Dance Department Artist-In-Residence Resigns Following Misappropriation of Choreography

The first part of Watkin's piece was allowed to be performed. Here, Allison Sebulsky '11 dances with crutches on stage. Photo by Cecilia Brown

On January 13, during the College’s winter break, students and faculty received an e-mail from Dean of Faculty Roger Brooks with an announcement from the Dance Department. “I want to share with you the news that I have accepted the resignation of Robyne Watkin, guest artist in the dance department since 2001, effective immediately,” it read.

An attached e-mail, originally sent to the faculty, held more information: Watkin resigned after “it was confirmed she had misrepresented a dance choreographed by another as her own original work.”

Melissa Fopiano ’13 explained that Watkin had been preparing her work for Faculty Fall Dance Department Show, in which students perform numbers choreographed by the dance department faculty.

“Robyne’s piece was in two parts,” said Fopiano, “the first was her own choreography, the second part was what ended up being controversial.”

According to a number of students, most of whom asked not to be identified, two students editing the performance’s program approached a member of the department to ask why Watkin’s choreography to Igor Stravinsky’s score ”Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring)” was not cited to its original choreographer, Maurice Béjart.

Maurice Béjart's version of "Rite of Spring", which was not allowed to be photographed or performed at Connecticut College.

Many choreographers attempt to create their own version to “Rite of Spring,” and Béjart’s was incredibly experimental, a sexually charged virgin sacrifice that offered a philosophical commentary on the desire of the individual over the collective.  According to students, Watkin never claimed credit for the choreography, but also never clarified ownership throughout the rehearsal process.  Many students were aware that the piece was Béjart’s.  When the two students brought up the issue, the faculty realized Watkin had not obtained the rights to the piece.  Because they were unable to do so in time for the show, students were told on opening night that they would not be able to perform the piece. For some students, this meant they could not perform in the program at all.  According to Brooks’ e-mail, however, the dancers were able to perform the piece in a private setting for their families only.

“Students found evidence of the misappropriation, and felt compelled to tell the truth,” said David Dorfman, Dance Department Chair. “I admire that, and I feel as if it was gone about in the proper way.”

In 2008, Lan-Lan Wang, former chair of the dance department at Connecticut College, resigned after it was discovered that she had fabricated her credentials. Wang claimed to have received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from University of Iowa.  In light of this history, as well as a public case of plagiarism by the College’s 2009 student commencement speaker Peter St. John, some students believe that the faculty has lost sympathy for any ambiguous cases of misappropriation or falsification.

A senior dance major who asked not to be named recognized the difficulty that the department faced in Watkin’s resignation. “There are clearly two sides to this. On one hand, there’s Robyne’s dedication, guidance and involvement with the department and students… but on the other, it was a misappropriation of work, and the faculty has little tolerance for that. We, as students, realize that we have to accept the College’s decision, and move forward.”

Many members of the Dance Department, including the students that reported the plagiarism, felt uncomfortable speaking on the record about Watkins’ resignation due to the sensitivity of the issue.  They were happy, however, to discuss her guidance while a member of the Dance Department.

“Robyne was one of the best ballet teachers I’ve ever had,” said Fopiano. “She’s always very serious about her work and teaching, and prides herself on being a good instructor. As much as I hate to see her go, what she did goes against the whole philosophy of Conn, and faculty have to be held to the same standards as the students.”

“Robyne will always be a friend and mentor. Because of the importance of the Honor Code at this school, I understand the Dean of Faculty’s decision to ask for her resignation,” said Amy Smith ’12. “However, Robyne will be dearly missed within the department for her excellent teaching abilities and her support of all the students. She truly cared about the future of each and every one of us.”

“I, too, miss her. I’m looking to the positive aspect for the great things she did… she was part of the glue that holds the dance department together, and she was a wonderful professor,” said Dorfman. “Her resignation was certainly a painful experience, but we all learned from it, and we’re moving forward.” •

Additional reporting by Jazmine Hughes and Lilah Raptopoulos