Dancers take stage for Final Showings

Gulfem Demiray Guest Writer

With works in ballet, modern, jazz and hip hop, the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre (VRDT) will showcase a full semester of work with its Final Showings performances on Nov. 15-17, in the Fergusson Dance Theatre in Kenyon Hall. The performances offer a preview of the company’s spring gala, which will take place at the historic Bardavon 1869 Opera House for the 26th consecutive year.

The VRDT dancers will grace the stage in a number of new and reconstructed works by dance department faculty members, guest choreographers and students. Three classical ballet, a jazz, a hip-hop and 10 modern dance pieces will exhibit a variety of techniques, styles and themes with

“The variety of dances speaks to the open-mindedness and well-roundedness of VRDT dancers and choreographers,” said student choreographer Marianne Kies ’08.

Dance department faculty members, including VRDT Director Paul Mosley, Assistant VRDT Director Kathy Wildberger, Chair of the Dance Department Jeanne Czula, Associate Professor of Dance Stephen Rooks and Adjunct Dance Instructor Abby Saxon with Martha Ross ’83 have contributed at least one piece.

Two repertoire pieces—Mark Morris’ “Grand Duo,” staged by Megan Williams of SUNY Purchase Dance, and Miriam Mahdaviani’s “Correlazione”—set this year’s program apart from past shows.

Morris is one of today’s leading ballet choreographers. According to Mosley, his interesting use of ballet vocabulary in the context of modern works is one of the reasons VRDT is performing “Grand Duo.” “I thought [‘Grand Duo’] would be an opportunity for both the ballet dancers and the modern dancers in VRDT,” said Mosley. “And I’m very happy about the outcome.”

According to Mosely, Williams, a former member of Morris’ company, is recognized as one of the few people who can conceptualize and set a piece by Morris, and she has experience working with college students.

“‘Grand Duo’ might be viewed as the most ambitious in our recent history considering its length, size of cast and musical requirements,” said Czula. Accompanied by live music with Adjunct Artist in Dance Daniel Pressler on piano and Sebastian Weinberg ’09 on violin, 14 dancers will perform a spectacular show of modern dance. The cast is larger than usual for VRDT pieces, and at 25 minutes, the piece is the longest the company has ever performed.

Dancers will also perform a series of excerpts from “Correlazione” by Miriam Mahdaviani, a former member of the New York City Ballet. Czula said “Correlazione” is also unique in its “length, stylistic needs and double casting.” Wildberger described the piece as “an inventive and fresh ballet work that fills the viewer with joy.”

Samuel Petersson ’04, a former VRDT member, choreographed a hip hop dance. Petersson has performed with the Ulster Ballet and Keila Cordova Dance, and was in SENS Production’s “Agora” after he graduated. Mosley sees Petersson’s dance as a “change of pace” for VRDT, because classically-trained ballet dancers will take the stage with free-style street moves.

Students also have the opportunity to choreograph dances, and this year’s show presents seven pieces by Kies, Cameron Lussier ’09, David Rodriguez ’08, Marion Spencer ’09, Suzanne Gerdes ’08, Kaia Ross-Duggan ’08, Dan Ming ’10 and Katie Aspell ’10.

Kies was inspired by childhood memories for her classical ballet piece, “The Violet Flame,” about the innocence and joy of youth. “The experience has been challenging but so enjoyable, due in part to the personal nature of my piece,” she said.

In anticipation of the semester’s big show, the dancers have endured long, grueling rehearsals, but their dedication to the art drives them forward.

Kies said, “The product of the rehearsals—which is what you all see in the performances—truly makes everything worth it! As Final Showings approach, I can’t even imagine not being a part of the madness and joy that is VRDT!”