Spring Dance Showcase 2023

DANCE SHOWCASE Presented by the Allegro Dance Theatre

About the Wallace State DANCE PROGRAM

The WSCC Dance program teaches students to develop professional practice skills, grow in the understanding and appreciation of dance as an art form, and pursue dance as a possible career choice. Essentially, the program offers a conservatory approach to studying dance in a liberal art setting, combined with professional-caliber performance opportunities. WSCC aims to produce technically strong and artistically expressive dancers who are sought after for their professionalism and ability to easily adapt to the broad range of styles demanded of today’s dance professionals. This program develops skills needed to pursue industry career options or further education at a four-year college or university program.Also, the dance program offers an excellent opportunity to work with others on projects, whether as a group or individually, and develop partnership skills and friendships.

The WSCC Dance program has opportunities in the form of Associates Degrees and Short-Term Certificates. The General Studies Associate Degree offers two dance focuses: Dance Performance and Dance Education. Two Short-Term Certificates are also available with concentrations in choreography and teaching ballet. Students may also audition for the Allegro Dance Theatre, the WSCC dance company, where they will have the opportunity to perform and choreograph for annual performances and festivals while observing other college dance students and professional companies perform, take master classes, participate in service learning and outreach programs, and study abroad. Please get in touch with the WSCC Fine and Performing Arts Department for audition registration or further questions.

ABOUT WALLACE STATE’S Dance Instructor An American transplanted in France, who has recently returned to Cullman, Alabama, Brooke Desnoës is one of her generation's most gifted and prolific teaching artists, with over twenty years of experience at the international level. Her pre-professional training program opened the doors to successful professional careers for numerous students. Mrs. Desnoës trains her students "from the inside out" and provides them with an educational experience of the highest caliber.

Brooke Desnoës received her early dance training in her native Alabama and went on to dance with ballet companies across the southeast and in Europe. She has danced a varied repertoire, including leading roles in many classical ballets such as "Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella," "Paquita," and "Romeo and Juliet," as well as works by contemporary choreographers. After teaching at The Washington School of Ballet in Washington D.C., under the direction of Mary Day, Brooke Desnoës founded L'Académie Américaine de Danse de Paris (AADP). Since its creation in 1997, AADP has become one of Europe's largest and most reputable ballet schools. Here in Cullman, she has opened a successful dance studio where she is the artistic director of many classes and a company of gifted dancers called Ballet South. Ballet South has performed in various productions, competitions, and festivals.

Mrs. Desnoës holds a BA in Ballet Pedagogy from Brenau University and is in the final stages of completing a MA in Education. She obtained the French state ballet-teaching certificate in 1993 and has been a member of the "Conseil International de la Danse"/ UNESCO since 2006. She works directly with the Royal Academy of Dance to coordinate events n Paris, where she was granted the title of Mentor in 2009. In 2014, for its 25th anniversary, the Annenberg Foundation identified Brooke Desnoës as one of the 25 vision-driven leaders chosen to represent the 8500 grantees whose visions they supported since its creation.

Allegro Dance Theatre

2022-2023 Company Members include: Gracie Bracker, Ellie Gilliland, Alyson Graves, Haley Greatorex, Aliyah Guthrie, Isabel Horton, Emma Grace Lane, Chloe McCrorie, Maria Mitchell, Audrey Pounds, Jordan Reece, Morgan Smith, and Anna Sutherland

2023 Graduate Spotlight Haley Greatorex Haley Greatorex is 22 years old and has almost 19 years of dance experience. She has danced for Beverly's Dance Academy and North Jefferson Academy of Dance and graduated with Westwood Ballet. Haley is a tap, jazz, contemporary, worship, and ballet teacher. She teaches at Merilyn Sanders Performing Arts Company, Westwood Ballet, The Barre Dance Company, and the Elite Dance Studio. Haley's life goal has always been to have her own dance studio one day. To pursue this goal, she is majoring in Dance Education here at Wallace State to better herself in teaching and dancing techniques to be the best she can be for her students.

Emma Grace Lane Emma Grace Lane is 20 years old and is from Tuscumbia, AL. She is a sophomore at Wallace State majoring in Dance Education. Emma Grace has been dancing since the age of four and has danced competitively for nine years. Her most proud moment is winning two national championships. Emma Grace's favorite moment as an Allegro dancer is performing in the Spring Showcase!

Chloe McCrorie Chloe McCrorie began dancing with Beverly's Dance when she was only two and a half years old. She has also trained with Birmingham Ballet, MSPAC, and Alabama Ballet.

Chloe has attended summer programs with Brenau University in Gainesville, Colorado Ballet in Denver, American Ballet Theatre in Tampa, and the School of American Ballet in New York. Chloe is currently a company member with Ballet South in Cullman, AL. Chloe is a junior in high school and dually enrolled in Wallace State's Dance program.

She is a Wallace State Pride Line member and dances with Wallace State Allegro Dance Theatre. Chloe is working on attaining her short-term certificate in Dance Pedagogy.

After graduation, she hopes to join a professional ballet company.

2023 Senior Spotlight Maria Mitchell Maria Mitchell is 19 and has danced for the past 14 years. She has been instructed in ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, and tap. Maria teaches at the Adonai School of Ballet & Fine Arts in Madison, AL. She is finishing a short-term certificate in Dance Pedagogy and Choreography here at Wallace State. She then plans to transfer to a college in Calhoun this fall. Maria enjoys spending time with her family, dancing, baking, and drawing in her spare time.

Jordan Reece Jordan Reece is 19 years old and has been dancing for 17 years. Jordan teaches at Showstoppers Dance Company in Sumiton, AL, the same studio she grew up dancing with. This spring, Jordan will graduate with an Associate Degree in Sciences and plans to transfer and continue her education in Business Management.

Morgan Smith Morgan Smith is 20 years old and has danced for 15 years, 12 of those being competitively at Showstoppers Dance Company. Morgan is trained in tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, modern, and pointe. She has been involved in the Allegro Dance Theatre for three years. She will graduate in May with an Associate Degree and two certificates in Dance Choreography and Dance Pedagogy. Her time in the dance program has helped her grow tremendously as a dancer, teacher, and person. Morgan is forever thankful to Brooke Desnoes and all the wonderful friends she has made here at Wallace State; she could not have done it without them!

Anna Sutherland Anna Sutherland is 19 years old and has 16 years of dance experience. She is a sophomore here at Wallace State, studying Dance Education and Elementary Education with the goal of being a teacher in the future. Anna enjoys reading the Bible, hanging out with her cats, and listening to Taylor Swift in her free time.

ORDER OF EVENTS Don Quixote Choreography: Brooke Desnoës after Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky Music: Don Quixote Act 1 by Ludwig Minkus Dancers: Ellie Gilliland | Alyson Graves | Emma Grace Lane | Chloe McCrorie | Maria Mitchell | Audrey Pounds | Morgan Smith | Anna Sutherland

Kitri Act 1 (from Don Quixote) Choreography:Marius Petipa and Alexander Gorsky Music: Act 1: Variation of Kitri by Ludwig Minkus Dancer: Alyson Graves

Welcome Speech Haley Greatorex | Jordan Reece

Kingdom Choreography: Haley Greatorex Music: Song of the North by BrunuhVille Dancers: Gracie Bracker | Ellie Gilliland | Alyson Graves | Haley Greatorex | Aliyah Guthrie | Chloe McCrorie | Morgan Smith

Giselle Choreography: Jules Perrot, Jean Coralli, and Marius Petipa Music: Giselle: Act 1: Variation de Giselle by Adolphe Adam Dancer: Maria Mitchell

A Dream Choreography: Maria Mitchell Music: Swarm of Fish by Pianopassion played by Isaac Hollis Description: The dance "A Dream" is about a girl who falls asleep and enters a different world. Figures in her dream surround her, and they start to dance. All is well until suddenly, things start to change. The girl begins to wake up from her dream and is guided back to reality by one of her friends.

Dancers: Gracie Bracker | Ellie Gilliland | Alyson Graves | Emma Grace Lane | Chloe McCrorie

ORDER OF EVENTS Moving Forward Choreography: Haley Greatorex Music: Star Dance! by Epic Island Studio Dancer: Haley Greatorex

Legendary Choreography: Emma Grace Lane Music: Legendary by Welshly Arms Dancers: Alyson Graves | Chloe McCrorie

Out of Control Choreography: Anna Sutherland Music: Exhale (Instrumental) by Sabrina Carpenter Description: "Out of Control" capsules how it is to be stuck in your mind. You constantly try to get out, but something pushes you back in. You fight until you're just exhausted. Eventually, you let the exhaustion take control and lose control of yourself.

Dancer: Anna Sutherland

Jump in the Line!

Choreography: Jordan Reece | Morgan Smith Music: Jump in the Line by Harry Belafonte Dancers: Ellie Gilliland | Alyson Graves | Isabel Horton | Chloe McCrorie | Maria Mitchell | Jordan Reece| Morgan Smith

Speech Ellie Gilliland

A New Era Choreography: Ellie Gilliland Music: Run Boy Run (Instrumental) by Woodkid Description: The dance is a fight against the force of this evolving technological-reliant age that has changed people's lives and disconnected them from a once-grounded society. Grounded in spiritual and natural elements and genuine human connection and companionship. The dancers depict this by fighting together through exhaustion for "A New Era." Dancers: Gracie Bracker | Aliyah Guthrie | Jordan Reece | Morgan Smith

ORDER OF EVENTS Turmoil Choreography: Maria Mitchell Music: Uncovered by Joseph William Morgan Description: The dance describes how I've struggled with being faithful to God and many of the struggles throughout this year. In this dance, I am fighting self-doubt. However, in the end, I overcome my temptation with God's help, which is what I hope to do in the real world.

Dancer: Maria Mitchell

Fine Line Choreography. Anna Sutherland Music: Fine Line (Instrumental) by Harry Styles Description: "Fine Line" is a piece that captures the ups and downs of life. One minute everything is sunshine, and then the next, it's all rain. Yet somehow, you still find sunshine in the rain and know that everything will be okay because of hope.

Dancers: Gracie Bracker | Ellie Gilliland | Haley Greatorex | Aliyah Guthrie

In this Shirt Choreography: Matthew Kiel Music: In This Shirt by The Irrepressibles Dancer: Emma Grace Land

I’ll Fly Away Choreography: Brooke Desnoës Music: Dancers: Gracie Bracker | Alyson Graves | Haley Greatorex | Maria Mitchell | Anna Sutherland

Are We Still Friends ?

Choreography: Morgan Smith Music: Are We Still Friends? (Instrumental) by Tyler, The Creator Description: This piece represents the transient stage of life that usually comes with the late teens and early twenties, where relationships can falter as both parties grow as individuals. The title itself speaks about the uncertainties and miscommunications of maintaining a friendship through periods of major change.

Dancers: Ellie Gilliland | Morgan Smith

ORDER OF EVENTS Gamzatti (From La Bayadere) Choreographer: Marius Petipa Music: Ludwig Minkus Dancer: Chloe McCrorie

Long Time Traveler Choreography: Alyson Graves Music: Long Time Traveler by The Wailing Jennies Description: A piece about searching for a home in the darkness.

Dancer: Alyson Graves

Watercolors Fade Choreography: Alyson Graves Music: Hill by Sleeping at Last Description: A piece about finding the light in each other.

Dancers: Gracie Bracker | Ellie Gilliland | Aliyah Guthrie | Isabel Horton | Emma Grace Lane | Chloe McCrorie | Maria Mitchell | Audrey Pounds | Morgan Smith | Anna Sutherland

BOWS