool, NY. Kaitlin and Maddie became best friends through Vis Viva, so she’s very happy that they were invited back to choreograph together again. She is very proud of their dancers for bringing their “Mastermind” choreography to life.

Julia Nguyen

Julia Nguyen, adjunct dance faculty, has been teaching hip hop dance classes at RIT since 2019. If she could have a superpower, it would be teleporting since she is so short and hates running. Julia would rather dance a full set on double speed as cardio rather than jogging. She enjoys seeing students having fun while dancing and hopes the RIT dance community will continue to grow and flourish.

Golden Year - Act 1

1. Opening Number

Choreographed by: Performing Team & Company

Choreography Committees

Performed by: Vis Viva Dance Company

Song: Where Have You Been by Rihanna

2. Getting Started

Choreographed and Performed by: Abigail Murray & Rachel Horrigan

Song: Getting Started by Jeremy Camp

3. One

Choreographed by: Erin Gillette & Bethany Folchi

Performed by: McKayla Rohmer, Emma Warnke, Erin

Gillette, Josh gleason, Bethany Folchi, Courtney Schaeffer

Camryn Munro

Song: One (Reprise) / Finale from A Chorus Line

4. Yosemite

Choreographed by: Abigail Murray

Performed by: Abigail Bush, Megan Moreau, Katie Stanley, Rohaan Nadeem, Abbie Murray, Brooke Buttner, Kiersten

Ryan

Song: Yosemite by Half Alive

5. Makeba

Choreographed by: Company Choreography Committee

Performed by: Anna Caron, Aline Crankshaw, Reece

Swetland, Xander Cikanek, Tira Heiss, Elena Desai, Kiria

Gonka, Libby Lebeau, Anna Rooney, Maddy Whelan, Sari

Schuman, Katie Miller, Maeve Wright, Juliana Falcón

Song: Makeba by Jain

6. Fix You

Choreographed by: PT Choreography Committee

Performed by: Carly Wicka, Abby Wojo, Lindsay Pierce

Mary Bucciero, Maddy Amodio, Chris baron, Bari

Hayden, Hannah Boettcher, Abbey foster, Yasmin Khan

Maya Sullum, Katie Updegrove, Maribeth Trivison, Gabby Mitchell, Samantha Morgan, Emma Kostraba

Song: Fix You by Coldplay

7. Rich Girl

Choreographed & Performed by: Courtney Schaeffer

Song: Rich Girl by Daryl Hall & John Oates

8. Fitzpleasure

Choreographed by: Company Choreography Committee

Performed by: Rachel Horrigan, Brooke Benjamin, Josh

Gleason, Rebekah Thompson, Crea Kirkland, Megan

Moreau, Kaitlin White, Caitlin Morrison, Mary Emily

Visingard, Kaitlyn Rice, Maleah Sena, Nicole Tsigaras, Michaela Mueller, Morgan Long, Anna Caron, Katie Miller

Song: Fitzpleasure by alt-J

9. Love on Top

Choreographed by: Maryalice Ball

Performed by: Lindsay Pierce, Mary Bucciero, Ava Douglas

Maeve Wright, Lindsay Behrens, Maddy Amodio, George

Williams, Maribeth Trivison, Logan McCurry, Reece

Swetland, Leah Chirico, Emily Beggs

Song: Love on Top by Beyonce

10. How Could You

Choreographed and Performed by: Bari Hayden

Song: How Could You by Jesse Murph

11. 90 Days

Choreographed and Performed by: Teresa Uhl & Carly

Wicka

Song: 90 Days by P!nk

12. Crumbs

Choreographed by: Logan McCurry

Performed by: Michaela Mueller, Abigail Bush, Megan

Moreau, Leah Chirico, Bronwyn McDermott, Addie

Schraver, Logan McCurry, Yasmin Khan, Kaitlin White, Mary Emily Visingard, Camryn Munro, Reece Swetland

Song: Crumbs by Rebecca Black

13. Last One Standing

Choreographed by: Brooke Buttner

Performed by: Emma Kobelia, Katie Stanley, Rebekah

Thompson, Brooke Buttner, Morgan Long, Sophia Sosa

Courtney Schaeffer, McKayla Rohmer, Mara Tysick

Song: Last One Standing by Skyler Grey

14. I Hope You Dance

Choreographed and Performed by: MaryAlice Ball

Song: I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack

15. All I Want

Choreographed & Performed by: Executive Board

Katie Miller, Rachel Horrigan, Anna Caron, Natalie Doback, Riley Kranick, Makenna Davis, Abby Wojehowski, Lindsay

Pierce, Teresa Uhl and Carly Wicka

Song: All I Want by Kodaline

16. Hiding My Heart

Choreographed and Performed by: Yasmin Khan & Hannah

Boettcher

Song: Hiding My Heart by Adele

17. Butter

Choreographed by: Tira Heiss

Performed by: Alexandria Pross, Tira Heiss, Maleah Sena

Kathryn Castoria, Courtney Schaeffer

Song: Butter by Vitamin String Quartet

18. The Coven

Choreographed by: PT Choreography Committee

Performed by: Carly Wicka, Abby Wojehowski, Lindsay

Pierce, Maddy Amodio, Bari Hayden, Teresa Uhl, Natalie

Doback, Sarah Touris, Bethany Folchi, MaryAlice Ball, Anna Caron, Riley Kranick, Kiersten Ryan, Makenna Davis

Song: Which Witch by Florence + The Machine