Courtesy of Mia Penasa
Four shows. Seven soon-to-be graduates. A motion-filled world of possibilities. On April 18, 19, and 20, 2024, the Connecticut College Dance Department bid farewell to its senior majors with one final production, a multi-hour culmination of the class of 2024’s college journey, choreographed almost entirely by the students themselves. From the nostalgic beat of rap artist Vanilla Ice’s hit track “Ice Ice Baby” to the bittersweet tones of Patsy Cline’s classic tune “She’s Got You,” each piece of music—and its accompanying physical interpretation— perfectly expresses the emotional roller coaster of the college journey, celebrating all this talented cohort has accomplished during their time at Connecticut College.
Digging into decades of memories, dancers in an adaptation of Jocelyn Lewis’ ‘24 honors thesis kickstart Show A with a reminiscence of lost love, home, and belonging, moving through space on varying physical and emotional levels to Patsy Cline’s “She’s Got You.” Performers seem to almost be in search of the elusive throughout the number, constantly shifting points of focus and head positioning whilst repeating a series of quick, highly specialized hand gestures. Ultimately, it proves to be a perfect opener, putting viewers in a headspace to look back on positive memories with fondness—and creating a deeper appreciation for the chapter’s end of the event.
“Hey, little sister of mine,” sings artist Marc E. Bassy’s track Sister Interlude. Keeping with the theme of nostalgia set by Lewis’s work, Haley Michel ‘24’s piece contains a wide cast of pastel-clad dancers and chill, often acoustic audios, contrasting a buzzing chorus with solos, duets, and trios through a series of one-minute musical scores. Movers remain in constant interaction with one another, blending a sense of purpose into every walk, jump, and shoulder lean. “There are small gestures in the piece that my dad and I do to each other in everyday life, and I sort of made them into a dance move,” explains Michel, whom I had the opportunity to talk to about the logistics and inspirations behind undertaking a capstone. “My mom in college actually did a dance piece where she never got off the floor, and so there’s just a small section of this piece where one dancer is on the floor.” As the lights fade to black, one final lyric references the indescribable feeling of a spring day, further pulling audiences into a state of wistfulness at warm, happy days yet to come.
Ooo la la! A tribute to Zoe Zitner ‘24’s time spent studying abroad in Paris, France, the 2nd number of Show B brings an energetic, elegant presence to the stage, a perfect embodiment of choreographer Zitner herself. Distinct from the show’s majority-American musical content, the work features an entirely French musical selection, a refreshing turn away from the monolingualism of dance in the United States as a whole. The jazz-modern blend of movement raises viewers’ levels of engagement without becoming overwhelming, marking one of the most skillfully constructed, fun-to-watch pieces across all four nights.
Breaking up the wealth of student choreography, Professor Shawn Hove’s rendition of the annual senior piece carries on a beloved tradition for dance majors and minors alike, incorporating the strengths of all soon-to-be graduates in a dramatic modern piece filled with sharp, jerky movements and floor work. Since this year’s students began college amidst the lockdown, the work is in many ways especially meaningful, showcasing the class in close physical proximity to one another after two long years spent in a careful bubble apart. “In my freshman year, it was Covid, and we were dancing outside, but even then there was a senior piece. Finally being in it is just really crazy and bittersweet, and it’s fun to be in rehearsal with everyone in my grade because we’ve become so close,” Michel shares. Indeed, this bond is apparent on stage, regenerating the emotion-charged space immediately following intermission.
Drawing an end to every performance on a lively note, guest artist and professor Shakia Barron’s hip-hop creation brings a fresh, outside perspective to the norms of the more typical Connecticut College dance department style of movement. Hailing from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, Barron works with students as both an instructor and choreographer, developing the hip-hop skill set of students from all class years. Cast members strike their final positions wearing sweaty clothing and joyful expressions, a successful finalé to both the seniors and Barrons’ tenors at Conn.
Divided into Show A and Show B, the length of capstones requires four total performances, with the opening and closing nights each featuring half the pieces, and middle two time slots comprising the remainder of the works. These final products are produced following a full year’s worth of hard work, from prompt-based exploration to conceptualization to the polished numbers presented to the campus community. Though each choreographer’s creative process varies, a few common themes are built through structured classwork and general observations about life. “Throughout being at Conn, [Professor] David Dorfman has encouraged us to just look for moments in everyday life that can be art or movement, and so I think I’ve sort of been collecting those kinds of things over the years…just the way that people walk together, or the way that people sort of lean on each other,” Michel states of her own capstone development.
Dorfman can be given some credit over every aspect of the production; teaching several courses meant to assist the class of ‘24, facilitating peer cooperation, and providing feedback every step of the way. “Last semester, in the fall, most of us took Choreography II. We worked with David [Dorfman] to do various assignments where he would give us a prompt—sometimes the prompt was very loose and sometimes it was more rigid. This year, we’re all in a class [called] Capstone, and we don’t really dance much at all in that class, but what we do is show each other videos of what we’ve been working on in our capstones and give each other feedback, which is super helpful,” confesses Michel. Dorfman’s commitment to bringing out the best in each work has clearly paid off, shaping a show that will surely be remembered for years to come.
To Emi O’Brien ‘24, Claire Lawrence ‘24, Jocelyn Lewis ‘24, Haley Michel ‘24, Clare Simon ‘24, Shawnia Yon ‘24, and Zoe Zitner ‘24, you will be missed. Thank you for all you’ve poured into dance at Conn over these past four years, and best of luck beginning life beyond college. I think I speak for all underclassmen in the department when I say we can’t wait to see what you do next!
