Courtesy of Sean Elliot
A shout of laughter. A tear threatening to roll down the cheek. A sass-filled hip, an endless second of air suspension, a feat of coordination over in the blink of an eye. “A long and awkward pause.” Breathe in. Breathe out. Release.
Boundless flow of such moments formed the heart and soul of the Dance Department’s very own Student Works Show on Feb. 21 and 22, which featured an array of choreography by 28 students ranging from first-years to seniors. Following a flinchingly fast four weeks of intensive rehearsals, late-night classes, and detailed feedback sessions, choreographers presented their finished products over the course of three sold-out performances jammed with eager spectators filling every chair and every inch of available floor space. Loud cheers could be heard after each work, a testament to the effort, dedication, and passion of all involved in bringing artistic vision to kinesthetic reality.
Highlights of the night included works by Ariel Mayer ‘26 and Sam Walker ‘26, Bella Donatelli ‘25, and Andrew Solomon ‘27, all of which will be featured at the American College Dance Association at Providence College March 12-15. These listed pieces (among others) managed to bring a signature choreographic aesthetic to the stage, breaking free of typical tropes in favor of a distinctive and engaging artistic voice.
“It’s never in the bag,” announces Walker, marching onstage before dropping a heavy black purse on the floor with a thud. Fortunately for Walker, the proceeding few minutes were, in fact, “in the bag.” Walker, Mayer, Solomon, and Ava Dobro ‘26 rarely interacted in unison as a quartet, yet always appeared in sync with one another, executing each step seamlessly. Viewers were particularly wowed by a lift between Mayer and Walker in which Mayer perched herself on Walker’s shoulders, an impressive display of the fine balance between strength and delicacy.
Solomon’s solo, in contrast, centered around a trepidatious exploration of a single spotlight through choreography masterfully loaded with flow, energy dynamics, and storytelling absent false performativity. Combined with Solomon’s effortless wrist flicks, tense extensions, and explosive jumps, the number proved to be a breathtaking exhibit of power, grace, and agility.
In a unique text-movement blend of performance art, Donatelli impressed audiences with upside-down feats of strength whilst speaking to an unseen entity, briefly pausing every so often to ask “Are you still there?” The dancer stayed close to the floor as the sound of rain pattered in the background before fading to a loaded silence, generating a suspenseful atmosphere of intriguing urgency until both speech and motion at last ceased.
Though time only allowed for two out of three programs to be shown at each event (works were categorized in Group A, B, or C), most pieces were given two total chances to shine. Every production, however, began with the First Year Piece—a choreographic collaboration by dance minors Emery Amtmann ‘25, Eliarís Brito Castillo ‘25, Ethan Chin ‘25, and Corinne Robbins ‘25. “For the choreographic process, we collaborated and bounced ideas off of each other, but we also took a divide and conquer approach,” stated Robbins. Amtmann added that she, Robbins, Brito Castillo, and Chin “…crafted our own small segments of choreography, but then worked in unison to…meld them together. This allowed us to create a work that was ultimately composed of our individual creative voices, yet simultaneously embodied a sense of unison and blend between our personal styles.”
While the prospect of placing 21 people on stage in the span of a month may appear daunting to the average reader, the group seemingly managed to tackle the challenge with confidence. “I [had] never choreographed a piece before, so when Corinne approached me with the idea I was nervous but eager to be a part of it! Not being a dance major can sometimes cultivate a feeling of detachment from the department, so I was very honored to be presented with the opportunity to be a part of such an integral experience for the first-year dancers,” admitted Amtmann. “As dance minors we don’t complete capstones, and there wasn’t much opportunity for the first years to dance together last semester, so this was a really great idea,” revealed Robbins.
Both Amtmann and Robbins were struck by the significance of the number, well aware of how each rehearsal could meaningfully contribute to Connecticut College Dance Department relationships for years to come. “This was quite the large cast (which is amazing), so I think that made the rehearsal environment feel very comfortable for the first-years. I often found myself chatting with them…which created a really special bond. The dancers seemed to bond through this shared experience as well…,” Amtmann divulged. Robbins also shared that “Even though there were a lot of dancers and a short amount of time [for us choreographers] to work together, I think we were able to build a pretty good bond. I hope mainly the audience sees this as a fun piece and as a space for first years to dance together.”
“Together.” Beyond merely the first year piece, the Student Works concert can perhaps be summed up in one word—communal. Congratulations to the Connecticut College Dance Department on a successful end to a hectic four weeks! Until next year…
