In compliance with the Healthy Elon protocols, all audience members – regardless of vaccination status – must wear masks in indoor campus spaces.
Director’s Notes
Welcome to the Department of Performing Arts’ Bridging | The Spring Dance Concert. Bridging describes places, or periods of time that thematically explore means of connection or transition. As a theme for this concert, it offers a common thread from one dance to another while making room for individuality and the unique aesthetic voices from each of the six choreographers. Elon dance program faculty and our guest choreographer, Ashley Lindsey, present original dances that investigate bridging by means of conceptual ideologies, movement, set design, time, and societal metaphors. After almost two years of dancing alone together, we will celebrate interconnection and togetherness with each other and you, the viewer, in McCrary Theater.
Prof. Renay Aumiller, Artistic Director
Special Thanks
Brianna Boucher, David McGraw, Jen Guy Metcalf, Kimberly Rippy, The Theatrical Design & Technology Faculty and Staff, The Elon College of Arts and Sciences
Dances
Sea Glass & Starfish
Choreographed by Renay Aumiller
Movement invention in collaboration with the dancers.
Music Credit: “The Last Stage of Consumption” by Lowercase Noises
Scenic Designer: Charles Glenn Johnson
Assistant Scenic Designer: Brianna Boucher
Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Designer: Bill Webb
Sea glass, weathered glass found on ocean beaches, is regarded as a symbol of transformation and healing as nature turns discarded trash into beautiful gems. Starfish often represents renewal and regeneration since they can grow back their limbs to escape danger. Together, sea glass and starfish are a call to action for how to shift from a life of languish heightened during the pandemic. Like the starfish, we aim for continuous growth as we embrace the inevitable changes in our lives, softening our edges like the colorful alchemy of sea glass.
Dancers: Maggie Adams, Caroline Bernardon, Eileena Boyce, Riley Campbell, Mackenzie Holub, Makayla Kanerviko, Lia Kelly, Lauren Jacobbe, Sarah Parks, Alexandra Strouse, Madi Trigilio, Lauren Weinberg, Emma Zucker
Understudy: Victoria Cataldo
Dear One
Choreographed by Keshia Wall
Movement Invention: In collaboration with performers and Darah Willey Robinson
Music Credit: “Heart Chakra” by Beautiful Chorus, Voice Over by Artis Ray Robinson, “23rd Psalm” by Bobby McFerrin
Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Designer: Bill Webb
Dear Mothers,
I am one of you. We are one. The Gate Keepers, The Heartbeat Makers, Alchemists, The Light Carriers. I pray for your mercy & grace as I connect, reflect & pray about my children. Whatever your beliefs, I humbly ask you to remove your prejudice & fear & join me in The Humanity of Not Knowing. The purpose here is the humanity— the connection of body & spirit, stardust & breath, sperm & egg.
When I cleanse my house with smoke, be it safe or holy wood, I always take time in the bathroom— make conscious placement of my feet to the floor & eyes on the toilet & helplessly release a prayer of forgiveness.
“God, bless the children.”
Peace upon you and thank you,
Darah
Dancers: Lauren Jacobbe, Olivia Lanter, Emma Morris, Sarah Rothacker, Kayla Spalding
The Pull of it All
Choreographed by ShaLeigh Comerford
Music Credit: Ethiopia composition & sound design by Sand Pact (courtesy of ShaLeigh Dance Works), Grand Finale (Track 1) by Hofesh Shechter, Shamisen by TN Beats
Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Designer: Bill Webb
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dancers: Cat Beal, Caroline Bernardon, Caroline Boothe, Phoebe Crumbine, Maggie Davenport, Ashlyn Deloughy, Katie Fulks, Anna Iglesias, Caroline Irmscher, Katie Lorber, Gaby Minionis, Sarah Parks, Kimmy Sessions, Alexandra Strouse, Lauren Weinberg, Tatum Wentworth, Erin Woods
Contra.Diction
Choreographed by Jasmine Powell
Music Credit: Sheila Chandra, Bonobo, Seinabo Sey
Set Designer: Charles Glenn Johnson
Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Designer: Bill Webb
Dancers: Madi Boyer, Daphne McGarvey, Amy Moore (except 3/05 @ 2pm), Khairi Morrow, Rachel Rightmyer
Dancer/Understudy: Ella Gatermann (3/05 @ 2pm)
Understudy/Rehearsal Assistant: Katey O’Connell
Time Enough
Choreographed by Jen Guy Metcalf
Movement invention in collaboration with the dancers.
Music Credit: “Cocaine Lovin’ Orange County Kids” by Die Elektrischen, “Venter” by Ben Frost, “Dominic’s Nightmare” by Osvaldo Golljov; Edited by Jen Guy Metcalf
Costume Designers: Karl Green and Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Designer: Bill Webb
This work was first performed in 2016. The inspiration came from a hand gesture used in Ancient Rome, pollice verso (with a turned thumb), to signal defeat of a gladiator. The ideas of combat and competition were at the forefront of the work. Movement vocabulary was plucked from sports like rugby, running, boxing, wrestling, tug of war, and swimming. Instead of being in competition with each other, the performers represent the idea of working together as a group to rise against adversity.
Dancers: Sol Addison, Eileena Boyce (3/04 @7:30, 3/05 @ 2pm), Zion Bright, Amanda Cousins (3/05 @7:30; 3/06 @2pm), Sophie David (3/05 @7:30; 3/06 @2pm), Zeth Dixon, Derick Donato, Hannah Giessler (3/05 @7:30; 3/06 @2pm), Hannah Harris (3/04 @7:30, 3/05 @ 2pm), Mackenzie Holub (3/04 @7:30, 3/05 @ 2pm), Parker MacIntyre, Isabella Mao (3/05 @7:30; 3/06 @2pm), Isabella Sessa (3/05 @7:30; 3/06 @2pm), Maya Simmons (3/04 @7:30, 3/05 @ 2pm), Jessica Werfel (3/04 @7:30, 3/05 @ 2pm)
Understudies/Rehearsal Assistants: Pheriby Bryan, Emma Stenger
The Gathering
Choreographed by Ashley Lindsey
Assistant Choreographer: Hannah Marr
Movement Invention in Collaboration with the dancers
Music Credit: “HYbr:ID oval p-dance”, “HYbr:ID oval hadronII” by Alva nota and “The Drift House” by Steve Roach
Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Designer: Bill Webb
Dancers: Haley Asbury, Lilly Beaver (3/4-3/5), Caroline Boothe, Hannah Burnett, Gabby Cataldo, Ashlyn Deloughy, Caroline Irmscher, Mia Johnson, Tyler Okunski, Isabella Piccirilli, Tatum Wentworth
Dancer/Understudy: Gia Nguyen (3/06)
Production Team
| Artistic Director | Renay Aumiller |
| Production Manager | Bill Webb |
| Scenic Designer | Charles Glenn Johnson |
| Costume Coordinator | Heidi Jo Schiemer |
| Sound Designer | Michael Smith |
| Lighting Designer | Bill Webb |
| Technical Director | J.P. Mullican |
| Stage Manager | Brianna Boucher |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Margo Buchanan |
| Sound Advisor | Michael Smith |
| Sound Board Op | Aryanna Vindas |
| Deck Crew | Marina Jansen |
| Fly Operators | Sydney Bell Kayla Jordan |
| Wardrobe Crew | Pheriby Bryan |
| Front-of-House Supervisor | David McGraw |
| House Managers | Keri Anderson Laura McGuire Jack Morrill |
| Poster Design | Sydney Dye |
Bios
