Five College Dance department newsletter 2012–2013

Editor: Jim Coleman (FCDD Chair) Contributor: Joanna Faraby Walker (FCDD) “connect to the madness inside you” —ohad Naharin Designer: Robyn Rodman, Five Colleges, Incorporated THE ohad naharin PROJECT or a very long week late last August, 32 Five College dancers returned to campus early to “I don’t sleep much — it’s a known fact that sleep is engage in a grueling, revelatory dance experi- required more for the brain than the body because the ence, practicing Gaga technique and learning brain needs sleep to dream. But I dream all the time. I FOhad Naharin’s powerful, minimalist master-piece Echad dream when I’m awake, when I create work, with my College PAID Hampshire U.S. Postage

Nonprofit Org Nonprofit Mi Yodea. eyes open. So who needs sleep?” The dancers began each day with Gaga, a wildly ex- — Ohad Naharin ploratory, image-based movement technique devel- oped by Naharin for his Israel-based Batsheva Dance ing my physical limits. The exercises also allowed me Company. “What today is very fundamental to Gaga is to find the pleasure in moving . . . It reminded me of the ability to articulate the scope of sensations and the why I dance.” small details, the small gestures, the attention to detail”, Afternoons involved learning the 13 short phrases — says Naharin. Each morning, Ariel Freedman (past com- all beginning from and returning to a seated position in a pany member and stager for this project) led the danc- chair—whose driving repetition gives the piece its mes- ers through a liberating, improvisational maze of move- merizing, incantatory power. The movement demands ment images: “decorate yourself inside and out . . . there an unpredictable mix of explosive abandon, subtle in- are moons under your toes . . . find a tremor that turns flection and exacting rhythmic precision. The final per- into a memory . . . as you walk, leave your skin behind . formances were praised for their exhilarating, dramatic . .” Hampshire College cast member Ailey Picasso-Hobin and believable human catharsis. As Mount Holyoke writes, “The process allowed me to listen to my body, to College cast member Poorna Swami summed up, the explore how it works. It also helped illuminate my pat- piece, “stood testament to the fact that intense feeling terns and push me outside of my comfort zone, stretch- can be evoked in dance without the use of narrative.” n

(413) 549-3600 893 West Street893 Amherst, MA 01002 MA Amherst, www.fivecolleges.edu/dance Five College Dance Department Dance Building, College Hampshire Dance jim coleman (both photos) Top: Echad Mi Yodea opening Bottom: Echad Mi Yodea audition 1 FCDD Student Stephen Petronio: “CHOREOGRAPHY and Alum AND THE THINKING DANCER” News

Kate Abernethy (MHC ilver ’08) lives in Philadelphia arah S and works for the Cultural S Data Project, an online tool that strengthens arts and cultural organiza- tions. She continues to dance and choreograph, and is working with Me- lissa Rodis (AC ’08) on a piece for this year’s Phila- delphia Fringe Festival.

Rose Abramoff (AC Karas att M ’09) made a piece for heynow dance, a group that presents art in home spaces. She danced in Luminarium Dance Company’s Mythos:Pathos, and is working toward her PhD in forest ecology at Boston University.

Aretha Aoki (SC MFA ’08) has shown work at Danspace Project, Move- ment Research, Center for Performance Research (CPR), CATCH and New York Live Arts (2011/12 Nationally renowned choreographer — and Hampshire College alumnus — Stephen Petronio, launched the FCDD’s new annual Institute for Choreography Fresh Tracks Artist) as well and the Creative Process, with a week-long January-term residency entitled “Choreography and the Thinking Dancer.” Petronio is regarded as one of the as other places and spaces most cutting-edge American contemporary choreographers and has maintained a national and international presence with his company, Stephen Petronio in NYC, MA, Vancouver and Montreal. Aretha is Dance, for over 25 years. Rosalyn Sulcas of The New York Times writes, “He is one of the few contemporary dance makers who have created an instantly currently in rehearsal with recognizable style…fresh and unpredictable…infused with emotional texture and wit . . . jarring and just right.” The Institute/residency was directed Levi Gonzalez and touring by FCDD faculty member Constance Valis Hill, and included daily technique classes, repertory workshops and two lecture/film screenings with Petronio Niicugni by Emily Johnson. reflecting on key works, creative collaborations and the driving forces behind his dance making. n

Christiana Axelsen (MHC ’03) collaborated “I make exactly what with theater artist Seth I want. My tastes are Powers on Money Thinks jim coleman perversely compli- I’m Dead at Mabou Mines; cated, and I have to toured to Vancouver and Chicago with zoe|juniper; be satisfied with the received a grant from the stage picture, which Brooklyn Arts Council to is usually much more present her dance theater complicated than piece Tundra at the Invis- what people want to ible Dog Art Center in see. I have to ride the Brooklyn; and started a new project with Michou line of what is going Szabo/The Mill. to sink me or not, in terms of density, and Katie Bangs (MHC ’11) I generally love to go graduated with her MA in psychology from MHC. too far.” She now heads to Athens, GA to begin a PhD pro- — Stephen Petronio gram in educational psy- Stephen Petronio teaching class chology and instructional technology with a focus in school psychology.

Pele Bauch (HC ’96) received a Community Colleen Thomas in residence

Arts Fund grant through coleman jim NYC-based choreographer and performing artist Colleen the Brooklyn Arts Council for the creation and per- Thomas created a new ensemble work, Awry, on Smith formance of Gilded Mam- College and Five College dancers. The piece premiered moth, Bewildering Sea. on the Smith College Faculty Dance Concert in Novem-

Christine Bennett (SC ber. Thomas began her professional career with the Mi- MFA ’96) is the Assistant ami Ballet and went on to work with renowned contem- Dance Director for the porary choreographers such as Donald Byrd/The Group, Office for the Arts Dance Bebe Miller Dance Company, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Program at Harvard. A Dance Company, and The Kevin Wynn Collection, among highlight of her role is her others. She is currently on the faculty of Barnard College work with visiting artists. This past year she was and serves as artistic director for ColleenThomasDance, thrilled to engage artists which tours nationally and internationally. n John Jasperse, Pontus Lidberg, Andrea Miller, Awry by Colleen Thomas Josh Rhodes, Desmond

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2 • Five College Dance Department newsletter Richardson, Patrick Corbin and others to work with UMass and FCDD host the Harvard dancers.

2013 New England ACDFA Conference Nicole Bindler (HC ’99)

jim coleman jim performed new work in the DraftWork series at Danspace Project in NYC. She also performed in John Cage’s Songbooks, and produced and curated the Deborah Hay Solo Festival at thefidget space in Philadelphia. Nicole and artistic partner Gabrielle Revlock received funding for their new project The Dance Apoca- lypse. Nicole and life part- ner Curt Haworth taught an improvisation intensive in Buenos Aires, and at the Earthdance Moving Arts Lab in August.

Mary Rose Blandino (HC ’12) spent the summer after graduation working stage crew at MassMOCA. In the fall, she began rehearsing with BodySto- ries: Teresa Fellion Dance in NYC. This culminated in a performance in a pedestrian walkway in Times Square. In October, she reprised the opening solo from her Division III at Judson Church at their jim coleman jim 450 dancers from 37 colleges event STUFFED. and universities descended Chani Bockwinkel (HC upon the UMass campus

jim coleman ’11) performed in a collab- March 14–16 for The Rites of orative new work at the Spring: 2013 ACDFA New Eng- Foundry in Berkeley, CA. land Regional Conference, Rebeccah Bogue (SC co-hosted by UMass Dance ’08) presented her self- and the FCDD. Students and produced ballet À Tes Sou- faculty relished three days haits at the Ailey Citigroup packed with performances, Theater in April.

master classes, and unique op- West African dance class with Sekou and Marilyn Sylla at the ACDFA New England Regional Conference Alison Bory (MHC ’97) portunities to meet and work completed her MFA and Conference director with peers from across New PhD in dance at UC River- Billbob Brown giving England. The conference was side and is now building opening remarks so named because the Joffrey the dance program at Davidson College in North Ballet was in town performing Nijinsky’s 100-year-old rev- Somatic Inquiry and the Carolina from scratch. She olutionary ballet The Rite of Spring at the UMass Fine Arts continues her research in Center on the opening night of the conference, an event Socially Conscious Body contemporary autobio- that ACDFA participants had the opportunity to attend. Hampshire College alumna Martha Eddy, RSMT, CMA, Ed.D., Founder and Director graphical performance Over the course of the conference, adjudicators Larry of the Moving On Center and The Center for Kinesthetic Education was in residence and occasionally makes Lavender, Professor of Dance at UNC-Greensboro; Kathy at Hampshire College and the FCDD in October, where she taught several master dance/performs, mostly with AGA Collaborative, Casey, Artistic Director of Montréal Danse; and dancer, classes and gave the annual fall FCDD lecture: “Somatic Inquiry and the Socially an experimental group choreographer and teacher Licia Perea offered feedback Conscious Body.” In her lecture, Eddy discussed her research and teaching in the formed just over a year on 48 dances choreographed mostly by students, but field of somatics and recent applications to fields such as early childhood education, ago. also by faculty and guest artists. In addition to the four ad- eco-somatics, violence, trauma and cancer prevention. n Kimberly Brandt (HC

judicated concerts, an informal, non-adjudicated concert lesley powell ’01) was the recipient of a allowed 15 more student choreographers to showcase Space Grant from Brook- their creations. In a new twist on the traditional ACDFA lyn Arts Exchange (BAX). conference schedule, research papers and scholarly lec- She created a new dance, tures were also presented. Fifty master classes were of- Spirit Stereogram, which was performed at BAX. fered in a wide variety of disciplines, including Ballet, Modern, Jazz , Tap, African Dance, Classical Indian Dance, Nick Brentley (AC ’06) and Thai Bodywork for Dancers. Advanced ballet dancers won the title of King at were invited to participate in a master class with the Jof- the Alegria de Samba competition in Oakland frey Ballet. Participants also had the chance to audition for and has since been both the Bates Dance Festival and the Six Week School at performing through- the American Dance Festival. The three days of perform- out the Bay Area with ing, learning, and networking concluded with a confer- SambaFunk! Nick also ence send-off with fancy chocolates. n performed the lead role in World Dance Fusion’s production of The Jewish Food For Thought Nutcracker in December, and is a company mem- “The purpose of poetry is to remind us ber of Nicole Klaymoon’s How difficult it is to remain just one person Martha Eddy Embodiment Project. For our house is open, there are no keys in the doors And invisible guests come in and out at will” Continued on page 4 — Czeslaw Milosz, poet

3 Nichole Canuso (HC ’91) was commissioned by the American Philosophi- “The only plan that I have is to discover cal Society to develop Return Return Departure in the plans I do not have” —Idan Cohen response to artist Antonia Internationally reknowned Israeli choreographer Idan Cohen Contro’s exhibition Tempus was in residence as a Copeland Fellow at Amherst College Fugit: Time Flies. The duet was danced with John and the FCDD throughout the year. He taught master classes, Luna as part of the Phila- ranen aviner workshops, and, with his company, developed and premiered delphia Fringe Festival. his latest, evening-length work, Mad Siren. Political, personal “To me, it is about finding the unknown; this is what and exquisitely musical throughout, it inhabits Mozart’s solo really excites me. Life has this way that we want to plan Milena Dabova (AC ’07) is a Core Actor at Double piano sonatas with visceral movement images of tender everything because it gives us a sense of control. But we Edge Theatre in Ashfield, communion and unsettling dislocation. As a part of Cohen’s are not in control and life is always to be unplanned. I MA where she led the “Nesting” project, site-specific works were presented in Kirby find it thrilling to face the unknown and this is always dance research for The Theater’s foyer before the show, performed by and created in the case when I am embarking upon a new creation. I Grand Parade of the 20th collaboration with Five College students. do not really have a plan. I only have a seed of inspira- Century, which premiered Cohen was born and raised in Israel in Kibbutz Mizra, whose communal lifestyle con- tion, something I want to investigate, something that at Arena Stage in Wash- ington, D.C. in February. tinues to inform his artistic life and work. Since 2005, he has been performing, creating and touches me but I do not know how it is going to look.” She also serves as the teaching as an international award-winning choreographer. A psychological sensibility, a — Idan Cohen company’s Marketing and keen sense of musicality and a profound understanding of cultural context, lend Cohen’s Technology Associate. work a rare combination of analysis and compassion. Cohen has toured with his work in- Eva Dean (HC ’82) Eva ternationally and been invited as a guest artist and teacher worldwide. n

Dean Dance has been coleman jim busy in hosting dance classes and open rehears- Food For als. The company will perform in the Against Thought the Odds mini-festival in “In the beginning, Boston and the Prague we are simply infused Fringe Festival in the com- with movement — ing months. not merely with a propensity to move, Jess Edkins (MHC but with the real ’07) works as Creative thing. This primal Producer at Performance animateness, this Space 122 in New York original kinetic spontaneity that City, and is a Master’s infuses our being candidate in performing and defines our arts administration at alivenesss, is our New York University. point of departure for living in the world Emma Elizalde (MHC and making sense ’11) has been working at of it . . . We literally discover ourselves in a charter school in San movement.” Francisco, but is moving back to the East Coast this — Maxine Sheets- fall to pursue a Master’s Johnstone degree at the Harvard philosopher Graduate School of From Mad Siren Education.

Katie Faulkner (HC ’97) was featured on the University of Utah’s new dance blog, Life as a Mod- ern Dancer. ROOMS: The Sokolow Project “Miss Sokolow cares — if only to the extent of Erica Forrence (MHC ’01) pointing out that the world is bleeding. I find hope Iives in Brooklyn and works as a Business Management in such pessimism.” jim coleman Specialist within TIAA- — Clive Barnes CREF’s Individual Business Management & Integration Modern Dance pioneer Anna Sokolow’s masterpiece team. She enjoys taking Rooms was restaged on FCDD dancers this fall by long- yoga and dance classes in time company member Jim May, with UMass Assistant her spare time. Professor Paul Dennis serving as project coordinator and Jillian Grunnah (SC MFA rehearsal director. Dance historian Ellen Freed writes of ’09), Audrey LaVallée Sokolow, “She was a powerful individualist even among Belanger (UM ’04) and the first generation of great American dance artists, Andria LaRocco (UM ’10) helped raise over $4,000 such as Martha Graham (with whom she danced before for ALS Research as part setting out on her own), the partners Doris Humphrey of a collaborative arts and Charles Weidman, and José Limón. Her work was benefit in November with groundbreaking in both form and content. She was their new dance company a consummate formal choreographer who sourced SPUNKandCOdance. Other movement from the immediate present and reduced it SPUNKandCO happen- ings include: a residency to an essential kinetic image, powerfully expressed and at the Thornton Academy universally understood.” in ME, and a showing at The piece was performed at UMass, Hampshire Col- the Green Street Studios lege, and, in February, as part of the Harkness Dance “New Works Program” in Center’s showcase at the legendary NYC dance venue, May. The company will the 92nd Street Y. n be performing at Boston University in September. spunkandcodance.com

Merli V. Guerra (MHC UMass soloist Jaxon Hall ’09) performed in Deborah Continued on page 5

4 • Five College Dance Department newsletter Abel Dance Company’s Calling to You, a modern fCDD Welcomes . . . dance production that was invited to tour India by the Indian government Erica Wilson-Perkins Gloria T in December. For her “day job,” Merli is the Produc-

revino tion Manager of Art New The UMass dance program and FCDD welcome Erica Wilson-Perkins as Guest Artist in Jazz England magazine. She Dance and Choreography for 2013/2014. Erica received her BFA in Dance from Columbia and Kimberleigh Holman College in South Carolina and MFA in Dance from Florida State University. She has served (MHC ‘09) continue to as full-time faculty at the University of Illinois, Wayne State University and Columbia produce work through College Chicago, and is the founder of CounterGroove Dance Company, which spawned their dance company, Luminarium, and will be such notable choreographers/dancers as Sonya Teyah (SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE) performing at the UMass and William B. McClellan (Dayton Contemporary Dance Co.). Erica’s innovative dance work Fine Arts Center on Octo- has been performed by numerous college dance companies and professional companies ber 3. Meanwhile, Merli’s including Erison Dancers, Ormao Dance Company, Colorado Dance Theater, MoDaColab “Quilt Vignettes” film and others. Most recently, Erica was commissioned by the National Association of Latinos series merging quilts with and Cultural Arts (NALAC) to create an evening of contemporary dance honoring the dance is going national, beginning with museum bicentennial of the 1910 Mexican Revolution. We look forward to Erica bringing her unique exhibitions in Lowell, MA jazz dance technique, HouseJazz, to the Five Colleges. and San Jose, CA. merliguerra.com/dance or luminariumdance.org.

Nancy Spoor Gunter (MHC ’97) runs Centralia Ballet Academy, a school she and her husband founded in Centralia, WA. They have received some attention for their boys’ program since about a susanna thompson susanna Joanna Faraby Walker third of their students are boys. In February, the FCDD welcomed Joanna Faraby Walker as its new departmental Admin- Ashley Hensel- istrative Coordinator. In addition to all of her regular duties, she took very skillful charge Browning (HC ’07) has of the creation of a 42-page program for the American College Dance Festival confer- a new website: ence, jointly hosted by UMass Dance and the FCDD in March. Joanna received her MFA dancewithashley.org in Performing Arts Management from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Zoé Henrot (MHC ’12) in 2011. Most recently, she was Business Office Associate at Stoneleigh-Burnham School dances with the Conti- in Greenfield, where she also taught a daily dance class for students. Prior to that she nental Ballet Company served as Summer Administrative Director for The Performance Project in Northamp- in Minneapolis. She was ton, Education Intern at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and General Manager at the North commissioned to restage Carolina Theatre Conference. her piece Becoming Un- done on MHC students for last fall’s Faculty Concert.

Emily Jawadekar (MHC ’10) resides in Northamp- ton where she teaches dance and piano to kids, and yoga to both kids and

jim coleman jim seniors.

Nina Joly (MHC ’11) Jodi Falk worked as an Admissions Counselor at MHC last The FCDD is thrilled to welcome Jodi Falk to a new two-year position as “Five College Vis- year, and was commis- iting Lecturer in Dance; Coordinator of Community Outreach and Dance in Education.” sioned to create a new Beginning in fall 2013, she will teach one course, each with a unique focus, on a different work, Genuine Jig, on MHC students for last campus each semester. She will also help the FCDD develop a framework to ensure that fall’s Faculty Concert. its increased offerings in dance education and community outreach continue beyond her She performed her work residency. Jodi has been a dancer, choreographer, dance educator and consultant in the Gobbledygook at the 2012 arts in education for over 25 years, teaching students and teachers of students in the US, ChEck Us OuT Dance UK, Israel, South Africa and Nicaragua. She was the Founding Director of Dance at the Pio- Festival in NYC’s Central neer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School and the Director of Choreography for Park. Nina recently moved to Washington state. several years at the Laban Centre in London where she also designed community-based practices for the Community Dance Post-Graduate Diploma Course. Her work with special Nicole Kedaroe (SC MFA needs populations led her to work with such groundbreaking companies as CandoCo in ’10) lives in Atlanta, GA where she works as the the UK and Remix Dance Project in South Africa. In describing her guiding philosophy Jodi Community Programs and says, “Every person has an inalienable right to know, experience and embrace dance and Adult Division Manager movement as a primary language and as a way of being in the world.” n for the Atlanta Ballet Cen- tre for Dance Education. Nicole also teaches at the Centre for Dance Educa- tion and is a member of T. Lang Dance, an Atlanta- based contemporary Food For Thought dance company.

“We flinch from the immediate pressures of mystery in poetic, in aesthetic acts of creation . . . Sam Kenney (SC MFA ’04) the secondary is our narcotic. Like sleepwalkers, we are guarded by the numbing drone of the is an Associate Professor journalistic, of the theoretical, from the often harsh, imperious radiance at SUNY Fredonia, where of sheer presence.” she has been teaching — George Steiner from Real Presences since 2007. The InHale Performance Series in

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5 Philadelphia, the Zodi- aque Dance Company of the University at Buffalo, Dance and the Liberal Arts the Irish Classical Theatre Company, and Buffalo herself to conservatory training. She wanted a rigorous Contemporary Dance all well-rounded academic education that included many recently produced her opportunities to dance.

choreographic work. Her jim coleman choreography has also All of them agree that their academic studies en- represented SUNY Fredo- rich their dance studies, and vice versa. McDonald said nia in two ACDFA Gala of neuroscience and dance, “How could they not enrich Concerts. Sam performs each other? Dancing does something to the brain that Clockwise from top: with Terry Beck Troupe, a we aren’t really aware of yet,” and cited a study showing dance/theatre company Rachel Aylward, Roger Creel that senior citizens who dance on a regular basis were based in Fredonia. and Poorna Swami

shown to have a lower risk of coleman jim Erika Kinetz (AC ’95) is dementia. Creel mentioned a business writer with the interesting juxtaposition the Associated Press in between studying geol- Mumbai, India. ogy, “which deals with the Brett Lefferts (HC ’00) re- longest periods of time that leased a new album, Sonic you can possibly imagine” Sanctuary, on his label, BML Records. The album Those well acquainted with the FCDD know that remark- and dance, which celebrates was recorded live at the ably well-rounded students are educated here — stu- the fleeting and ephem- ancient Odd Fellows dents who focus on dance with passion and intensity, eral. Swami said that her building in Danbury, CT. while also devoting themselves fully to other academic work in every department Nadia Lesy (HC ’99) interests. informs her work in the oth- premiered her short film, Massachusetts native Rachel Aylward (UM ’13) knew ers, mentioning the way her Atlas, which showcases she could pursue studies in both dance and business at choreographic skills helped the multimedia Parkour the highest level at UMass and the FCDD. Coming from her bring greater nuance performance group Bul- much farther away (Bangalore, India) Poorna Swami and physicality to her stag- lettrun in a production ing of a Samuel Beckett play. loosely based on tradi- (MHC ’15), felt that the Five Colleges would be the perfect tional Greek mythology. place to pursue a self-designed special major in creative Aylward, who studied both marketing and dance, already writing, dance, and theatre. Ailey Picasso-Hobin (HC ’14) has a job lined up in New York City where she will be us- Beth Liebowitz (UM ’10) Food For wanted to focus equally on dance and molecular biol- ing both her movement skills, as a yoga teacher, and her premiered her first chore- Thought ogy and believed that Hampshire’s design-your-own- marketing skills to support herself while she auditions to graphic work in NYC festi- “As everyone knows, val “A Farm Show” with her concentration and FCDD become a professional musical theatre the mind can operate company Beth Liebowitz & opportunities would en- performer. in completely dif- Artists. The piece, Innisfree able her to do this. Roger When asked if this hybrid mix of ferent languages — dream, music, higher

Constructed, is inspired by jim coleman Creel (AC ’13), a geology studies is fulfilling, the answer from all mathematics — and The Lake Isle of Innisfree by and English double major five students was a resounding “yes.” dance is one of those W.B. Yeats and deals with languages. Its logic recalling memories. Beth who will be joining the All spoke of how rewarding it is to find is not discursive but continues to create work Louisville Ballet this fall, a balance between scientific/scholarly lyric. Like music, it is a force field, an with fellow alumna Andria was “completely thinking pursuits and the visceral/artistic rewards orchestration of LaRocco (UM ’10) for their about dance” when he of dance. They are grateful that they have lines of force, lines dance company LeeRoc chose Amherst College. not had to choose between dance, which of energy, and that is Dance. The duo showed the only way to start He was excited about the McDonald said, “is everything I love about work in Boston and NYC in understanding it. Dance is not a story; fall 2012, and performed for prospect of dance oppor- life,” and their other interests. Instead, it is a song.” their fourth year at the Built tunities on all five cam- they enjoy the best of both worlds, and on Stilts Festival on Mar- puses. Although Meghan are living proof of the invigorating power — Joan Acocella, tha’s Vineyard in August. In McDonald (SC ’13), double of pursuing one’s passions. They are dance critic June, Beth performed in a major in dance and neu- looking forward to career paths in which showcase at the City Center roscience, hopes to cho- such a balance will continue to thrive. n Studios in NYC. She’s been accepted into the Masters reograph professionally, program in dance/move- she did not want to limit ment therapy at Sarah Lawrence College. anniruddh k Dian Liu (MHC ’12) in both Kinebago and Move- founded Dance United in ment Research’s Critical NYC. The mission of the FCDD Correspondence. Last fall, organization is to conduct Faculty, he was a fellow at the Smith hotari free after school dance College Kahn Interdisciplin- sessions in NYC for stu- Sta ff, ary Institute and presented a dents from low-income Musicians lecture entitled “Neuro-Fascial immigrant families. Plasticity: An Approach to danceunitedproject.org News Dance Training.”

Rebecca Lundgren Chris Aiken Jean Baxter (MHC ’06) produced the (Assistant Professor, Smith (FCDD Production Manager) independent feature film College) presented and Jean’s recent MBA has given Graceland, directed by taught dance improvisation her new tools and ideas, in- Ron Morales. at the Bates Dance Festival, spiring an array of strategies to Movement Research at Jud- further improve FCDD concert Rebecca Malcolm-Naib son Memorial Church in New production. In addition to all (MHC ’87) teaches dance York, and Colorado University, her dance production work at both Bryn Mawr and as well as in France and Can- this year, Jean also started an Swarthmore Colleges. ada. Dance Teacher Maga- ambitious project to bring state-of-the-art LED lighting Martha Mason (MHC ’88) zine published an interview to Hampshire’s studio theater. Billbob Brown and Meg Van Dyck in Kinesio Logic is co-owner and partner with Chris in The New Modern: It has been a great success and of Upward Spiral Studio Eight Dancers Talk About How Jean was awarded the Thanks years. Through networking, Scouts. These same models she predicts that this innova- in Cambridge, MA. She They Teach Contemporary Badge II from the Girl Scouts mentoring, and encouraging have been the key to the tive idea will mark the begin- has been teaching clas- Dance. Another interview in of America this year, the high- her girls in skills of collabora- success of Jean’s production ning of a new era in theatrical sical Pilates since 1993, which he discussed his eco- est award an adult can receive. tion and cooperation, she’s set mentoring of FCDD students lighting around the country! but is now more focused poetic approach to dance Jean has mentored Girl Scouts up the model for leadership for many years. In one of her many other lives, Continued on page 8 improvisation was published and their leaders for over 22 and management in Girl

6 • Five College Dance Department newsletter marlene won Rodger Blum Service Award - for the second Artist Fellowship program a score for the New Mexico (Professor and Department time! Last summer included this spring, and served her Arial dance company Project Chair, Smith College) cel- teaching at the Pennsylvania final year as director for the In Motion. He’s also in the final ebrated his twentieth year at Academy of Ballet and the New England region of the stages of completing a long g Smith College by creating two Connecticut Concert Ballet. American College Dance overdue song cycle. new works for the Fall Faculty They direct MABETA, a non- Festival Association. In Daphne Lowell Dance Concert. Vitruvian Men, profit performing group dedi- February, Terese was principal (Professor and Depart- was a 30-minute two-track cated to dance education and choreographer for a major ment Chair, Hampshire video installation created the revitalization of Holyoke. inter-arts performance project College) traveled to the UK on dancers from the Momix This year’s performances, with at MHC, Midwinter Dreams, last summer to research its and Pilobolus companies. repertoire including Charles for full orchestra, choir and rich diversity of programs More Clearly in Dreams was Flachs’ new ballet, La Valeur dancers. in Community Dance. She a 45-minute original dance/ de la Leçon, and Rose Flachs’ Angie Hauser looked at undergraduate and theatre work based on the staging of classical ballets, Paul Scolieri, Lester Tome and Carolyn Merritt at “From Aztecs to Tango” (Assistant Professor, Smith Col- graduate degree programs in writings, paintings and draw- benefited PassportHolyoke, lege) Angie Hauser completed Community Dance, certificate charles flachs ings of Leonardo da Vinci. He Wistariahurst Museum the creation of and premiered programs in specific sub areas continues to develop further and Providence Ministries. the new work A History with – youth at risk, “inclusive” video installation works The Flachs are members of Bebe Miller Company. The dance, dance in health- using single-track video and PassportHolyoke and own work is an evening-length care – and choreographers manipulated fabrics. This sum- and direct the Massachusetts duet with Hauser and Darrell and dance companies who mer, Rodger will return to rural Academy of Ballet. Jones that premiered at the specialize in this field. Her central Ohio where he par- research tour included meet- ticipates in a retreat designed ings with Veronica Jobbins, to mentor and further artists Head of Professional and working in visual mediums. Community Development at

Jim Coleman jim coleman Trinity-Laban, Avril Hitman, (Professor, Mount Holyoke Artistic Director of the inclu- College) continues to chair the sive dance company Magpie Rose Flachs and Alonzo King FCDD. This year he was project Dance, Ken Bartlett, Creative manager and rehearsal Director of the Foundation for Smith College, he conducted in Place/the Place of Art, a director for the Ohad Naharin Community Dance in Leices- research on Afro-Cuban year-long initiative by faculty Echad Mi Yodea project, and ter and others. She returned ballets from the 1920s. In in theater and dance, visual he will serve in a similar capac- with many ideas for future November, he lectured in art and music to encourage ity for a repertory project with projects at Hampshire and in Seoul as a guest of the Korean artistic collaborations across Andrea Miller’s Gallim Dance the Five Colleges. Society of Dance. He founded the AC campus as well as to next January. He studied the working group for Latin bring many guest artists from Paul Matteson dance photography with Max- American, Latino at Caribbean around the globe to Amherst. (Assistant Professor, Amherst ine Green last summer and Dance Studies of the Society In collaboration with sound and Mount Holyoke Colleges) is preparing for a show of his of Dance History Scholars, and designer Jake Meginsky, wound up a very successful dance photo work next year. received a Mellon Founda- Wendy developed a sound first year of his joint appoint- In June, he collaborated with tion award to participate in installation project entitled ment at AC and MHC, featur- computer artist John Slepian the Interdisciplinary Dance Rimlight which was exhibited ing multiple performances on a new, interactive video/ Studies Seminar at Brown Uni- several times over the year. and the creation of many new dance piece. versity. Lester was appointed She also created a new works, by embarking on a as a visiting research fellow dance/theater duet Way point Paul Dennis 14-day silent Vipassana retreat at Harvard University’s David for, and in collaboration with, (Assistant Professor, UMass), in Barre, MA. He premiered Rockefeller Center for Latin Ron Bashford and Paul Mat- along with six UMass dance his new trio Take it OVER with American Studies for 2013-14. teson, which was performed majors presented Daniel fellow dancers Jennifer Pollins at Kirby Theater in April as Nagrin’s Spanish Dance, and and James Morrow as part of Wendy Woodson part of a Faculty Collabora- an excerpt of Anna Sokolow’s the La MaMa Moves festival (Professor, Amherst College) tions concert. She is currently Rooms as University Dancers in June in NYC. He continued had a busy year as one of the working on a new full length made their New York City collaborations with Jen and principal organizers of the video and performance piece debut with a well-received Jim in July and premiered a Copeland Colloquium: Art entitled Dora. n performance at the venerable new piece with NYC-based 92Y Harkness Dance Center. Paul Dennis dance artist Raja Kelly at The Bates Dance Festival Rose and Charles Flachs Terese Freedman Wexner Center for the Arts in August. Both works will Food For Thought (Professors, Mount Holy- (Professor and Department and toured to Yerba Buena be performed in the fall at oke College) are founding Chair, Mount Holyoke College) Center for the Arts (San Fran- Amherst College and at Green “Every creative act involves a leap into the void. The leap members of the Council of was the lone senior faculty cisco), RedCat (LA), Krannert has to occur at the right moment and yet the time for Street Studios in Boston. Organized Researchers of member at MHC for the year. Center for the Arts (Urbana, the leap is never prescribed . . . To leap can often cause Ballet (CORPS). Last summer, Last fall she restaged her duet IL), New York Live Arts (NYC) Marilyn and Sekou Sylla acute embarrassment. Embarrassment is a partner in the creative act – a key collaborator. If your work does not at the CORPS’ annual confer- Surfacing on two different and other national venues. (Marilyn is Five College sufficiently embarrass you, then very likely no one will be ence, which featured special casts for performances at Andrew Boynton in the Lecturer, Smith College; Sekou touched by it.” guest Alonzo King, Rose MHC and HC. She served as a New Yorker wrote “Hauser is FCDD Musician and Master received the Outstanding panelist for the Connecticut and Jones are tremendous Drummer) have created new — Ann Bogart, director performers. A History allowed works at UMass, Ursinus the audience to bask in their College in Pennsylvania, and coleman jim talents, both fully commit- Northfield Mount Hermon ted to every moment,” and school. They also performed in describing Hauser wrote at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance “right in front of us the radiant Festival. Other events include tomas schworer woman, bringing everything a residency at the University of she has ever known about Delaware where they created dance to the stage in that a new work for the dance moment.” department and a weekend residency at Kripalu Center for Peter Jones Yoga and Health. (Lecturer and Musician , Mount Holyoke College) was Lester Tomé in residence at The Bates (Assistant Professor, Smith Col- Dance Festival for his twenti- lege) designed a new course, eth season this year. Peter was Salsa in Theory and Practice, honored to have Rennie Harris that combined seminar of Puremovement set the sessions and studio work. He first movement of his 3 B-Boys published the article “‘Music & a Girl to his composition in the Blood’: Performance Crossing. He made a score for and Discourse of Musicality faculty member Paul Matte- in Cuban Ballet Aesthetics” in son for the MHC Fall Concert, Dance Chronicle. Supported Angie Hauser and is currently working on by a J. Picker Fellowship from Paul Matteson

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Continued from page 6 NYC-based modern dance Michelle Ross (SC ’05) company that partners danc- NYC, including this year’s called Rhinoceros Event. on teaching GYROTONIC® company that entertains and graduated from the Pace ers with horses to create site- WestFest in the West Village. rhinocerosevent.blogspot. and GYROKINESIS®. She will educates its audience through University School of Law in specific performances which rejectdancetheatre.com com soon be licensed as a Master meaningful and evocative 2010, and opened a law firm merge the artistry of dance Jules Skloot (HC ’03) per- Christen Vanyur (UM ’12) Trainer in both of these mo- dances. with another attorney with and horsemanship. The com- formed with Katy Pyle and is a member of the Boston dalities and will hold her first patriciakennydancecollection. offices in her hometown, pany also produces site-spe- the Ballez Company in The Celtics Dancers. teacher training next fall. com Norwalk, CT, and Manhattan. cific performances without Firebird, A Ballez at Danspace upwardspiralstudio.com Michelle’s practice focuses horses for urban landscapes Marya Wethers (MHC ’12) Tara Madsen Robbins (SC Project in NYC in May. on immigration law. She lives in NYC. The Equus Projects New York Live Arts Program Kaitlin McCarthy (MHC MFA ’06) is a professional with her husband Marcell has toured throughout the Deanna Snow (HC ’11) start- Manager, was invited to ’09) lives in Seattle where dance artist based in Phila- and two wacky dogs. U.S. and brought its work to ed Northeastern University’s return to MHC as a speaker she choreographed and delphia. She recently served Sweden in July. JoAnna is on hybrid nursing program. for the “Crafting in the Life” produced a show called Hot day sponsored by the arts Mess at the Velocity Dance departments and the Career Center in February. Kaitlin Development Center. Most also created I made you this recently, she was reviewed in mixed CD for Full Tilt 2013 the NY Times for a new solo from Evoke Productions. She jim coleman she performed. writes critical reviews for the blog Seattle Dances: Betty Thurston, long-time Administrative Assistant Suzanne Wiltgen (MHC ’99) seattledances.blogspot.com and the heart and soul of the Five College Dance De- lives in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She’s a Leah Moriarty (UM ’09) partment for over 25 years, retired this year. Betty is an founding member of the col- dances with Movement for irreplaceable treasure who will be sorely missed by all! laboration ArtPile, a group the Urban Village, a contem- Her abiding care and unbridled enthusiasm for the de- of dancers, musicians and porary West African dance partment went way beyond her many administrative artists committed to foster- company based in Brooklyn. and pragmatic duties. A tireless FCDD concert-goer, ing a sense of community They performed at BAM and visibility for the arts in Fisher in February. Leah was she was also a close friend and confidante to faculty, Hampton Roads. also the Assistant Leader of student workers and students from all five campuses. ThisWorldMusic’s Ghanaian On sunny days, you can now find her on golf courses Yasuko Yokoshi (HC ’83) Drum and Dance Summer throughout Western Mass, and on weekend nights received one of the most Intensive in Kopeyia, Ghana during the school year, we hope to still find her at substantial choreographer this summer. FCDD dance concerts. We will miss you, Betty! awards in the United States: the Resident Commissioned Terre Parker (MHC ’02) is an Artist award from New York experimental dance artist Live Arts. Working with who creates intergeneration- her long-time collaborator al performances for indoor Masumi Seyama, Yasuko and outdoor environments. created Bell, a dance-theater After working with Anna work that reimagines the Halprin in CA from 2003 to classical Japanese dance 2010, she now lives in South Kyoganoko Musume-Dojyoji (A Deerfield and teaches and Woman and a Bell at the Dojyoji performs in the area. as a Guest Artist at Bucknell Laura Ann Samuelson (HC faculty at The Ailey School Amy Softic (SC MFA ’06; UM University, Slippery Rock ’11) released a short video of and Marymount Manhat- ’99) is working toward a MA Temple), reputed to be the Emily Pechet (MHC ’06) fin- University, SUNY Buffalo, and her latest piece, Let Them Eat tan College, and recently in dance/movement therapy most important and difficult ished her MFA in combined Northampton Community Cake, which premiered at the received the Frances Mary at Antioch University. She work in the Kabuki theater media from Hunter College. College, and will be at West 2012 Boulder International Hazen Fellowship from the also teaches in the Theatre repertoire. n Chester University this fall. Fringe Festival. MHC Alumnae Association. and Dance Department at Ryan Platt (AC ’01) is a PhD She gave birth to her son, Franklin Pierce University. student at Cornell Univer- Clare Schweitzer (MHC ’12) Stephanie Simpson, Dylan Nash Robbins, in sity. He has been awarded a tutors math and navigates Rebecca Hite, and William Soleau (AC ’77) is December 2011. German Academic Exchange the dance scene in the San Stephen Ursprung (SC Resident Choreographer Service (DAAD) fellowship Jennifer Roberts (MHC ’12) Francisco area. She’s also MFA ’12) founded Reject for the State Street Ballet in Alums! for dissertation research in dances with Mariah Steele’s been learning about arts Dance Theatre (RDT), a Santa Barbara, CA. William Stay in Berlin, where he will work Quicksilver Dance Company administration as an intern contemporary dance has created many ballets for for the next 1–3 years. His in Cambridge. at Bandaloop in Oakland. company with a mission to the State Street Ballet over Touch dissertation is a study of the She choreographed for her continuously challenge an the past 12 years including: Jen Rosenblit (HC ’05) was with Us! legacy of the avant-garde on first residency this summer in audience’s perception of Carmen, Carmina Burana, Ap- the Production Manager at contemporary experimental Berkeley and performed with dance. In its inaugural year, palachian Spring, Starry Night Dear Alums: Mount Tremper Arts, a sum- theatre and dance. the Samantha Giron Dance RDT performed at Trinity and An American Tango. Please send us your mer festival of contemporary Project in San Francisco. Rep in RI, the New Britain balletdances.com e-mail and other Patricia Kenny Reilly (UM ’91) art in the Catskill Mountains. Museum of American Art contact information! After taking a hiatus to raise She continues to make her JoAnna Mendl Shaw (MHC Mariana Valencia (HC ’06) in CT, Triskelion Arts in Email us at her three children, Patricia has own work. ’69) is the Artistic Director of lives in Brooklyn where she Brooklyn, and several site- [email protected] re-launched Patricia Kenny The Equus Projects, a dance makes dances, installations, specific pieces throughout Dance Collection (PKDC), a fashion, and edits a paper

8 • Five College Dance Department newsletter