Dance

Spring 2025 Newsletter

We have had a busy semester here in Kenyon! Read on to learn more about the happenings in the Vassar Dance Department!

Please contact Helen Ambrose (hambrose@vassar.edu) to be added to the email list.

VRDT

A group of six dancers performs on a dimly lit stage, with a minimalistic black background. The figures are dressed in a mix of black and white clothing, highlighting their contrasting postures and movements. Each dancer exhibits dynamic poses, with arms extended and legs raised, creating a sense of fluidity and grace. The lighting casts subtle shadows on the stage floor, emphasizing the dancers' bare feet and the sleek, polished surface beneath them.

New Works for VRDT: Cunningham and Balanchine

In VRDT’s Spring Concert, dancers performed two works from iconic choreographers, Merce Cunningham and George Balanchine. Cunningham’s TV Rerun first premiered in 1972 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The dance includes two camera people who circle the stage and shift the dancers’ focus as they enter and exit the stage. The piece gives dancers choice in their approach to the choreography, allowing the work to be ever changing and evolving. Serenade, choreographed in 1934, is one of Balanchine’s most beloved works. It was the first work Balanchine made when he arrived in America and remains a signature dance for New York City Ballet. VRDT dancers will perform the first section, beginning with the well-known tableau.

A group of eight individuals sit in a semi-circle on white folding chairs arranged in an indoor setting. In the foreground, a speaker wearing a light blue dress gestures while holding a microphone, her long hair cascading down her shoulders. Each person exhibits a variety of postures and expressions, engaged in discussion; some hold notepads while others listen attentively. The background features a light-colored wall and wooden podium, adorned with floral arrangements at the feet of the participants.

On April 4–5, VRDT hosted its first reunion in the company’s 45 year history. Alums returned to Vassar to reunite, observe VRDT rehearsals, take a dance class, and speak with current VRDT members about how dance has remained a part of their professional and social life beyond Vassar.

In Memoriam: Jeanne Czula

A seated figure in a dark leotard poses on a wooden chair, with their hands resting on their knees. A large mirror reflects the figure and a second person in the background, who appears to be adjusting their clothing. The room features timber walls and windows that allow muted light to illuminate the scene, creating a soft atmosphere. The overall color palette is monochromatic, highlighting the contrasts between light and shadow.

The Dance department held a memorial tribute to honor Jeanne Periolat Czula, Professor Emerita of Dance (1974–2013), who passed away on March 4. Jeanne had a profound impact on the Dance program at Vassar, taking it from part of Physical Education to its own department, and creating the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre. Her teaching and choreography in Ballet drew students of the highest caliber, many of whom remained close to Jeanne long after graduation.

Student Work

A person stands with arms crossed on a coastal hill, overlooking a beach with gentle waves. The figure, wearing a light-colored long-sleeve top and pants, faces the camera, displaying a relaxed smile. The background features soft, grayish clouds in the sky, creating a calm ambiance, while the muted colors of the ocean blend with the sandy shore and vegetation in the foreground. The scene captures a tranquil coastal landscape, emphasizing the natural beauty of the environment.

Senior Thesis: Alex Spitzer

VRDT dancer Alex Spitzer ’25 combines cognitive science and dance in her senior thesis titled From Word to Movement: Language as a Scaffold for Dance Learning and Recall. Different styles of dance come easier to people depending on the extent of their experience with the style and the way they prefer to learn movement. Language can often assist with learning in general, especially when associating labels with novel categories. Movement labels already exist in ballet for example, but the effect of these labels on learning and recall performance has not yet been investigated. This study aims to examine the effect of language on learning and recall, specifically whether labeling dance movements facilitates learning and recall.

Senior Independent Study Performance

A figure is positioned at the center of a vibrant floral field, surrounded by an array of colorful flowers in various shades of pink, orange, yellow, and red. The figure holds a glass jar filled with a lively assortment of fresh flowers, complementing their attire of a simple white dress with thin straps. Sunlight illuminates the scene, creating a warm glow and casting soft shadows on the ground. Lush green foliage and blurred trees create a natural backdrop, adding depth to the composition.

Conversations is an artistic exploration of how we exist in the spaces between everything we experience. The work represents what is created as a result: our relationships to music, each other, and ourselves. —Maia Beaudry ’25

A person sits at a table with a clear glass window behind them, allowing natural light to illuminate their face. They wear a pink headscarf and a light pink top, displaying a bright smile that highlights their features. In their hand, they hold a straw connected to a drink, while their curly hair cascades to the side. The surrounding environment includes blurred figures and hints of greenery, suggesting an outdoor or café setting.

gift + response is centered around themes of creative collaboration and co-authorship. Using a variety of mediums and methods including video art and DJing, we generate a performance experience that thinks through the question: how do we respond to art/music/each other to create new work together? —Nia Bethel-Brescia ’25

A figure is positioned against a plain, light-colored wall, engaged in a stretching posture with one arm raised overhead and the other arm bent across the body. The clothing consists of a fitted black long-sleeve top and dark pants accented with blue stripes running down the sides. Soft, diffused lighting envelops the scene, creating a calm atmosphere while highlighting the smooth textures of the wall and clothing. The overall composition emphasizes the figure's fluid movement.

This duet is an intimate exploration of connection, memory, and transformation, moving through moments of nostalgia, playfulness, tension, and vulnerability to capture the complexities of relationships. Beginning with the scene of a home, the piece moves through moments of youthful curiosity before unraveling into themes of tension, distance, and growth, ultimately offering a resolution that celebrates resilience and love’s endurance. —Dana Tagliaferro ’25

Other Senior Work

Sarah Schuster ’25 presented research from her senior project in Educational Studies “Rethinking Authoritarian Ballet Pedagogies”, a year-long exploration into the implications of traditional approaches to ballet education. Her work was presented through a collaborative event entitled “Dance Dialogue” with Talia Roman ’25 who presented her work titled “Dancing Through Body Image, Disordered Eating, and Perfectionism.”

Performance with Vassar College Treble Chorus

The image features a performance scene set on a tiered stage. In the foreground, two pairs of dancers are engaged in a contemporary dance, with one pair in white clothing and the other in light materials, showing a fluid motion as they connect through their movements. Behind them, a choir is arranged in a semi-circle, dressed in black, holding sheet music and facing the performers, creating a contrast between the active dancers and the static choir. The warm wooden backdrop adds depth to the scene.

Jillian Galimi ’28, Asa Kittay ’28, Cruz Nunez ’26 and Serena Trickle ’28 performed a dance choreographed by Miriam Mahdaviani for the spring Treble Chorus Concert, directed by Susan Bialek, Chorus Director. This was the first collaboration between dance and chorus.

Courses and Workshops

In May: Correlate Class

A group of eight figures is arranged on a wooden railing, smiling and interacting in a spacious interior. The scene features large windows in the background that allow natural light to illuminate the warm tones of the wooden walls. Each figure is dressed in a variety of casual clothing styles and colors, creating a vibrant assortment against the muted backdrop. The atmosphere is lively, with a sense of camaraderie evident among the group, highlighted by their varied postures and expressions.

We applaud Nia Bethel-Brescia, Talia Roman, Abby Rice, Maia Beaudry, Helen Ambrose, Dana Tagliaferro, Alex Spitzer, Ella Albrecht, and Noe Rueschemeyer-Bailey (left to right), class of 2025, who have completed extensive work in technique, performance, choreography, and cross-disciplinary inquiry.

New Courses: Global Dance Forms

A new course introduced students to three global dance styles. West African, Tango, and Classical Indian Dance techniques were taught by established dancers and choreographers including Solo Badolo and Abdoul Aziz Derme (West African Dance), Maia Martinez (Tango), and Parul Shah (Classical Indian Dance). This course was supported by the Natalie Nixon ’91 Global Workshops fund.

Workshop: Abdul Ghani

A group of dancers is engaged in a dynamic rehearsal within a spacious studio, characterized by large windows that allow natural light to fill the room. The foreground features a prominent figure in a patterned outfit, adorned with decorative elements, striking a lively pose with arms raised and holding a scarf that flows behind. Surrounding this figure, other dancers are captured in varied postures, some with arms lifted high, creating a sense of movement and rhythm. The walls are a warm wood tone.

In February, Abdul Ghani, a dance teacher and choreographer from Karachi, Pakistan, visited Vassar with support from Natalie Nixon ’91 Global Dance Workshop fund. He taught two workshops while on campus, including teaching his original choreography inspired by traditional Pakistani dances to VRDT dancers.

Events

MODfest: Parul Shah

A figure poses dynamically in a dimly lit space, emphasizing their elegant lines and form. The outfit consists of a fitted gray top and flowing blue pants, with the fabric creating soft movement around the body. The figure is crouched with one arm raised near the face and the other bent at the elbow, highlighting their expressive posture. A small amount of light illuminates the face, creating sharp contrasts with the surrounding darkness.

This year’s MODFest performance included an appearance from the Parul Shah Dance Company with live accompaniment. The New York-based group combines contemporary and Kathak dance styles. Their work harnesses the expressive power of Indian classical dance to promote cultural understanding and explore questions around identity and humanity.

ABT Studio Company Field Trip

A large group of individuals is arranged in a semi-circle on a stage. The setting features a dark floor illuminated by soft stage lighting, with large fabric drapes in the background. Participants wear a variety of dance attire, including leotards and tights in bright colors, with some individuals in casual clothing. The composition captures a festive atmosphere, showcasing a mix of poses and expressions as they gather together for a memorable photo.

On March 1st, VRDT dancers traveled to Bard College to watch the ABT Studio Company perform a program that included George Balanchine’s Tarantella, Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, Yannick Lebrun’s Human, as well as other classical and contemporary works. The performance was accompanied by the TŌN graduate musicians. The trip was supported by a generous gift to the Dance Department for Ballet and Contemporary Ballet.

Residencies at Vassar

A dynamic cluster of figures is captured mid-motion against a soft blue background. Individuals are dressed in varying styles of form-fitting attire, including shorts and fitted tops, some are topless, showcasing diverse postures and angles as they leap and twist through the air. The composition demonstrates a sense of movement and fluidity, with arms extended and legs bent in various directions, creating an energetic scene. Subtle lighting enhances the contours of each figure.

During this past semester, the Vassar Dance Department hosted two New-York based companies in residency. Both Pony Box Theatre and Battery Dance developed a piece over the course of a week and each performed pieces from their repertoire for the Vassar community.