The visit was hosted by the Department of Performing Arts Dance Program.UBW was founded by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar as a 鈥減erformance ensemble dedicated to exploring the use of cultural expression as a catalyst for social change.鈥� UBW is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and one of their performance engagements includes the American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina on July 17 and 18. The founder will receive the American Dance Festival Lifetime Achievement award on opening night.

Associate Professor of Dance Jen Guy Metcalf organized the UBW residency along with faculty in the dance program. Members of the company led workshops on February 19 and 20 for students enrolled in dance courses. Assistant Professor of Dance Keshia Wall had the opportunity to observe her students participate in a class.

鈥淭he members of UBW conducted an engaging and insightful class, seamlessly blending elements of dance, community building, and historical perspectives. The session left a lasting impression on both the students and myself, instilling a sense of inspiration and motivation to further cultivate the connections and discussions introduced during their session.鈥�

Over 50 students from the Department of Performing Arts participated in the classes. Madi Boyer 鈥�24, a dance science major, said that the class provided a meaningful way to connect her recent study abroad experience to the art of dance.

鈥淢y experience in class with Urban Bush Women was pure bliss for multiple reasons. However, my favorite part of the class was the emphasis of the African diaspora. This emphasis allowed me to apply my recent experience in Tanzania, Africa to my art and connect on a deeper level. Layering past experiences to new experiences helped me focus on not only the dance moves but the heart behind it all.鈥�

Some students noted the emphasis on community during the classes facilitated by members of UBW. Jessica Werfel 鈥�24, a double major in dance performance & choreography and arts administration, said the company members reignited her passion for community-based dance. Evelyn Ealey 鈥�26, a double major in dance performance & choreography and strategic communications appreciated the approach to the class.

鈥淭he experience that Urban Bush Woman provided for us was unique, dynamic, and highlighted the importance聽of community in the performing arts space. Their family-like approach to class fostered a safe, supportive, and creative space for both the dancers and company members to express themselves through movement.鈥�

Faculty members from the Department of Physical Therapy Education and Performing Arts steered the MO.V.E. Program with assistance from Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates and majors in Dance Science and Dance Performance & Choreography. Upon completion of the program, the team submitted their research to the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) Conference.

The proposal by Alys Giordano, Ann Heil, Allie Knuckles, Bridgette Macapagal, Jen Guy Metcalf, and Srikant Vallabhajosula was accepted by IAMDS as a lecture presentation.

Ann Heil, a recent graduate from the Department of Physical Therapy Education, and Metcalf presented the 鈥淚mpact of Virtual Dance and Exercise Program on People with Parkinson鈥檚 Disease鈥� at IADMS on Oct. 12, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio.

Those interested in learning more about Dance for Parkinson鈥檚 programs in North Carolina, please contact Metcalf at jguy@elon.edu.

Assistant Professor Renay Aumiller, Associate Professor Jen Guy Metcalf and Performing Arts Athletic Trainer Ethan Williams attended the conference with twelve students from the Dance Science and Dance Performance & Choreography programs. They attended lectures, demonstrations, movement sessions, panel discussions, research presentations and performances.

Emily Patterson 鈥�20 presented a solo that was performed by Mariel Loughlin 鈥�20. 鈥淒ancing my whole life led me to have a strong interest in the anatomy and kinesthetics of the body, so seeing my two areas of study intersect in a professional setting was an amazing experience,鈥� Patterson said.

Loughlin had the opportunity to be an assistant to Dr. Kathleen Davenport during her presentation 鈥淗igh Yield PE for Dancers.鈥� Davenport is the company physician for Miami City Ballet and is on the board of directors for the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. 鈥淚t is inspiring to experience this as a student hoping to come into the field as I have first-hand experience learning with these professionals.鈥�

Aumiller led a practical/movement session titled 鈥淭he Liberated Spine.鈥� Her workshop demonstrated an embodied experience of anatomy and biomechanics of the spine.

The conference was attended by medical professionals, athletic trainers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dance educators and students. The presenters came from 乱伦视频, Wake Forest University, High Point University, University of California鈥擨rvine, Moravian College, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Memorial Rehabilitation Institute, Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital sand Harkness Center for Dance Injuries.

鈥淟earning about the all the research people have done on dancers’ health has inspired me to conduct my own research study,鈥澛燗lyssa Degler 鈥�21.

Madeleine Spence (B.S. ’22) said, 鈥淚 am so grateful the Dance Science program was able to support us in attending. I left feeling inspired and excited for the future of dance medicine.鈥�

Everyone is looking forward to the conference next year.

As a student, Dyke's choreography was selected to be presented at the Fall Dance Concert alongside choreography by faculty and guest artists. This was an excellent opportunity for her to collaborate with a lighting designer, stage manager and crew members while learning the various aspects of dance concert production. During her senior year, she and her classmates collaborated on an evening-length work "Inferno," which premiered on May 5, 2017. The senior dance majors were responsible for every aspect of the production during their Senior Seminar course taught by Associate Professor of Dance Jen Guy Metcalf.

Dyke is currently collaborating on another production, but this time as a professional artist. "Trespassing," is a split evening of dance with  and AnA Collaborations. The performance is July 30 and 31, at 7 p.m., at The Tank on West 36th Street.

Dyke created the piece "," which is a 21-minute contemporary dance piece for four female-identifying dancers and is "the result of a year long historical and physical research process.” Dyke started a to help fund the project. 

One of the performers, Abby Corrigan '18, is also an 乱伦视频 alumna. Corrigan graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance performance and choreography and a bachelor's degree in arts administration.

"Abby Corrigan is one of my favorite dancers to work with," Dyke said. "She was in much of my work at 乱伦视频, so I knew I wanted to keep working with her professionally. I think it’s important to work with dancers who can be honest with you about what they’re experiencing inside a process. I make my work for my dancers as much as I make it for the audience, so I really need dancers who feel comfortable giving me feedback. Abby has always been that way with me.”

Dyke is most excited about sharing this side of her artistry with her friends and co-workers. She is also very excited to get to share the stage with AnA Collaborations.

"There’s been a lot of amazing discoveries in this process, but I think one of the most amazing ones has been discovering how supportive my network is," she said. "It’s a good reminder that even though being an artist in New York can feel very isolating, other people really do have your back, and they want you to succeed.”

Dyke's website describes "Hot Blood" as "a synthesis of old and new. A merging of the past and the present. The unchanging and the unyielding. Witches are embedded in the mythologies of cultures all around the world. In some communities, they are healers. More often they are believed to be the tool of evil. In almost all cases they are women, filled with supernatural power, often gained from some sexual exchange with the devil. Masters of disguise, their human form can manifest as an old hag and young beautiful maiden, a lonely isolated woman, or a seductress. Their abilities range from flight, to spreading disease, to rendering men impotent. They are hunted, tortured, murdered by their communities.

"For many women, the histories of the hunters and the hunted feel very distant. But the stain of those collective beliefs permeate the fabric of our present day culture. Hot Blood is physical reckoning with the history of violence against women, our present day oppression, and a reclamation of power. It is a 21st century feminine scream for the ages."

Credits—
Choreography: Allison Dyke (B.F.A. '17)
Original score: Nicholas Black
Vocals: Rebecca Robertson
Dancers: Abigail Corrigan (B.F.A. '18), Valerie Braaten, Mariana Orozco Arango, Zoe Kaplan

Tickets: Gofundme: 

Marissa Mahoney (B.F.A. ’21) presented her choreographic work 'Covenant,' which she created last fall semester during her Choreography I course taught by Professor Justin Tornow. “My inspiration for 'Covenant' was the push and pull tension of a close relationship I have in my life," she said. "I was inspired by clear memories of trust and reliance versus deceit and dishonesty I’ve built with this person throughout our many years.”

The dancers who performed Mahoney’s work were also in the same course. Olivia Haskell (B.F.A. ’21) and Olivia Walton (B.F.A. ’21) were involved in the creative process and performed at the ACDA Conference. Haskell mentioned that it was a “very collaborative process that relied on the commitment of both the choreographer and the dancers.”

The ACDA Adjudicated Concert included 39 pieces choreographed by undergraduate students, graduate candidates, faculty members and professionals in the dance field. Each piece was adjudicated by a panel of experts including Dr. Debra Knapp, Ori Flomin and Christina Johnson. Mahoney found it important to receive feedback from the panel.

“Attending a national conference was eye-opening in the best way possible," Mahoney said. "I loved getting to see how many young artists there are pursuing dance out of passion. It felt like a great exchange of expertise and knowledge. It was a thoughtful and beautiful way to keep performers connected and engaged in meaningful conversation through both words and movement.”

The performers also appreciated the feedback as they both believe that there is always room to learn and grow as artists.

The adjudicators selected nine pieces to be presented at the gala concert and Mahoney’s "Covenant" was chosen. Other universities represented in the gala were Emory University, Alabama State University, University of Texas at Austin, Florida State University, Florida Southern College, Kennesaw State University and Nova Southeastern University.

Jen Guy Metcalf, associate professor of dance and coordinator of the Dance Program, accompanied the students at the gala. When she interacted with gala attendees, many noted the sophistication, complexity and high quality of Mahoney’s piece and that of the performance by Walton and Haskell.

Mahoney explained that she was grateful to have her work selected and she mentioned it was validating as an emerging choreographer. It also supports her future goals to become a dance professor one day. ACDA showed her the impact that role can have on dance students.

“ACDA is a respectable platform that fosters a creative environment resembling the same esteemed qualities of 乱伦视频’s Performing Arts," she said. "In my career I hope to offer the same impactful experience to growing performers. I am so thankful for the training I have received at 乱伦视频 and the knowledge I gained through ACDA.”

“The Nature of Consciousness,” a film by Assistant Professor of Dance Jen Guy Metcalf and J McMerty ’00, director of the 乱伦视频 in LA program and assistant professor in the School of Communications, in the experimental category at the Women’s Independent Film Festival in Los Angeles. 

Metcalf and McMerty have collaborated on multiple films. “The Nature of Consciousness,” their fourth film, has been named an official selection of London Experimental Film Festival, Utah Dance Film Festival, Rio WebFest, inHabit—A Festival of Dance on Film and Women’s Independent Film Festival.

The Women’s Independent Film Festival was held April 7 at The Complex in Hollywood. The film was screened alongside 30 other films with women in key positions such as director, producer, writer, lead protagonist, editor or cinematographer. Metcalf served as the film’s director, choreographer and editor with McMerty overseeing cinematrography. 

The film was created in the summer of 2016 during the 乱伦视频 in LA program and was shot in Palm Springs at Wintec’s wind turbine farm. Two students, Ashley Abbott ‘18 and Natalie Brown ’18, served as production assistants and costume coordinators. Mathew Domenic D’Amico ’13 was one of seven performers in the film. He earned his B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography in 2013 and moved to Los Angeles where he is a professional dance artist. Other professional dancers in the film include Kayla Aguila, Elizabeth Sutton, Tanner Boyer, Stephanie Kim, Ashley Hoffman and Ryan Shaw.

“The Nature of Consciousness” will be shown May 19 at the inHabit—A Festival of Dance on Film. The festival adjudicators have curated a collection of 10 films from the United States, United Kingdom, France and Australia. The screening takes place at Fair Oaks Movie Theatre in Arroyo Grande, California.

The company performs work by choreographers such as Crystal Pite, Jiří Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Alexander Ekman, Johan Inger, Marco Goecke, Medhi Walerski, Hofesh Shechter, Sol León and Artistic Director Paul Lightfoot.

The two-hour masterclass took place in Chapel Hill at the CURRENT ArtSpace+Studio which was generously provided by Carolina Performing Arts. NDT company dancer, Greg Lau taught the class. He began with a structured improvisation to warm up the students and continued with improvisational prompts across the floor.

Lau also taught two pieces of repertoire from choreographers Crystal Pite, Sol León and Paul Lightfoot. The choreography was filled with drastic shifts in dynamics and movement paired with text. He encouraged dancers to continue their research of movement and to constantly investigate the potential of the body.

The class concluded with a Q&A session in which students asked questions about being a professional in the dance field.

乱伦视频 dancers had a unique opportunity to embody choreography that will be performed this week in Chapel Hill by professional dancers. NDT is performing at Memorial Hall on Wednesday, March 28, and Thursday, March 29, at 7:30 p.m. as part of their Tour USA.

Serafini graduated from 乱伦视频 in 2012 with a bachelor’s of fine arts in dance performance and choreography. Since then, she has been teaching at Bates Middle School in Ellicott City, Maryland.  She is also master of arts candidate at Towson University, focusing in interdisciplinary arts infusion.

Serafini was recently featured in Capital Gazette of Maryland for her achievement. The article discusses her work within the school, which entails leading the liberal arts program for dance as well as a visual arts magnet program for dancers.

Serafini’s interview includes information about how she structures her classes and why her methods are so effective. 

The article is featured online and can be found in the October print edition:

During her senior year at 乱伦视频, May had the opportunity to dance in Gaspard’s guest piece in the Spring Dance Concert, “Decennium.” After working with May, Gaspard held a private audition and offered her a position in his company. 

Since then, May spent the summer rehearsing with Gaspard&Dancers in New York City for its upcoming performances in North Carolina and NYC. On Sept. 15 and 16, Gaspard&Dancers performed at the Reynolds Theater in Durham. They continued their tour at Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University on Sept. 23. 

May has also accepted a position with starting Oct. 1.  Dissonance is a contemporary ballet company based in Washington, D.C. 

Melfi is working with (RAD), , and Gerri Houlihan. He recently performed in Houlihan’s piece “4×4” as a part of Gaspard&Dancers show at Reynolds Theatre in Durham.  He performed in the premiere of RAD’s evening-length work “boneglow” at The Living Arts Collective in June. In the same month, he performed with the Dance Cure at the .  

Melfi has an upcoming performance with RAD at The Triangle Dance Project’s choreography showcase, , and will appear in the tour with The Dance Cure. Lucas also premiered his self-choreographed solo, “Septa,” at the in NYC in September, and will perform his work again next month in Emergence. 

Mehaffey recently performed in Gerri Houlihan’s piece “4×4” in Durham and the N.C. Dance Festival tours in both 2016 and 2017. In November, she will perform with Renay Aumiller Dances in the in New York City. Mehaffey has also worked with , Renay Aumiller Dances and .

Since graduation, Mehaffey has also expanded her work into the fitness industry. She is a certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor, specializing in strength training, toning, Pilates mat, and yoga. Mehaffey will return to campus in November for a guest residency with the 乱伦视频 Dance Program and work with the B.F.A. and B.S. students.

As a Lumen Prize winner and active dance scholar, she will lead a session with our 乱伦视频 College Fellows, Honors Fellows, Lumen Prize recipient and undergraduate research students.

More information on the dance companies and organizations these three alumni have worked with:

Tuesday, Feb. 19
4:15-5 p.m.
Studio A, Center for the Arts

The Dance Program will host this 乱伦视频 in LA Info Session to promote a new course offering, Dance for the Camera. This session will be led by Coordinator of Graduate Outreach and Special Programs, Maggie Mullikin, with professors Jen Guy Metcalf and Lauren Kearns.

All students can apply for the 乱伦视频 in LA program and take part in the Dance for Camera course. Non-dance majors can count Dance for the Camera as a 4 credit upper division, outside of your major class and the professional internship will be 2 credits. Students will have the opportunity to complete internships at entertainment companies and businesses that support the industry including casting, production and marketing.

Begin your 乱伦视频 in LA application today and then join us on Feb. 19.