Five College department newsletter 2008–2009

Mark Morris’s GLORIA at the Academy of Music

CDD presented the final performances of Editor: Jim Coleman (FCDD Chair) Mark Morris’s masterpiece, GLORIA, on a con- Additional help: Betty Thurston (FCDD), Anne Lewis (MHC ’09) cert of all live music and dance works at the Designer: Robyn Rodman, Five Colleges Academy of Music in Northampton in March. This unique Town-Gown collaboration was Fa fitting culmination to a series of concerts last fall - at Mount Holyoke, Smith and UMASS, each featuring resi- dent orchestras and choral ensembles.

Set to Vivaldi’s joyous choral music “Gloria in D”, played Retu

live by the Amherst College Orchestra and Choral En- Dance Building, Hampshire College www.fivecolleges.edu/sites/dance Five College Dance Department semble, GLORIA is “One of Morris’ masterpieces, beauti- r n Se n ful, lush virtuosic—one of those pieces where you can Amherst, MA 01002 893 West Street see the unbelievable between movement (413) 549-3600 r and the music.” The Mark Morris Dance Group first pre- vi c miered GLORIA in 1981 and the piece was restaged on Reque e five college dancers this fall under the direction of long-

time Mark Morris company member, Marjorie Folkman. s te

This project afforded the 20 dancers who performed in d the two casts a unique — and often challenging — inside n experience of the demanding rhythmic and ensemble intricacies of Morris’s musical . The project was supported in part by a NEA American Masterpieces grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. n No. Hatfield, MA Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage Permit No. 4 D I A P

Top photo: University Dancers. Middle photo: Alvin Ailey II dancers. Above: Sankofa Dance Project 2008. 1 FCDD headline? Student and Alum News

Emily Alpren (AC ’02) recently received her MFA in Acting from ART and is now in Los Angeles looking for work in film.

Nora Ambrosio (SC MFA ’87) continues to chair the Department of Dance at Slippery Rock U in Pennsyl- vania. She just completed a sabbatical, writing a sixth edition of her widely used book Learning about Dance, and a second edition of her new book on dance peda- gogy, The Excellent Instructor and the Teaching of Dance Technique (both published by Kendall/Hunt Publish- ers). She was recently elected to the Commis- sion on Accreditation for the National Association of Schools of Dance and serves as a site visitor for the association.

Vanessa Anspaugh (SC MFA ’08), Maura Dono- hue (SC MFA ’08), Aretha Aoki (MFA ’08), Lily Gold (HC ’08) and Mary Reed (HC ’08) produced Food for Thought in November 2009 for which Vanessa choreographed, Maura cu- rated, and Aretha, Lily, and Mary performed. Vanessa recently presented a new work on DTW’s Fresh Tracks winter series.

Christiana Axelsen (MHC ’03) spent parts of 2009 The Sankofa Dance Project hosted another thrilling sum- touring in Boston, New mer workshop, this year led by the incomparable Chuck York, San Francisco and Montana with Seattle- Davis; other members of the artistic team included Stafford based Berry, Associate Artistic Director of the African American company zoe/juniper. She Dance Ensemble (North Carolina), Amaniya Payne, Director now lives and in of the Muntu Dance Company (Chicago), Abdel Salaam, Di- New York where she is on a rector of the Forces of Nature Dance Company (New York), merit scholarship in the Pro- and Marilyn Sylla, Director of Bamidele and Dancers (Am- fessional Training Program at the Cunningham Studio. herst). Additionally there were musicans galore - drummers, She is currently performing a blue grass band, an akonting player - as Master Choreog- with several NYC chore- rapher Chuck Davis developed an extended version of “Blue ographers including Jules Grass/Brown Earth” which traces the history of the West Af- Skloot (Hampshire ’03). rican akonting to the development of the American banjo. Katie Bailey (MHC ’07) Once again, over fifty students participated including many is a Pilates coordinator at youth from the greater Springfield area. n Equinox Fitness Club in New York.

Pele Bauch (HC ’96) per- formed an excerpt from her new piece, H to Oh, as part of headline? Performance Mix Festival at Joyce SoHo in February ’09. Chuck Davis came back in the fall to restage “Blue Grass/ Lisa Biggs (AC ’93) is Brown Earth” for the University Dancer’s Winter Concert. working on her PhD in This concert series set the scene for a marvelous degree Performance Studies at Northwestern University. ceremony in which Baba Chuck was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, the highest degree the University can Alexandra Botti (SC ’08) is bestow. It was thrilling to have Chuck Davis’s contribution to working PR for TripAdvisor in the University community as well as to arts and education Boston, teaching open adult classes part-time for Boston nationally and internationally acknowledged by the Chan- and training to teach cellor, the Provost and the Dean of the College of Humani- elementary students. ties and Fine Arts, the highest administrators on the Univer- n Strauss Bourque (HC ’06) an- sity campus. Art matters! Congratulations to Dr. Davis! nounced an exhibition of his work at the Sculpture Center, Long Island City, NY, in a show entitled Leopards in the Temple, featuring established

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2 • Five College Dance Department newsletter and emerging American and Ferocious Beauty: Genome — Liz Lerman in residence European artists. Nick Brentley (AC ’06) performed with the McArthur Fellowship recipient, Philadelphia-based Tania world renowned choreographer, Isaac Dance Company dancer, and founder of the Liz on a brief tour to Jacob’s Lerman Dance Exchange, Liz Ler- Pillow and the Bates Dance man was in residence at Hampshire College in November. Festival before returning She presented a series of Master Classes, participated in a home to Washington DC as a “suitor” for a production panel discussion, “Dancing Through Science” and presented of Kiss Me, Kate at Toby’s a keynote lecture/performance: “Ferocious Beauty: Ge- Dinner Theater. Currently nome”. This lively talk on art and science synergies was in- he works as a motivational terspersed with performance and video excerpts from her dance-party instructor for evening-length performance work, Ferocious Beauty: Ge- NYX Entertainment Co. and nome. This multimedia production was created in collabora- is a member of the Lesoles Dance Project. tion with scientists and educators, and explores the science and meaning of the human genome project, interpreted Taela Brooks (AC ’06) through movement, images and sound. Lerman’s residen- is living in Melbourne, Australia working as a stage cy and its many activities was co-sponsored by FCDD and performer, choreographer Hampshire College’s Dance Department and Culture, Brain and teacher. Her next show and Development Program. n is Gershwin’s Crazy for You. taelanaomi.com.

Willie Brown (UM ’02) is dancing with Dance Theater headline? X based in Philadelphia, an afro/contemporary modern David Dorfman was in residence at Smith College this company directed by Charles fall, creating a new work for 18 dancers from Smith and O. Anderson. He performed with Danse4Nia Repertory the five colleges. Dorfman is a nationally renowned Ensemble in Philadelphia in choreographer and artistic director of David Dorfman September, ’09. Dance — his company’s dancers and artistic collabora- Julia Brownell (AC ’04) grad- tors have been honored with eight “Bessie” Awards. Dor- uated from NYU in May, ‘08. fman describes his new piece, Dance To The Music/Every Julia’s most recent play, Smart Body Is..., as “a celebration of the joy of dancing and the Cookie opened in January funk of living.” n 2009 at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta. alliancetheatre. org/performance.

Katherine Buechner (AC ’04) is a graduate student in the Yale School of Sound Design.

Bernard Bygott (AC ’02) performed in The Supper Club of Lost Causes at A Theater for the New City this past November. theaterforthenewcity.net/ supperclub.htm

Kat Callard (HC ’04) com- pleted a graduate program in Childhood and Creative Arts in Learning at Lesley University in the spring of headline? 2009. She is currently in her second year of teaching In February, FCDD hosted Norah Zuniga Shaw in a lec- 2nd grade at Park. ture/demonstration on her recent interactive web proj- Nichole Canuso (HC ’06) ect, SYNCHRONOUSOBJECTS (synchronousobjects.osu. writes that the Nichole edu), developed with renowned contemporary ballet Canuso Dance Company (out of Philadelphia, PA), choreographer, William Forsythe and designer Maria performed in a salon setting Palazzi. Ms. Shaw is a Hampshire graduate and currently in Brooklyn, NY. Assistant Professor and Director for Dance and Technol- nicholecanusodance.org ogy at Ohio State University. Yanira Castro (AC ’94) is working on a new project: Focusing on Forsythe’s complex ensemble dance One Flat Wilderness, which will Thing, reproduced, the project presents an original collec- premiere in fall 2010 with tion of screen-based visualizations (video, digital artwork, Dance Theater Workshop at animation, and interactive graphics) that reveal interlock- the Old American Can Fac- ing systems of organization in the choreography. The proj- tory. More on her work can be viewed at her Web site, ect aims to appeal to a broad public from diverse fields acanarytorsi.org. including but not limited to dance. Forsythe explains, “The project starts from the recognition that choreography is an Molly (Corkern) Tynes (HC ’03) was cast in the organizational practice that employs fundamental creative Paper Mill Playhouse’s strategies relevant to many other domains.” new production of On the Town! which opened Shaw writes: “This was a deeply interdisciplinary project in November 2009. Molly with folks from animation, design, geography, cognitive danced in the ensemble science, philosophy, dance, visual art, music, computer with a small-featured role and understudied two of science, statistics, and architecture . . . It speaks to con- the principals. playbill.com/ cerns with the nature of the “object”, relational aesthetics, news/article/133836- and embodied epistemologies in the humanities.” n

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3 Kathy Couch (AC ’95) in 2008 continued her collabo- ration with Kinodance (Alla Art and life: Kovgan, Alissa Cardone, Deadalus Wainwright [HC the real world beckons in curious ways alum] and Ingrid Schatz [UM ‘97]), one of Dance Magazine’s “25 Companies to Watch.” Their new piece While many FCDD students come to college to pursue Fuse premiered at Boston’s their dreams of professional dance and choreography, ICA in May. In June, Kathy many more come with interdisciplinary interests, mixing traveled to Riga, Latvia to dance and other academic studies - double and special create a light installation majors abound. It is no surprise then that this mix con- for Yanira Castro’s (AC ’94) tinues after graduation, opening up a variety of hybrid Dark Horse/Black Forest. Upon her return to the career paths and art/life balances. States, Kathy joined The Architects (Jennifer Kayle A number of graduates are able to pursue careers in their [SC MFA ‘99], Pam Vail [SC chosen field of interest right after graduation. Brandye MFA ‘94], Katherine Ferrier, Lee (SC ) became a featured dancer with Ailey II soon af- and Lisa Gonzales) in Penn- ter graduation, and later toured nationally with Disney’s sylvania for the third-annual MICI workshop, where she “The Lion King”. Tiffany Langlois U( M’04) began perform- created a scenic and light- ing with Enigma Dance Kru from “America’s Best Dance ing installation for the final Crew” on MTV. Yanira Castro (AC) began choreograph- event of the week. Her work ing and directing for her NYC-based company right after with Jennifer Kayle contin- graduation, and continues an award-winning artistic ca- ued with a lighting design reer as “instigator and director” of, A CANARY TORSI, cre- for the Kayle+Company performance at Joyce SoHo ating multi-disciplinary interactive environments with a in July. In August, Kathy variety of collaborators. Allie Wickham (HC) got involved began pursuing her MFA in arts in medicine during her junior year, and after grad- in Visual Arts from the Ver- uation last spring, moved to Gainesville , Florida , where mont College of Fine Arts. she currently serves as Program Assistant for Shands Arts Milena Dabova (AC ’07) in Medicine and Coordinator for the Arts in Healthcare just completed an intern- Certificate Program. ship with Wire Monkey Dance and performed in Many more grads find a balance between ongoing artis- their latest production in tic pursuits and more steady employment in dance-relat- October, ’09. ed fields. Loren Robertson (MHC), a free-lance performer/ Jeannette (Jenni) Darius choreographer in San Francisco, incorporates video in her French (MHC ’86) danced in performance projects, but also has a thriving video pro- a video chosen by the Black Eyed Peas and performed duction business, documenting dance and performance in I Gotta Feeling at the 2010 in the Bay Area. Erica Johnson (UM), a founding member Grammys. and current dancer with Boston-based Bosoma Dance Company is a practicing physical therapist, bringing her Tarja (Dasha) Martikainen (AC ’05) is attending NYU years of “insider” dance knowledge to her work as a PT. Tisch School of the Arts Ashley Hensel-Browning (HC) balances her personal cre- Design for Stage and Film ative projects as a choreographer/performer, with K-12 graduate program. teaching and community projects, including school and Charlotte Doyle (MHC ’92) community-based residencies in rural Vermont. is involved with Pineapple Dance. pineappledance.net Still other FCDD alumni combine their artistic pursuits

Meghan Frederick (HC ’07) with more conventional work outside of dance. Lucille performed at APAP in Janu- Jun (AC 08) is an active choreographer and performer ary 2010, with Brian Brooks who has been living in S. Korea, supporting her artistic at City Center and Skirball as pursuits by teaching K-12 English-as-a-second-language part of Dance Gotham, and classes. Sarah Seely (SC MFA ) has taken an unusually cre- with Bronwen MacArthur ative and positive spin on the world of conventional day at DNA. jobs, incorporating their dulling routines, physical set- Erica Forrence (MHC ’01) tings and attire into the very fabric of her choreographic decided 4 years ago to work. She is the founding director of, From the desk of take her arts management experiences (Development Sarah Seely, “a company of professional dancers, actors, Manager ’01–’03 at Limon and artists who all work upwards of 40 hours a week sit- Dance Foundation and ting behind desks in corporate casual attire, assisting the Executive Assistant ’03–’05 busy executives of Manhattan.” at the Joyce Theater) to corporate America. For the FCDD is trying to become more proactive in helping past 3 years, she has been working as Executive Assis- students broaden their interdisciplinary studies and the tant and Events Planner at possible career paths these open. We have recently intro- WisdomTree, an exchange- duced a new curricular profile emphasizing seven Areas traded fund sponsor and of Focus: Technique, Repertory and Performance; Cho- index developer. She enjoys reography and Creative Studies; Dance Studies: History, taking dance class at Mark Culture and Aesthetics; Dance and Technology; Dance Morris Dance Center. Education and Community Outreach; , So- Kassandra Grant (UM ’05) matics and Arts Therapies; and Design, Production and performed in a production Management. FCDD has also started hosting an annual of The Producers at the Or- Careers Panel, featuring alumni from a variety of dance pheum Theatre in Foxboro, MA in February, 2009. and dance-related fields speaking with current students about their career paths and current work. n Jillian Grunnah (SC MFA ’09) is currently the director of dance at Noble and Greenough School in MA, where she choreographed a collaborative dance concert Continued on page 5

4 • Five College Dance Department newsletter incorporating student work: nobles.edu/home/news_ headline? item.asp?id=529. She also continues to perform with BoSoma Dance in Boston.

Alec Hammond (AC ’92) has just finished design- ing the TV pilot [Pilot? This show is in its second season.] Lie to Me, starring Tim Roth and directed by Robert Schwenkte (Flightplan), and produced by David Nevins (AC ’88). Prior to that he was the production designer for Ricky Gervais’ (The British Office) first feature writing/ directing job, This Side of Truth. Alec also received this year’s Princess Grace Statue Award from the Princess Grace Foundation which is their highest honor, given to a previous Princess Grace award winner for career achievement. Alec was also the Production Designer for the new filmThe Invention of Lying which opened in October, ’09.

Suzie (Heijari) Erkan (MHC ’94) worked in Vienna, Aus- tria with Elio Gervasi (A) and Javier de Frutos (GB). After the birth of her daughter in ’06, she returned to moving and teaching, completing a basic certification in fitness and working as a Pilates and aerobics instructor. Last October she began teach- ing at the Girne American University, and she will soon be pursu- ing an M.A. in Education in Helsinki, Finland.

Heidi Henderson (SC MFA ’88) will be teaching at Bates Dance Festival Summer 2010 [part of title or not?]. She is also a ’10 recipient of the Fellowship in Choreography from the Rhode Island Council on the Arts, presenting work under the name “elephant JANE dance.” She is creating a new work on SC students this spring.

Ashley Hensel-Browning (HC ’07) is dancing and teaching in Springfield, VT, where she works as a choreographer and director This fall the College of Humanities and Fine Arts received a gift of Barbara with the Opera Theatre Morgan’s historic photographs. Morgan photographed modern dance in the of Weston, most recently 1930s and 40s, establishing the first American archive documenting the life choreographing The Little force and rhythmic vitality of this significant period in the development of Prince and directing Hansel and Gretel. Ashley’s teach- modern dance. Peggy Schwartz, Director of the Dance Program at UMass ing includes school-based Amherst, is thrilled to give the Barbara Morgan collection a home. “We are residencies that focus on truly honored to receive this gift,” she said. “These historic photos will inspire curriculum development and educate our students, our audiences, and generations of dancers yet to and building community come.” The Barbara Morgan archive images will be housed at the University through movement. She Gallery and are being prepared for public viewing at the University Gallery, regularly conducts com- munity dance projects in the teaching museum at UMass Amherst [Text missing?] libraries, studios, correc- tional facilities, and summer programs. dancewithashley. blogspot.com

Marlena Hubley (MHC ’06) graduated summa cum laude with a double degree in Anthropology and Dance. In October of ’06 she started working at 85 Broads, LLC, an exclusive global women’s network. She will leave 85 Broads

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5 this spring as she has been admitted to MIT Sloan MBA FCDD master classes, workshops, lectures Class of ’12, beginning a 2-year MBA program in The FCDD had another busy year of Master Classes, Workshops and Lectures which rotated the fall. among the five campuses and were open to all five college students.T here were Master Class- Erika Kinetz (AC ’95) is es from the companies of choreographers Mark Morris, Liz Lerman, Black Grace, Aspen a dance writer, and has Santa Fe Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Ailey 2, as well as Guest Artists Idan Cohen recently been published in, (contemporary Israeli) and Diane Walker (Tap). Workshops were offered by Boston-based, among others, Newsweek BoSoma and Missy Vineyard (Alexander Technique). A long list of Lecturers also added to and the New York Times, writ- the depth of FCDD offerings:Joe Seitz (Capoeira), Maria Urrutia, New York Times dance critic ing on politics and tourism in South East Asia. Claudia LaRocco (Dance Criticism), Jacalyn Carley (“Dance and Dancers in Germany 1900– 2010”), Maida Withers (“On Site — InSite: Site Specific Works”), Ruth Rootberg (Alexander Jeff Janisheski (AC ’90) has Technique), Richard Shaw (Rolfing) Steven Miller (Chiropractics), Marjorie Kulchin (Acu- been appointed Artistic puncture), Sara Hostetler (Massage and Body Mind Centering), Jimmy Ilson (Tai Chi), Jen- Director for the Eugene n O’Neill Theater Center’s nifer Winick (Trager), Karen Michaels (Zero Balancing) and Pam Parkhurst (Feldenkrais). National Theater Institute.

Emma Jaster (AC ’07) re- Theater at MHC. Terese is Brothers (2000), received cently formed a new theater restaging a work on East the ASCAP Deems Taylor company, Aeolian Theater, FCDD Street Ballet Company for Award. Constance is em- with Lindsay Abromaitis- spring performances. Jim barking on a book tour Smith (HC). They won a Faculty, prestigious residency at Staff, served as project director this spring and is teach- Here Arts Center in New York for the NEA American ing a new tap-related and presented their first Musicians Masterpieces restaging of dance history course. collaboration, Epyllion, an News Gloria by Mark Morris. He Mount Holyoke College original theater/dance/pup- also created several new Staff MusicianPeter petry show in January, ’10. UMass Staff Musician videodance works, in- Jones released 2 new Paul Arslanian per- Trsitan Jeffers(AC ’03) is cluding Esse (after Milosz), CD’s last year, Gradual the Resident Designer at formed his original com- which will be presented Motion IV and New World Arts Nova in NY and is work- position for Clara’s Dream; Seven Kinds of Funny. performances. He also on the Hampshire Winter with his trio. He was in ing for Eugene Lee. a Jazz and Tap Nutcracker Brown and Becky Nord- researched French music Dance Concert. Terese is residence at The Bates Jane Jerardi (HC ’97) per- at the Portsmouth Music strom performed as part and poetry for his ballet teaching a new gradu- Dance Festival in the formed with Dance Place in Hall in NH in December. of the first inaugural Mas- le rêve d’un clown which ate seminar on “Issues summer and premiered a piece titled Perspective (ret- The performance fea- in Dance Kinesiology” at rospective of excerpts from sachusetts Dance Festival premièred at the MHC an evening length work tured Tap artists, Brenda projects from the past few at Boston University, in Faculty Dance Concert. In Smith this spring. at The Cullen Center Bufalino, Josh Hilberman, years) in Washington, DC. November. July, Charles attended the Five College Professor in Houston in October and Aaron Tolson. Paul UMass Visiting Artist/ CORPS de Ballet Inter- of Dance at Hampshire for Hopestone Dance Erika W. Johnson (UM ’04) will also be Music Direc- graduated from UMass Lecturer in Dance Paul national Conference at College, Constance Valis Company. He is currently tor for the Jacob’s Pillow Amherst (cum laude) in ’04 Dennis returned as festi- Texas Christian University. Hill not only taught a working on a song cycle. Summer two- with degrees in Dance and val director for the 30th- Continuing their com- full load of classes this Hampshire College Exercise Science. She has week intensive, along Annual White Mountain mitment to Holyoke year but reached the Faculty Daphne Low- performed with numerous with Artistic Director, Summer Dance Festival at MA and surrounding finish line with the Janu- Boston-based companies ell worked on her Dianne Walker. communities, the Flachs’ and joined BoSoma, a con- Sarah Lawrence College. ary publication of her book about Authentic Smith College Faculty temporary dance company With Theater faculty Gina Ballet Educational latest book entitled: Tap Movement during her and Dance Department based in Brighton, MA in Hoffman, he recently Training Association Inc. Dancing America: A Cul- 2008–2009 sabbatical. Chair, Rodger Blum the fall of ’04. Erika received presented their collabora- performed a historic tural History. Prominently She continues to teach her Doctor of Physical eagerly anticipates his fall tion on the play Ondine Holyoke Nutcracker at the displayed on the book’s Authentic Movement Therapy degree from UMass sabbatical during which at the Association for Wistariahurst Museum. back cover page is the Lowell in ’08 and works at a in the Contemplative he will explore installation Proceeds from these per- private practice in Newton, Theatre in Higher Educa- following: Constance Valis Dance training program work with dance, video MA treating orthopedic and tion. Paul choreographed formances benefited the Hill is a jazz tap dancer, workshops for adult and other media. women’s health patients. Kinetic Counterpoint to Museum and BETA. They choreographer, and professionals, and she She is currently working UMass Faculty Billbob Steve Reich’s Acoustic also collaborated with highly respected scholar presented a paper — Em- to build the clinic’s dance Brown, celebrated the Counterpoint played by Dance Connect on a per- of performance studies bodied Knowing in the medicine program. 30th anniversary of the UMass Marimba formance, with a portion whose writings have ap- Face of the Powers of Kara Johnson (MHC’07) is Desert Dance Theatre, Ensemble for the Univer- of the proceeds given to peared in Dance Maga- Control, Neglect and in her second season with the company he helped sity’s annual Multi-Bands Kate’s Kitchen in Holyoke, zine, Village Voice, Dance Fear — at the first national Prometheus Dance Company found in 1979, and Concert. He also success- MA. In October they held Research Journal, Studies conference of the Asso- in Cambridge, MA, currently directed for nine years. a lecture demonstration in Dance History, and preparing for the Company’s fully restaged, as well as ciation for Contemplative spring season at Boston’s He set a new version performed in, Jose Li- with advanced students Discourses in Dance. She Mind in Higher Educa- Institute of Contemporary of Freudian Slip for the mon’s masterpiece There from Mount Holyoke studied tap dance with tion national conference, Art. Since graduation she per- company, with original is a Time at the Greater College and younger Charles “Cookie” Cook April 2009. Fall semester, formed in the Inbound Series music by Paul Arslanian; Hartford Academy of students from the MAB and various members of she inaugurated a new at the Joyce SoHo Theatre restaged Dark Matter Art. Paul capped off his at Matre Dolorsa school the Copasetics; per- course, “Dance Activ- (NYC), Prometheus in Boston (co-choreographed by in Holyoke. Finally, for the formed as one member at The Boston Conservatory, performing year dancing ism: What’s Dance Got and the Emerging Artists Rebecca Nordstrom), the lead solo in the FCDD first time, the Flachs and of the tap-dancing Doilie to Do with it?” in which Series at Green Street Studios and created a video of restaging of Mark Morris’s their two children joined Sisters; and directed Sole students researched and (Cambridge, MA) with cho- interviews with dancers, Gloria. a CSA and devoured Sisters for the Changing developed proposals to reographer, Megan Schenk. artists, board members, Mount Holyoke College many delicious fruits and Times Tap Company. bring dance to serve new Kara is currently on faculty at and volunteers who vegetables!! Her book, Brotherhood populations and issues. the Boston Ballet School. Faculty Charles and Rose have participated in the Flachs taught for the Mount Holyoke Faculty in Rhythm: The Jazz Tap Hampshire College Lucille Jun (AC ’08) is teach- company’s work over the Pennsylvania Academy Terese Freedman and Dancing of the Nicholas Faculty Rebecca Nor- ing in South Korea and has years. Billbob is currently of Ballet and the Con- Jim Coleman con- recently performed at a creating animation for his tinue as full-time Mount dance festival there. necticut Concert Ballet upcoming full-evening last summer. They also di- Holyoke faculty, with Karinne Keithley (HC ’96) is Toon Show. In October, he rected the summer inten- Terese chairing the MHC currently a teaching fellow premiered a new video/ department and Jim at Brooklyn College while sive at the Massachusetts dance piece, Rotator also working on a doctor- Academy of Ballet (MAB) chairing FCDD. This fall, ate at CUNY Grad Center. 2009, and a section of in Holyoke, MA. Charles they choreographed a Among her varied teaching his new cartoon/dance Flachs choreographed a new work for 12 dancers, stints, she has taught dance work, American Idle, at new duet DeFalla for the titled Dusk, to com- at Hollis University for ten the Spiegel Auditorium in Pennsylvania Academy memorate the opening Continued on page 7 Cambridge, in the show of Ballet Society’s May of the renovated Studio

6 • Five College Dance Department newsletter Marilyn will set a piece busy creating work for fall, Mike also composed ber 2009, She Turned on the dance depart- various companies and music for choreographer on the Light, at LaMaMa ment at the Northfield other schools this year. David Hurwith’s latest Experimental Theater Mount Hermon school His ballet l’aurore for City project, using the sounds in New York. This one- this spring. On a personal Ballet in Raleigh, NC was of seagulls, trains and the woman piece was written note, Marilyn was excited premiered at North Caro- Spanish countryside. and directed by Woodson to complete a 5K walk/ lina School of the Arts in Smith College Faculty working in collaboration run in Colorado Dec. 2009 February. He is also busy Susan Waltner added with performer Marina six months after a total choreographing a full- to her somatic practice Libel (AC alumna). Kathy knee replacement. length dance production experiences by taking a Couch (AC alumna), of Aladdin and His Magic Smith College Fac- Continuum workshop designed the lights ulty Lester Tome joined Lamp for Pioneer Valley dstrom performed and Smith College Artist Smith College and the Ballet, to be premiered T.O.E. Dance with Billbob in Residence, Marilyn FCDD as a professor of at the Academy of Music Brown in October at the Sylla, with her husband, dance history and theory in Northampton, MA in Arizona Dance Festival, musician Sekou Sylla, in September. Tomé, who March 2010. Tom will Tempe Center for the completed a number of conducts research on the be choreographing a Arts. In November she college and community history of ballet in Cuba, full-length version of The and Brown performed residencies, including gave a preshow talk for Firebird for the FCDD in another duet Once Upon taking their ensemble, a performance of the the fall of 2010, to be pre- a… at the Inaugural 2009 Bamidele Dancers & National Ballet of Cuba sented on the UMass Am- Performance of the Mas- Drummers, on a teach- in Hamilton, Ontario, in herst, Smith, and Mount sachusetts Dance Festival ing and performing tour early December. In this Holyoke campuses. at the Boston University to Puerto Rico in Old talk, Tome answered Smith College Staff with Emilie Conrad last and set and Suzanne Theater. San Juan, Caguas and questions from Michael Musician Mike Vargas summer. This fall, she Dougan, AC theater and Guayama. In January, UMass Faculty Peggy Crabb, dance critic of the collaborated with chore- performed in lecture- dance faculty, designed they were in residence Schwartz continued her Toronto Star. During this ographer Opiyo Okach demonstrations with the the costume. The show in Londonderry and work as Artistic Director trip, he is also delivered a from Kenya at the Bates Dance Generators, which ran for six performances Henniker, NH, and over of the Sankofa Dance lecture on Alicia Alonso at Dance Festival in August, included a section of a and received an excellent spring break, they will be Project, celebrating “Afri- the Canadian Youth Ballet performing with her live duet she choreographed review in The New York in residence at Ursinus can Routes in American Ensemble. onstage. In October, he last year. She is making Times. Marina and Wendy College in Collegeville, Dance.” She organized UMass Amherst Faculty participated for two days a new quartet and will are exploring additional PA. Closer to home they the very successful 2009 Thomas Vacanti is very in the Kahn Institute’s Mu- restage a quintet for the performance venues for work in the healing arts summer intensive, led happy to be returning sic and Science seminar DG’s for a performance 2011. In addition, Wendy in hospitals and home- by the incomparable to the UMass Dance and taught a workshop at in March. For the fall completed a new ex- less shelters through the Chuck Davis and joined Department and the Five Earthdance’s Improvised Smith Faculty Concert, perimental documentary organization Young Audi- by other illustrious artists College Dance Depart- Dance and Improvised she made a dance that video entitled Nela, shot ences of Massachusetts. and teachers. She is cur- ment. He has also been Music Symposium. Last included 4 Dance Gen- in Melbourne, Australia. rently pursuing plans to erators and MFA student, The film is aboutN ela continue this program Caitlin Johnson. In the Trifkovic, a young Bosnian now that the initial grant- spring she will teach a composer/theater artist ing cycle is complete. Last site-specific repertory who was granted refugee fall, Peggy helped secure class in which a piece will status in Australia. It in- the donation of a number be developed for one of corporates original music photos by legendary the Smith Gardens. This by Ms. Trifkovic, featuring dance photographer, is supported by a grant a clip with our very own Barbara Morgan and from the Smith Botanic Peter Jones playing spearheaded other out- Gardens. accordion. Nela will reach projects for the UM Amherst College faculty premiere at the Amherst Dance Program, includ- n Wendy Woodson pre- Cinema in April, 2010. ing connections with miered a new full-length Boston Ballet. theater piece in Novem- Mount Holyoke College

years, theater as a visiting all over the U.S. including at works with Modern, , Marina recently received rave lecturer at Amherst College, Donald Trump’s New Years Eve Jazz, Hip Hop and Break Danc- reviews from The New York English at Brooklyn College party. Aside from dancing, Tif- ers. villagevoice.com/events/ Times on her performance in and has been on the faculty of fany is in the process of start- decadancetheatre-742523 She Turned On The Light, writ- ADF, and a guest artist at the ing a Bridal and Special Events ten and directed by Wendy Jemma Alix Levy (AC ’95) is Duncan Center Conservatory Mobile Aesthetics business Woodson, at La MaMa in NYC. in Prague. In addition to schol- called “Brighteyes Aesthetics,” directing Shakespeare’s Henry arship and teaching, Karinne which she hopes will become V presented by the Muse of Fire Jeremy Lindberg (SC MFA Yaniro Castro has been involved in writing her full-time job. Theatre Company at the Evan- ’98) is Associate Professor and Cohen (SC ’07); both shared ston’s Ladd Arboretum August School of Dance Liaison to the new plays, creating small-scale brighteyesaesthetics.com mtvu.com/category/music/ a Choreography Fellowship movies and publishing books 1–23. museoffire.webs.com Graduate College at the U of award from the Massachusetts Brett Marshall Lefferts (HC the-freshmen/ through the 53rd Press. Oklahoma. He has been Ballet Anne Lewis (MHC ’09) joined Cultural Council in ’08. ’00) works at Burnkit2600. Master for a resident ballet Kellie Ann Lynch (SC MFA the Lucinda Childs Dance Andrew Kelsey (AC ’06) is burnkit260.com company, Oklahoma Festival ’07) currently lives in New Anne MacRae (AC ’04) is the Company after graduating currently attending the Yale Ballet and choreographed Haven, CT and dances in New literary manager at the Man- Nadia Lesy (HC ’99), works as last spring. themhnews.com/ School of Drama. over 15 original works for the York City with Adele Myers hattan Theatre Club. a choreographer, experimental media/storage/paper999/ Oklahoma Festival Ballet and and Dancers and Jennifer Mabel Lajes (AC ’99) is the video maker, freelance video news/2009/03/12/Features/ Becky Malcolm-Naib (MHC OU Opera Theatre as well as Archibald/Arch Dance, as well Literacy Chair at the Boston editor, videographer and Lewis.Dances.To.Success- ’87) MFA University of Wash- the OU School of Drama. He as for Wire Monkey Dance Preparatory Charter Public dance instructor in New York 3670854.shtml ington in ’96, is co-founder belongs to CORPS de Ballet in Holyoke, MA. Kellie is one School; she recently brought City. She received her MFA of Travesty Dance Group and International, guest teaches of three co-founders of Elm a group of 8th-grade students in ’09 from L.I.U.’s New Media Brian Lewis (AC ’08) will at- continues to teach advanced and choreographs nationally. City Dance Collective in New to her alma mater to tour the and Performing Arts Program. tend the Yale School of Drama modern technique and He has continued Flamenco Haven, a nonprofit organiza- theater and dance department Nadia’s work for Physical Graf- this year. Anatomy for Dancers at Bryn and see a current production. fiti premiered atT he Brooklyn training/research by traveling tion formed by dance artists Marina Libel (AC ’01) is pursu- Mawr College. Lyceum and was described to Madrid, Spain and Santa Fe, and dedicated to support- Tiffany Langlois( UM ’04) is ing a Masters in Performance by the Village Voice as a “jaw- New Mexico. ing a collaborative creative Kristen Mangione (SC ’94) with Enigma Dance Kru from Studies at NYU. NYU recently dropping multimedia piece.” community, providing artistic is dancing with Chris Ferris “America’s Best Dance Crew” awarded Marina the Gallatin- Emma Lovewell (UM ’08): As the artistic director of opportunities through classes, and Dancers in . on MTV. She also performs Newington-Cropsey Founda- danced in a music video by Bullettrun, her choreography workshops and performances. She is also choreographing with a Production Agency tion Fellowship. She also the Brooklyn band “Chin Chin,” and videos bring Parkour from She is also the co-director of and directing several projects, called Event Show Produc- received the Edward Poole which was selected to be on the streets to the stage as she slipperyfish dance withAriel Lay Fellowship from Amherst. MTVU’s The Freshman. tions, where she performs ContinuedContinued on on page page 8 8

7 We mourn the passing of our beloved colleague, Rosalind de The Five College Dance Department bids a fond farewell Mille, Emeritus of Smith College. Ms. de Mille was a founder and to Lorna Peterson, Executive Director of Five Colleges, the first chair of the Five College Dance Department. She held Inc., dance enthusiast and longtime supporter of FCDD. Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from USC and had an illustri- After a career spanning nearly three decades at one of the ous performing career before coming to Smith College. She nation’s most successful higher education consortia, Lorna studied ballet with Adolf Bolm, of Diaghilev’s Russes, will retire in June, 2009. “It is hard to speak of cooperation worked with Lester Horton, danced in a number of Hollywood in higher education without invoking Lorna,” said Carol T. musicals, and toured with the dance companies of Carmelita Christ, president of Smith College and the Five Colleges, Maraccirep and Lotte Goslar.l She joinedace? the Smith faculty in 1965 repInc. Board of Directors.l Theace? Five College Dance Depart- and directed the program for 20 years until her retirement in ment has become a national model of cooperation in 1985. Smith College professor Susan Waltner, who worked dance in higher education during Lorna’s tenure. We are closely with Ms. de Mille for many years, writes, “Roz was a key especially thankful for the many important initiatives she player in the establishment of the Five College Dance Depart- has supported on our behalf. These include two shared ment, and was an elegant, inspiring and loving colleague and Five College Faculty Appointments (in dance history and teacher.” Recent FCDD Chair and Hampshire College professor theory, and ), stabilizing the FCDD Chair re- Daphne Lowell writes, “I remember her vividly and most fondly. placement position and, most recently, the establishment I always admired her. Her generosity and warmth to students of a full-time FCDD production assistant position. Lorna’s Rosalind de Mille and colleagues was quite special.” Smith College alumna Stoner Lorna Peterson great enthusiasm for dance and the arts, her consummate Winslet (’80) writes, “She was one of themain reasons I attended Smith. She helped me understand myself — first as a administrative skills and visionary promotion of five college cooperation will be sorely missed. We wish her a human being and then as a dancer. She opened my eyes to what dance can mean and do.” long, active and fulfilling retirement.

Darling in the National Broad- including a dance film Dreamcoat at the Fireside Theater Workshop in NYC. way Tour of RENT. The group (exploring nature, movement Dinner Theater in Wisconsin toured in Canada and the U.S. Mariana Valencia (HC ’06) and impermanence) set at a where she will be working on and closed in Sacramento in showed her latest work, Zen Monastery in the Catskill earning her equity card. February. siteforrent.com Tunder Creeps, at DTW. Mountains, NY. Lee Singh (MHC ’06) joined Stephen Petronio (HC ’78) Jonathan Wemette (AC ’05) Nicki Marshall (MHC ’00) the Department of Health will be dancing his solo #3 (’86, is the Artistic Associate for and Helen Styring Tocci were Management and Policy at with music by Lenny Pickett) Florida Stage. awarded a 70-hour Space the University of Iowa College in April at the Joyce Theater Grant from BAX/Brooklyn Arts of Public Health as a gradu- Alie Wickham (HC ’09) in NYC for the close of his Exchange to develop a new ate research assistant, while became involved with the company’s 25th-anniversary dance. bax.org pursuing a Master of Health arts in healthcare field during season. The program will Administration (MHA). her ’08 internship with the Heidi Miller (UM ’00) estab- include a mix of vintage works Shands Arts in Medicine lished Heidi Miller’s School of and a world premiere, as well Nancy (Spoor) Gunter (MHC program and the Center Dance in ’04 in Walpole, MA. as a performance of Middle- ’97) opened up a dance studio for the Arts in Healthcare She teaches Hip Hop, Modern, sexGorge (1990, with music by last August with her husband Research and Education Ballet, Jazz, and Tap for all lev- WIRE) and a new work set to (centraliaballet.com), where (CAHRE) at the University of els, including two competitive an orchestral score by Jonny she teaches a parent/toddler Florida. After graduation, she dance teams. The School was Greenwood (lead guitarist of class, creative movement, and moved to Gainesville, Florida , awarded the Readers Choice Radiohead). ballet. She also started work- where she currently serves as Awards for the #1 Dance ing with a local high school Jesse Phillips-Fein (SC ’01) Program Assistant for Shands Studio in Walpole and Best on their spring production of worked as a stage and box of- Arts in Medicine, Program As- Dance Studio in the Region Grease. When not teaching, fice manager and later taught sistant for the Center for the four years running. she keeps busy with her Creative Movement and Mod- Arts in Healthcare, and Coor- 2-year-old little daughter, and Zeina Nasr (AC ’05) is cur- ern Dance at BAX where she is dinator for the Arts in Health- is expecting baby #2 in July. rently working on her masters currently a member of the BAX care Certificate Program. Alie at Mills College and continu- board. She also performed a Caitlin Steeves (SC ’06) was was featured in the Society’s ing to create dance and music new solo in December. at Fort Drum near Watertown, firstStudent Quarterly View in Sarah Seeley [no listing for Sarah!] compositions. NY for 8 weeks as a student in fall ’09 and has recently been Ryan Platt (AC ’01) is now a Loren Robertson (MHC ’06) is Tracks season at Dance The- their physical therapy depart- chosen to represent the So- Natalie Neckyfarow (SC ’00) Ph.D. student at Cornell and living in San Francisco and run- ater Workshop and will curate ment. She has completed the ciety at the ’10 Americans for currently lives in Brooklyn, has won a prestigious DAAD ning her own business, Loren R. a show at Dixon place. first of four ClinicE xperience the Arts Conference in June as where she works as an actor/ fellowship for dissertation Robertson Productions, which physical therapy program ses- their Green Paper Ambas- dancer/singer. In 2009, she research in Berlin where he will Rain Ross (MHC ’00) specializes in video and docu- sions at SUNY Upstate. sador. thesah.org/news/item. performed with Shakespeare work for the next 1–3 years. completed her MFA at the mentation for live performance cfm?news_id=630 in the Valley in Waterville His dissertation is a study of University of Iowa. She began Kate Sulikowski, (UM ’04) (lorenRrobertson.com). For the Valley, NH, shot the inde- the legacy of the avant-garde a visiting assistant professor graduated with a BS in Exercise Jewel Younge (AC ’99) is a past three years she has been pendent short The Due (for on contemporary experimen- position at Oakland Univer- Science and BFA in dance. She professor at Olive Harvey performing in projects with which she learned fencing), tal theatre and dance. sity in Michigan where she was certified by the American College where she has been Catherine Galasso Paige, sor- and did regular work on The taught modern, pedagogy, Ballet Theatre as a teacher a key player in revitalizing the Julie Powell (AC ’95) since villo/blindsight, the Lusty Lady Good Wife and One Life to and directed a student dance of primary through level 3 theater there. writing Julie and Julia which Theater, Penny Arcade, and Live. Natalie also has a private company. She accepted a ten- curriculums in ’08, and in ’09 won the Quill Award for Debut Jesse Hewit; she also continues Norah Zuniga-Shaw (HC ‘92) Pilates practice and is the ure track position at Stockton she received her master’s in Author and the first-annual to make her own solo video/ is an assistant professor of owner of Creative City Design, College of NJ. physical therapy from the U of Overall Lulu Blooker Prize for performance work. dance and technology at Ohio which designs Web sites and Hartford. She is currently a full Books, was nominated for a Ruby Rowat (AC ’93) recently State University. Recent work print materials for performing Emily Rosenberg (AC ’07) time physical therapist at Con- Books for a Better Life award. moved to Brisbane, Australia includes the creation of Syn- artists and small businesses. had a wonderful time in the necticut Center for Orthopedic Julie’s second book, Cleaving: A where she is starting up a new chronous Objects in collabora- natalieneckyfarow.com southwest as a stitching and Surgery in Manchester, CT, and Story of Marriage, Meat and Ob- trapeze performance duo after tion with William Forsythe, dressing apprentice at the a part-time dance teacher at Jamie O’Brien (AC ’02) session, was released by Little, performing all over the world the Forsythe Company and Sante Fe Opera last summer. the Ballet Theatre Company recently accepted a position Brown & Co. in December, ’09. for the past ten years. the Advanced Computing She returned in September to in West Hartford, CT and the at The New Victory/New Center for the Arts and Design Marina Reti (AC ’01) was Cos- the Metropolitan Opera Com- Dance Academy of Somers 42nd Street Theatre in NY as a Rowan Salem (UM ’08) stud- (synchronousobjects.osu.edu) tume Designer for the Julliard pany, where she was recently in Somers, CT. Kate is also a Marketing Associate. ied in Amsterdam and traveled The project is an interac- Opera Theater’s production of promoted to Assistant Ward- company dancer at New Eng- in Europe after graduation. tive, screen-based work that Kara O’Toole (MHC ‘89) is Idomeneo. She also designed robe Supervisor for the ladies’ land Dance Conservatory in She is now living in Boston illuminates, reinterprets currently Executive Director for the Aspen Opera Theater’s chorus. In the fall she created East Longmeadow, MA where where she started a dance and transforms the choreo- of Velocity Dance Center in productions of Eliogabalo, an original gown for Susanna company, “Rowanmotion”. she will be performing in their Seattle, WA. She was a found- Carmen, and Cosi Fan Tutte and Phillips’ recital at Alice Tully Spring, ’10 performance. ing member of d9 Dance for Columbia Stages [Stage’s or Hall and did costuming work Christina Septien (AC ’01) Isaiah Tanenbaum (AC ’05) Collective and Kick, a dance Stages’?] A Flea in Her Ear. for Mark Morris and Douglas is working on her Masters in recently performed in The Alums! service organization. She Dunn dance companies. Physical Therapy. Jessica Rizzo (UM ’98) com- Lesser Seductions of History has danced with Pat Graney Stay in pleted her MA at NYU with a Jen Rosenblit (HC ’05) pre- Lauren Sprance (UM ’06) by August Schulenberg with Company and Chamber double concentration in dance miered When Them in March at has lately been performing the Flux Theatre Ensemble. Touch Dance Company and been on education for K–12 (with New Danspace Project in NYC. She in musical theater, including fluxtheatre.org the faculty of George Mason with Us! York State teaching certifica- received a grant to travel to a busy summer at the Mac- University and the University Layard Thompson (UM ’00) Dear Alums: tion) and higher education Moscow in December 2009 to Haydn Theater in NY, learning of Memphis. Kara earned her is featured in Gay City News and the professions. Her thesis attend the Russian Contem- original Fosse choreography Please send us your e- MFA in Dance at the Univer- and with noted dance critic examined the choreographic porary Dance Platform, which and working with guest cho- mail and other sity of Washington, Seattle. Eva Yaa Asantewaa. He won a process of pre-professional, also included a program in reographers from Broadway. contact information! Bessie Award for performance MiRi Park (UM ’00) is cur- late-adolescent dancers. Denmark. She will be a panel- Next will perform in Joseph E-mail us at in ‘09, and performed at Dance rently on the road as Alexi ist for the upcoming Fresh and the Amazing Technicolor [email protected]

8 • Five College Dance Department newsletter