Director’s Note

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2022 Fall Dance Concert! This production consists of four original choreographic works by students and four choreographic works by faculty members or visiting faculty guest artists. The running time is approximately 75-minutes with no intermission. Each piece is exquisite and unique, but they all fit together in a cohesive way. I hope you enjoy observing the extraordinary range of our student performers as they are lit by designs created by our students and alumni lighting designer. Congratulations to all who contributed to this production on the stage, behind the scenes, around the costume shop, on Zoom meetings, inside the studios, through administrative work, in the lobby, and all the spaces in between. Many thanks to you all for attending the Fall Dance Concert. Enjoy the show!

Jen Guy Metcalf, Artistic Director

Special Thanks

Kimberly Rippy, David McGraw, Renay Aumiller, Casey Avaunt, Jasmine Powell, Susanne Shawyer, Alicia Varcoe, Gabby Cataldo, Jessica Werfel, House Management team, the Theatrical Design & Technology students/faculty/staff, and everyone involved in this production!

Dances

Crystal Roots

Choreographed by Courtney Liu

Music Credit: “Winter Wonderland” by Hans Johnson, “Winter” by ANBR, “Winter” by Jon Gegelman

Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer

Lighting Designer: Alicia Varcoe

Dancers: Lilly Beaver, Hannah Burnett, Sophie David, Hannah Giessler, Mia Johnson, Katey O’Connell, Emma Stenger

Understudies: Brooke Goldstein, Camryn Lowry

Inspired by Nordic goddesses of snow and the three Chinese “friends of winter,” Crystal Roots celebrates steadfastness, tenacity, and resilience during the autumnal transition into hibernation. What can we learn from the lore of winter? From the hearty plum, bamboo, and pine? What does it mean to survive, thrive, and transform in the cocoon of winter?

Courtney Liu

Lilly Beaver

Hannah Burnett

Sophie David

Hannah Giessler

Mia Johnson

Katey O’Connell

Emma Stenger

Brooke Goldstein

Courtney Liu

Courtney Liu is a choreographer and Assistant Professor of Music Theatre at Elon. Courtney has published her pedagogical research in the Journal of Dance Education (JODE) and presented at the National Dance Educator’s Organization, CORPS de Ballet International, and the Embodied Learning Summit. Performing credits include The Phantom of the Opera (Broadway cast), Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Queen of the Night, AEA & Disney developmental labs, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Cincinnati Ballet, and the Peridance Contemporary Dance Company.

Lilly Beaver

Lilly, a native of Kannapolis, NC is a senior Dance Performance & Choreography and Psychology major. Lilly’s performance credits include Elon’s Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month, Fall, and Spring Dance Concerts, along with Elon Cares, ADF’s Footprints, NCDF’s Residency Showing, and JOYEMOVEMENT’s Love Notes. She has presented work in the Fall Dance Concert and numerous festivals and is excited to present work in this year’s Dancing in the Landscape. Lilly has enjoyed working with various guest artists, faculty, and student choreographers. She is grateful to be an apprentice with the JOYEMOVEMENT dance company and a teacher at Miss Kim's.

Hannah Burnett

Hannah Burnett is a senior from Beverly, Massachusetts pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography with a minor in Photography. While at Elon, she has performed in Dancing in the Landscape (2020, 2021, 2022), Fall Dance Concert (2021, 2022), Spring Dance Concert (2021, 2022), and a multitude of student-choreographed pieces. Hannah is grateful to have studied abroad in Florence, Italy last spring and performed choreography by Angelo Egarese. She also performed work by Brian Brooks at ADF this summer. Hannah is appreciative of all past performance opportunities and looks forward to dancing with her peers for one last year at Elon. 

Sophie David

Sophie David grew up in Franklin, Massachusetts and is in her senior year at Elon University. She is pursuing a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography, a BA in Arts Administration, and a minor in Business Administration. While at Elon, Sophie has had the opportunity to perform in works by Casey Avaunt, Courtney Liu, Jen Guy Metcalf, Ming Lung Yang, Jiwon Ha, and many others. She has also choreographed several dance pieces in various styles for student choreography showings and club performances. Sophie is so excited to perform in Lee Edwards’ piece in the 2023 Fall Dance Concert!

Hannah Giessler

Hannah Giessler, a senior from Virginia, is pursuing a double major with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a BA in Psychology. She has had the privilege of performing in Dancing In The Landscape, Spring Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, Fall Dance Concert, and numerous other pieces within and outside of the program. Hannah would like to thank her family, both at home and those she found here, for all of their support. She would also like to thank you for coming to her last mainstage show! Enjoy!

Mia Johnson

Mia Johnson is a Junior BFA dance performance and choreography major double majoring in sports management. She was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and trained with Georgia Dance Conservatory while being a member of their company Georgia Metro Dance Theatre. Her roles here included Clara, Spanish lead, and Sugar Plum Fairy in the yearly production of The Nutcracker, along with being cast in Swan Lake and Coppelia. At Elon so far she has been a part of Fall Dance, Black History Month, and the Spring Dance Concert. Mia has loved her time so far in this department and has experienced so many performance opportunities.

Katey O’Connell

Katey O'Connell, a native of Bedford, New Hampshire, is a junior at Elon pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography and a Bachelor of Arts in History. Throughout her Elon career she has had the privilege to be a part of all of the dance performances from Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month Concert, as well both Fall and Spring Dance Concerts. Dance has allowed Katey to travel all over New England, New York, and Florida and cannot wait to see where else it will take her. After finishing a summer working for the Joffrey Ballet School, she is excited to continue her training for the next two years at Elon. 

Emma Stenger

Emma Stenger is a junior from San Diego pursuing her B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography, and her B.S. in Dance Science. At Elon, she has had the opportunity to work with choreographers Renay Aumiller, Jen Guy Metcalf, Courtney Liu, and Jiwon Ha serving in roles as a performer, rehearsal assistant and understudy. Last Spring, she studied in Florence, Italy where she performed choreography by Angelo Egarese. Emma has loved the rehearsal process this semester with Lee Edwards, and is so excited to get onstage with her peers.

Brooke Goldstein

Brooke Goldstein is a sophomore student from Rockland County, New York. She is pursuing a double major in Dance Performance and Choreography and Sociology. This summer, Brooke completed a choreography intensive with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. During her dance career at Elon, Brooke has performed in Dancing in the Landscape (2022), Black History Month Dance Concert (2023, 2024), and Spring Dance Concert (2023 and 2024). She has also understudied for the 2022 Fall Dance Concert and performed in the 2023 Fall Dance Concert. Brooke has also had experience in student choreography pieces, such as Semicolon, directed by Pheriby Bryan under the Rhoades Scholarship.

Autopilot

Choreographed by Lia Kelly

Music Credit: “Familiar” by Nils Frahm, “Freaks” by Surf Curse

Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer and Lia Kelly

Lighting Designer: Allyson Vogel

Dancers: Haley Asbury, Eileena Boyce, Phoebe Crumbine, and Caroline Irmscher

Understudy: Pheriby Bryan

Thank you to my dancers for their dedication and trust in me in creating this piece over the past year. I’m truly grateful to have worked with such an inspiring group of individuals.

Haley Asbury

Eileena Boyce

Pheriby Bryan

Phoebe Crumbine

Caroline Irmscher

Lia Kelly

Haley Asbury

Haley Asbury is a senior from Morris County, NJ earning a dual degree in BFA Dance Performance & Choreography and BA in Arts Administration. During her time at Elon, Haley has had several opportunities to perform works by guest artists in the Fall Dance Concert and Spring Dance Concert. During her spring semester of junior year, she studied abroad at the Florence Dance Center in Florence, Italy. Haley is grateful to be a choreographer in the show this year, and is excited to share what her and her dancers have created.

Eileena Boyce

Eileena Boyce is a senior working to obtain a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography and a BA in Strategic Communications. She is a native North Carolinian from Durham. During her time at Elon, she has performed in many of the mainstage Elon dance performances, performed in two dance films under Keisha Wall called “I Want to Undie You” and “Reclaiming Power: The Black Maternal Crisis”, as well as trained in Florence and performed in the Florence Dance Festival for study abroad. She recently presented her work for the first time at Elon in Dancing in the Landscape and is preparing to present undergraduate research in the winter. Boyce is beyond thankful for every opportunity and all the support she has gained over the years. She hopes you enjoy the performances!

Pheriby Bryan

Pheriby Bryan is a junior at Elon University and a North Carolina native. She is getting her BFA in Dance and Choreography with minors in Spanish and Business. She grew up at Jami Masters School of Dance in Charlotte, NC and has danced in Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert at Elon. She has performed at Ash and Elm Dance Company, Central Piedmont Community College’s production of Guys and Dolls, and American Dance Festival’s Footprints where she danced for Abdel R. Salaam. This school year, Pheriby presented her directing and choreography debut entitled Semicolon thanks to the Rhodes Research Grant.

Phoebe Crumbine

Phoebe Crumbine (BFA & BA, Elon University) is a multi-faceted artist and performer from Beverly, Massachusetts. She has been selected to perform works by Angelo Egarese, Elizabeth Parkinson, Mary Ann Lamb, Jacob Karr, Cindy Salgado, Kim Wolfe, Maurice Watson, Jiwon Ha, Shaleigh Comerford, Sara Ruth Tourek, and Ming Yung Lang. Her choreography was chosen to be presented at a mainstage production at Elon University. She was selected to study dance and perform in Florence, Italy where she performed in the Florence Dance Festival. She is trained vocally by Gretchen Bruesehoff. She is a candidate for a 500 hour comprehensive Pilates Certification. She is working towards her personal trainer certification. She wants to thank all of her mentors, teachers, family, and friends for supporting her and pushing her past what she thought she was capable of! phoebecrumbine.com IG: phoebecrumbine

Caroline Irmscher

Caroline Irmscher is a senior Dance Performance and Choreography and Communication Design double major from Mississippi. At Elon, she has performed in Dancing In The Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, and various student works. She has also had her choreographic work presented in Fall Dance Concert (2021). This past summer, Caroline was able to study abroad in Florence, Italy, and continue her dance training at the Florence Dance Center.

Lia Kelly

Lia Kelly is a Senior Dance Performance & Choreography and Communications Design double major from Buffalo, New York. She has performed in and been a part of Dancing In The Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, and various student works. She spent this past summer studying in Florence, Italy where she furthered her training at Florence Dance Center. Her choreographic work is also being presented in Fall Dance Concert (2022). She is so grateful to be a part of the dance program and looks forward to the rest of her time at Elon.

Learning to Lose

Choreographed by Lilly Beaver

Music Credit: “Traveling with My Eyes Closed” by Vetle Nærø, “Morning Thunderstorm” by Rain Sounds

Set Designer: Charles Glenn Johnson

Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer

Lighting Designer: Jessica Valente

Dancers: Maggie Adams

Understudy: Gabby Cataldo

“Learning to Lose” is meant to transport you through the five stages of grief using my personal narrative of losing my father. I hope the rawness and vulnerability inspires empathy, compassion, acceptance, and peace within your own lives. My wish is this piece makes you feel seen, heard, and understood to know you are not alone in what often seems like the deafening silence. I would love to thank my incredible dancer Maggie, as well as Gabby, for allowing me to trust them with such an intentional piece and truly making the choreography their own.

Maggie Adams

Lilly Beaver

Gabrielle Cataldo

Maggie Adams

Maggie Adams is a Senior BFA Dance Performance and Choreography major originally from Mount Airy, Maryland. Prior to Elon, Maggie spent six years as a part of the Mid Maryland Performing Arts Center’s pre-professional company, FX. Through FX she has trained in a variety of styles. Dance has given Maggie many traveling opportunities which include dancing at the In Motion Dance Studio in Bermuda, the Florence Dance Center in Italy, completing internships with L.A. Dance Project and RoyalFlux in Los Angeles, and performing in Ireland and Scotland with Dance Unbound. In the summer of 2022, she attended the GUS Giordano College/ Pro Summer Intensive on scholarship and in 2019 she was a full scholarship attendee at Slippery Rock University’s Summer Dance Intensive, FORGE. This semester at Elon, Maggie is excited to perform in Dancing in the Landscape, the Fall Dance Concert, BHM Concert, and the Spring Dance Concert. She looks forward to seeing what the world of dance has in store for her post-graduation!

Lilly Beaver

Lilly, a native of Kannapolis, NC is a senior Dance Performance & Choreography and Psychology major. Lilly’s performance credits include Elon’s Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month, Fall, and Spring Dance Concerts, along with Elon Cares, ADF’s Footprints, NCDF’s Residency Showing, and JOYEMOVEMENT’s Love Notes. She has presented work in the Fall Dance Concert and numerous festivals and is excited to present work in this year’s Dancing in the Landscape. Lilly has enjoyed working with various guest artists, faculty, and student choreographers. She is grateful to be an apprentice with the JOYEMOVEMENT dance company and a teacher at Miss Kim's.

Gabrielle Cataldo

Gabrielle Cataldo, a native of Jamison, Pennsylvania, is a senior pursuing two degrees in Dance Performance and Choreography (B.F.A.), Arts Administration (B.A.), and a minor in Business Administration. Last spring, she performed a work by Angelo Egarese in Florence, Italy through her study-abroad program. She is excited to have the opportunity to perform again in Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert. Gabrielle wants to thank her family for their constant support and love, without them none of this would be possible. She is very excited to take the stage for one last year at Elon.

Aperture

Choreographed by Alexandra Joye Warren

Music Credit: Nicholas Britell and James Blake

Costume Designers: Heidi Jo Schiemer

Lighting Designer: Hannah Brown

Dancers: Makayla Kanerviko, Daphne McGarvey, Meredith Peck, Kelsi Sheren, Kayla Spalding

Understudies/Rehearsal Assistants: Hannah Harris

Alexandra Joye Warren

Makayla Kanerviko

Daphne McGarvey

Meredith Peck

Kayla Spalding

Hannah Harris

Kelsi Sheren

Alexandra Joye Warren

Alexandra Joye Warren is the Founding Artistic Director of JOYEMOVEMENT dance and an Assistant Professor of Music Theatre program at Elon University. She was recently selected as a Artist-In-Residence for Creative Greensboro and the North Carolina Dance Festival. Alexandra has completed post-graduate studies at the Yale Summer Directing Intensive, Leadership Initiative Project for Emerging Directors, and at Germaine Acogny’s L’Ecole De Sables in Senegal. She is a contributing author in the newly released book Dance in Musical Theatre: A History of the Body in Movement. Recent projects include Love Notes (Artistic Director and Choreographer) and A Wicked Silence: A Choreoplay (Playwright, Director, Choreographer).

Makayla Kanerviko

Makayla Kanerviko is a native of Syracuse, New York. She is currently a senior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography and a B.S.B.A in Entrepreneurship. During her time at Elon, she has performed in the Fall Dance Concert, Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month Dance Concert, and various other student works. She is excited to perform in the Fall Dance Concert and looks forward to the rest of her senior season!

Daphne McGarvey

Daphne McGarvey is a Sophomore from Lake Bluff, Illinois. She is pursuing a degree in Marketing and Finance as well as a minor in dance. She trained at Jenny's Dance Centre for 13 years and was on the Company for 8. She is experienced in many styles including Ballet, Contemporary, and Jazz. She performed in both Fall and Spring Dance last year, and is so grateful to be performing again in the Fall Dance Concert this year!

Meredith Peck

Meredith Peck is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and she is a third-year BFA dance performance and choreography major with a second education track in Dance Science (B.A). Peck trained at Premier Studio for Dance in Loveland, Ohio where she was a competitive member of their nationwide travel team. Peck has trained at various renowned studios including Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and Alvin Ailey. She has performed with the Elon University Dance Program in Dancing in the Landscape and Fall Dance Concert.

Kayla Spalding

Kayla Spalding is a dancer and choreographer from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is a senior at Elon University, majoring in both Dance Performance and Choreography (BFA) and History (AB). During her time at Elon, she has performed in Dancing In The Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert all four years. Kayla has also presented work during the Dancing In The Landscape and the Fall Dance Concert at Elon. She also performed in both the Richmond Dance Festival and Florence Dance Festival this past year. Kayla is incredibly thankful for all her opportunities throughout her time at Elon!

Hannah Harris

Hannah is getting her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, along with a degree in Cinema Arts and Television. She grew up living across the country in various states. Hannah enjoys sharing her art of storytelling through choreography and began her choreographic journey as a freshman in high school. Where she attended a performing arts school for dance at Weaver Academy where she trained in various dance styles. This has contributed to her passion for teaching and currently leads classes for children ages 3-18 at Burlington Dance Center in North Carolina. In 2018 she joined a company that partners with Broadway in New York City. When she is training at Broadway Artist Alliance she is mentored by Broadway performers and dances in front of casting agencies and managers.

Kelsi Sheren

Kelsi Sheren is from Antioch, Illinois. She is a sophomore currently pursuing a degree in Dance Science (B.S.) with minors in Dance, Exercise Science, and Biology. Kelsi has performed in student works on campus and in the Fall Dance Concert this past November. She is grateful for this opportunity and is looking forward to future involvement with the program!

Omniscience (perceptive-perspicuous-pansophical) 

Choreographed by Kayla Spalding

Music Credit: “I Only Have Eyes For You” by the Flamingos, “The Middle of the World” by Nicholas Britell, “Selah” instrumental by Kanye West, “Rush” by Duomo

Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer

Lighting Designer: Riley Gibson

Dancers: Maggie Adams, Hannah Burnett, Phoebe Crumbine, Caroline Irmscher, Lauren Jacobbe, Rachel Rightmyer, Madi Trigilio

Understudy: Olivia Lanter

This piece was inspired by a series of experiences that I had over the past two years. While working with my dancers, my piece continued to progress to explore perception and being perceived, and the disorienting experience of it all. It has been such a lovely experience working over this past year with my wonderful cast and with this story. I hope you enjoy!

Maggie Adams

Hannah Burnett

Phoebe Crumbine

Caroline Irmscher

Lauren Jacobbe

Olivia Lanter

Rachel Rightmyer

Madeline Trigilio

Kayla Spalding

Jessica Werfel

Maggie Adams

Maggie Adams is a Senior BFA Dance Performance and Choreography major originally from Mount Airy, Maryland. Prior to Elon, Maggie spent six years as a part of the Mid Maryland Performing Arts Center’s pre-professional company, FX. Through FX she has trained in a variety of styles. Dance has given Maggie many traveling opportunities which include dancing at the In Motion Dance Studio in Bermuda, the Florence Dance Center in Italy, completing internships with L.A. Dance Project and RoyalFlux in Los Angeles, and performing in Ireland and Scotland with Dance Unbound. In the summer of 2022, she attended the GUS Giordano College/ Pro Summer Intensive on scholarship and in 2019 she was a full scholarship attendee at Slippery Rock University’s Summer Dance Intensive, FORGE. This semester at Elon, Maggie is excited to perform in Dancing in the Landscape, the Fall Dance Concert, BHM Concert, and the Spring Dance Concert. She looks forward to seeing what the world of dance has in store for her post-graduation!

Hannah Burnett

Hannah Burnett is a senior from Beverly, Massachusetts pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography with a minor in Photography. While at Elon, she has performed in Dancing in the Landscape (2020, 2021, 2022), Fall Dance Concert (2021, 2022), Spring Dance Concert (2021, 2022), and a multitude of student-choreographed pieces. Hannah is grateful to have studied abroad in Florence, Italy last spring and performed choreography by Angelo Egarese. She also performed work by Brian Brooks at ADF this summer. Hannah is appreciative of all past performance opportunities and looks forward to dancing with her peers for one last year at Elon. 

Phoebe Crumbine

Phoebe Crumbine (BFA & BA, Elon University) is a multi-faceted artist and performer from Beverly, Massachusetts. She has been selected to perform works by Angelo Egarese, Elizabeth Parkinson, Mary Ann Lamb, Jacob Karr, Cindy Salgado, Kim Wolfe, Maurice Watson, Jiwon Ha, Shaleigh Comerford, Sara Ruth Tourek, and Ming Yung Lang. Her choreography was chosen to be presented at a mainstage production at Elon University. She was selected to study dance and perform in Florence, Italy where she performed in the Florence Dance Festival. She is trained vocally by Gretchen Bruesehoff. She is a candidate for a 500 hour comprehensive Pilates Certification. She is working towards her personal trainer certification. She wants to thank all of her mentors, teachers, family, and friends for supporting her and pushing her past what she thought she was capable of! phoebecrumbine.com IG: phoebecrumbine

Caroline Irmscher

Caroline Irmscher is a senior Dance Performance and Choreography and Communication Design double major from Mississippi. At Elon, she has performed in Dancing In The Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, and various student works. She has also had her choreographic work presented in Fall Dance Concert (2021). This past summer, Caroline was able to study abroad in Florence, Italy, and continue her dance training at the Florence Dance Center.

Lauren Jacobbe

Lauren Jacobbe is a Senior studying Dance Performance and Choreography and Human Service Studies from Western Massachusetts. This summer she studied abroad in Florence, Italy and performed in the Florence Dance Festival Summer 2022. She has previously performed and assisted in Elon University's Productions of Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month, Spring Dance Concert, as well as student run choreography. She has worked closely with Berkshire Dance Theatre from Massachusetts, as well with Dysfunk Crew opening up for dance companies and performing at Jacob's Pillow "On the Road" events in the summer of 2021.

Olivia Lanter

Olivia Lanter is a senior pursuing a double major in BFA Dance Performance & Choreography and BA Psychology with a minor in neuroscience. She is a proud St. Louis native and began dancing at the age of two. Besides dancing in numerous dance concerts on campus, she has also studied dance nationally and internationally. She spent the Summer of 2022 in Florence, Italy, where she performed in the Florence Dance Festival. Olivia also spent last summer with world-renowned choreographers and completed an internship with Clear Talent Group Agency in Los Angeles. She is grateful for the opportunity to complete dance neuropsychological research at Elon and presented her findings at the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science. Ultimately, Olivia is excited to pursue commercial dance after graduation this May.

Rachel Rightmyer

Rachel Rightmyer is a senior majoring in Dance Performance and Choreography and minoring in Exercise Science. Rachel has been in many works throughout her time at Elon, including works by Yoshito Sakuraba, Maurice Watson, Clarice Young, and Brianna Forbes. She is excited to be completing her last performance on the McCrary stage in the Spring Dance Concert performing works by Ming-Lung Yang and Shaleigh Comerford.

Madeline Trigilio

Madeline Trigilio is a senior Dance Performance and Choreography and Arts Administration double major, with a minor in Business Administration. Madeline is native of Georgetown, MA, and has been dancing since the age of two. Throughout her career, she has performed across the United States and in Florence, Italy. She made her professional choreographic debut with Ash & Elm Dance Co. in 2022., and is making her directorial debut this March with her show, The Matriarchy. Madeline is looking forward to pursuing a career in arts administration while keeping dance in her life in new forms.

Kayla Spalding

Kayla Spalding is a dancer and choreographer from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is a senior at Elon University, majoring in both Dance Performance and Choreography (BFA) and History (AB). During her time at Elon, she has performed in Dancing In The Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert all four years. Kayla has also presented work during the Dancing In The Landscape and the Fall Dance Concert at Elon. She also performed in both the Richmond Dance Festival and Florence Dance Festival this past year. Kayla is incredibly thankful for all her opportunities throughout her time at Elon!

Jessica Werfel

Jessica is a senior from Virginia, pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography and B.A. in Arts Administration. She studied abroad at the Florence Dance Center in Italy in Spring 2023. She has danced professionally with Krista Tucker Insights Modern Dance Company, DHH Collaborative, and the Fairfax Ballet. Jessica’s choreography “Just Becoming” was selected to be in Elon’s Dancing in the Landscape performance of 2022. She is also conducting undergraduate research on dance improvisation, to be presented Spring 2024 in the Rhoades Grant Dance Concert. She is thrilled to be performing in Spring Dance Concert this year!

con – nect

Choreographed by Maya Simmons 

Music Credit: “The Year After” by French 79, “The Path” by Zoe Keating, “Escape Artist” by Zoe Keating

Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer and Maya Simmons

Lighting Designer: Sophia Walper

Dancers: Lilly Beaver, Hannah Burnett

Understudy/Rehearsal Assistant: Jessica Werfel

I would like to thank my beautiful dancers, Lilly Beaver and Hannah Burnett, for the amazing work they’ve done this semester in helping me bring this piece back to life. I would also like to thank and commend my understudy, Jessica Werfel, for all the hard work and commitment she put into this process. Finally, I would like to thank and express my gratitude to Jen Guy Metcalf for giving me this opportunity to present this piece and highlight my dancers and their hard work!

Lilly Beaver

Hannah Burnett

Maya Simmons

Lilly Beaver

Lilly, a native of Kannapolis, NC is a senior Dance Performance & Choreography and Psychology major. Lilly’s performance credits include Elon’s Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month, Fall, and Spring Dance Concerts, along with Elon Cares, ADF’s Footprints, NCDF’s Residency Showing, and JOYEMOVEMENT’s Love Notes. She has presented work in the Fall Dance Concert and numerous festivals and is excited to present work in this year’s Dancing in the Landscape. Lilly has enjoyed working with various guest artists, faculty, and student choreographers. She is grateful to be an apprentice with the JOYEMOVEMENT dance company and a teacher at Miss Kim's.

Hannah Burnett

Hannah Burnett is a senior from Beverly, Massachusetts pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography with a minor in Photography. While at Elon, she has performed in Dancing in the Landscape (2020, 2021, 2022), Fall Dance Concert (2021, 2022), Spring Dance Concert (2021, 2022), and a multitude of student-choreographed pieces. Hannah is grateful to have studied abroad in Florence, Italy last spring and performed choreography by Angelo Egarese. She also performed work by Brian Brooks at ADF this summer. Hannah is appreciative of all past performance opportunities and looks forward to dancing with her peers for one last year at Elon. 

Maya Simmons

Maya Simmons is a senior from Atlanta, Georgia. She will be earning her B.F.A in Dance Performance & Choreography and B.A. in English this spring. She is proud to have performed with the Florence Dance Festival, American Dance Festival, Ash and Elm Dance Co., NC Dance Project, and in a multitude of performances here at Elon every semester. She is grateful to have had her choreographic work presented in Fall Dance Concert 2022 and Dancing in the Landscape 2023! She is so excited to perform in her final Black History Month!

and then…?

Choreographed by Sara Ruth Tourek

Music Credit: Composition by Consolation, Tracy Chapman, James Blackshaw and edited by Phoebe Crumbine

Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer

Lighting Designer: Sarah Adams

Dancers: Amanda Cousins, Phoebe Crumbine, Hannah Giessler, Lia Kelly, Isabella Piccirilli

Understudies: Maggie Davenport, Meredith Peck

Rehearsal Assistant: Meredith Peck

Amanda Cousins

Phoebe Crumbine

Maggie Davenport

Hannah Giessler

Lia Kelly

Meredith Peck

Isabella Piccirilli

Amanda Cousins

Amanda Cousins is a senior double major in Dance Performance & Choreography (BFA) and Biology (BA). She grew up in Chapel Hill, NC where she trained, competed, and taught at her local studio. Amanda has been in various Elon dance shows and student pieces as a performer, rehearsal assistant, and understudy. Over the summer, she had the opportunity to travel to Florence, Italy and performed at the Florence Dance Festival with other Elon Dancers. Amanda is very grateful for the opportunities Elon Dance has given her and is excited for her final main stage performance at Elon 

Phoebe Crumbine

Phoebe Crumbine (BFA & BA, Elon University) is a multi-faceted artist and performer from Beverly, Massachusetts. She has been selected to perform works by Angelo Egarese, Elizabeth Parkinson, Mary Ann Lamb, Jacob Karr, Cindy Salgado, Kim Wolfe, Maurice Watson, Jiwon Ha, Shaleigh Comerford, Sara Ruth Tourek, and Ming Yung Lang. Her choreography was chosen to be presented at a mainstage production at Elon University. She was selected to study dance and perform in Florence, Italy where she performed in the Florence Dance Festival. She is trained vocally by Gretchen Bruesehoff. She is a candidate for a 500 hour comprehensive Pilates Certification. She is working towards her personal trainer certification. She wants to thank all of her mentors, teachers, family, and friends for supporting her and pushing her past what she thought she was capable of! phoebecrumbine.com IG: phoebecrumbine

Maggie Davenport

Maggie Davenport is from Wake Forest, North Carolina, and is currently a Senior at Elon University. She is pursuing a B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography and a B.S. in Dance Science, as well as minoring in Exercise Science and Business Administration. She has had the opportunity to perform works by Maurice Watson, ShaLeigh Comerford, Ashley Lindsey, Lauren Kearns, Ming-lung Yang, and Dom Alexis. She has previously trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and UNCSA Summer Intensive. She has also attended the 2019 and 2022 Winston-Salem Dance Medicine Conference (WiDSM) and is a member of the International Associaltion for Dance Medicine and Science. In the summer of 2022, Maggie studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and continued her dance training at the Florence Dance Center while performing at the Florence Dance Festival. She feels grateful to be supported by all her family, peers, and faculty while in her final performance season. After graduation Maggie plans to attend nursing school to pursue a career in Dance Medicine.

Hannah Giessler

Hannah Giessler, a senior from Virginia, is pursuing a double major with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a BA in Psychology. She has had the privilege of performing in Dancing In The Landscape, Spring Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, Fall Dance Concert, and numerous other pieces within and outside of the program. Hannah would like to thank her family, both at home and those she found here, for all of their support. She would also like to thank you for coming to her last mainstage show! Enjoy!

Lia Kelly

Lia Kelly is a Senior Dance Performance & Choreography and Communications Design double major from Buffalo, New York. She has performed in and been a part of Dancing In The Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, and various student works. She spent this past summer studying in Florence, Italy where she furthered her training at Florence Dance Center. Her choreographic work is also being presented in Fall Dance Concert (2022). She is so grateful to be a part of the dance program and looks forward to the rest of her time at Elon.

Meredith Peck

Meredith Peck is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and she is a third-year BFA dance performance and choreography major with a second education track in Dance Science (B.A). Peck trained at Premier Studio for Dance in Loveland, Ohio where she was a competitive member of their nationwide travel team. Peck has trained at various renowned studios including Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and Alvin Ailey. She has performed with the Elon University Dance Program in Dancing in the Landscape and Fall Dance Concert.

Isabella Piccirilli

Isabella is a senior Dance Performance/Choreography and Political Science double major. She is also a contracted cadet in the ROTC program here at Elon, where she will commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army this Spring 2023. She has been fortunate to perform pieces by guest choreographers Leah Wilks, Ashley Lindsay, and Maurice Watson, and pieces by faculty such as Casey Avaunt, Keshia Wall, and Renay Aumiller. She is very excited to perform in her very last Fall Dance Concert and finish her final year here at Elon.

Chasing the (1)=One

Choreographed by Maurice Watson

Assistant Choreographer: Grayson Kelsh

Music Credit: Composition by Gil Scott Heron, _BY.ALEXANDER, Juls & Sango, Bonobo

Costume Designer: Heidi Jo Schiemer

Lighting Designer: Alicia Varcoe

Dancers: Haley Asbury, Eileena Boyce, Gabby Cataldo, Lindsey Goldstein, Lauren Jacobbe, Parker MacIntyre, Khairi Morrow, Gia Nguyen, Kayla Spalding

Understudy: Evelyn Ealey

Maurice Watson

Haley Asbury

Eileena Boyce

Gabrielle Cataldo

Lauren Jacobbe

Parker MacIntyre

Gia Nguyen

Khairi Morrow

Kayla Spalding

Lindsey Goldstein

Evelyn Ealey

Maurice Watson

Maurice Watson is a dancer, choreographer, and educator, who holds an MFA in choreography from the University of Iowa and is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. As an artist, he’s performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Lula Washington Dance Theatre, JazzAntiqua Dance and Music Ensemble, and the Long Beach Ballet in California. Watson has also worked commercially in productions at Disney, on Holland American Cruise Lines, as well and in television and films.

Haley Asbury

Haley Asbury is a senior from Morris County, NJ earning a dual degree in BFA Dance Performance & Choreography and BA in Arts Administration. During her time at Elon, Haley has had several opportunities to perform works by guest artists in the Fall Dance Concert and Spring Dance Concert. During her spring semester of junior year, she studied abroad at the Florence Dance Center in Florence, Italy. Haley is grateful to be a choreographer in the show this year, and is excited to share what her and her dancers have created.

Eileena Boyce

Eileena Boyce is a senior working to obtain a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography and a BA in Strategic Communications. She is a native North Carolinian from Durham. During her time at Elon, she has performed in many of the mainstage Elon dance performances, performed in two dance films under Keisha Wall called “I Want to Undie You” and “Reclaiming Power: The Black Maternal Crisis”, as well as trained in Florence and performed in the Florence Dance Festival for study abroad. She recently presented her work for the first time at Elon in Dancing in the Landscape and is preparing to present undergraduate research in the winter. Boyce is beyond thankful for every opportunity and all the support she has gained over the years. She hopes you enjoy the performances!

Gabrielle Cataldo

Gabrielle Cataldo, a native of Jamison, Pennsylvania, is a senior pursuing two degrees in Dance Performance and Choreography (B.F.A.), Arts Administration (B.A.), and a minor in Business Administration. Last spring, she performed a work by Angelo Egarese in Florence, Italy through her study-abroad program. She is excited to have the opportunity to perform again in Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert. Gabrielle wants to thank her family for their constant support and love, without them none of this would be possible. She is very excited to take the stage for one last year at Elon.

Lauren Jacobbe

Lauren Jacobbe is a Senior studying Dance Performance and Choreography and Human Service Studies from Western Massachusetts. This summer she studied abroad in Florence, Italy and performed in the Florence Dance Festival Summer 2022. She has previously performed and assisted in Elon University's Productions of Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month, Spring Dance Concert, as well as student run choreography. She has worked closely with Berkshire Dance Theatre from Massachusetts, as well with Dysfunk Crew opening up for dance companies and performing at Jacob's Pillow "On the Road" events in the summer of 2021.

Parker MacIntyre

Parker MacIntyre is a senior double major in Dance Performance & Choreography (BFA) and Dance Science (BS) with a minor in Exercise Science. Parker is incredibly thankful to be able to present his work in this production, and thanks Elon Dance for allowing him to do so. He has performed in various Elon Dance productions during his time here and is excited to make the most of his senior year.Parker MacIntyre is a senior BFA Dance Performance & Choreography major, originally from Londonderry, New Hampshire. He is also earning a Bachelor of Science in Dance Science with a minor in Exercise Science. Parker has performed in the Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Concert, Spring Dance Concert, and most recently presented his own work in this year's Dancing in the Landscape. He is incredibly grateful to be part of his final Fall Dance and is looking forward to the rest of his senior year.

Gia Nguyen

Gia Nguyen is a junior double major in BFA Dance Performance and Choreography and BA Sociology. She is from Collegeville, PA where she began her dance training at On Edge Movement as a competitive company member. She has had the honor to perform in all of the dance shows presented here at Elon such as Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month Dance Concert as well as both Fall and Spring Dance Concerts. She is thrilled to be back for her third year and is overjoyed to be a part of yet another amazing Elon Dance production. This year, she has the privilege of presenting choreography for the first time in Fall Dance Concert as well as performing in the show as a dancer. She is beyond grateful for this opportunity to showcase her work and hopes that the audience enjoys her narrative through art.

Khairi Morrow

Khairi Morrow is a sophomore double major in Dance Science and Public Health with minors in Biology, Exercise Science, and African/African American Studies. She is from Atlanta, Georgia, where she began her dance training at ETD Studios, Carla's Dance Factory, and performing arts through her high school as a competitive company member. This year Khairi will be in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert. She also serves in various leadership positions on campus and throughout the community.

Kayla Spalding

Kayla Spalding is a dancer and choreographer from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is a senior at Elon University, majoring in both Dance Performance and Choreography (BFA) and History (AB). During her time at Elon, she has performed in Dancing In The Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert all four years. Kayla has also presented work during the Dancing In The Landscape and the Fall Dance Concert at Elon. She also performed in both the Richmond Dance Festival and Florence Dance Festival this past year. Kayla is incredibly thankful for all her opportunities throughout her time at Elon!

Lindsey Goldstein

Lindsey is a sophomore Dance Performance and Choreography major with a minor in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She is originally from outside of Boston, MA, and has been dancing since she was three years old! This year, Lindsey has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, and a student production titled Semicolon. She is so excited to be a part of the Spring Dance Concert and hopes you enjoy the show!

Evelyn Ealey

Evelyn Ealey is a second year at Elon University pursuing a double major in Dance Performance & Choreography and Strategic Communications. She is from Fort Mill, South Carolina and is so excited to be a part of the Spring Dance Concert. She has enjoyed participating in Dancing In The Landscape, the Fall Dance Concert, and the Black History Month Dance Concert this year and is eager to see what the rest of her time at Elon will bring!