Audience Advisory: This production include a strobe lighting effect.
Director’s Note
As the campus becomes full of vibrant colors, please take a moment to notice the sound and smell of the crispy leaves beneath your feet which lingers on a brisk morning. We now invite you to continue to open all of your senses and experience the captivating movement of the Elon University 2023 Fall Dance Concert featuring student, professional faculty, and guest choreography. This 75-minute event with no intermission will take you on a journey through a visual, emotional, and sensory display of collected artistry. We are excited to share our passion with you and I give thanks for the great energy of everyone involved. Hope you enjoy the show!
Special Thanks
Fred Rubeck and Performing Arts Department, Jen Guy Metcalf and Dance Program, David McGraw and Arts Administration Program, Charles Johnson and Theatrical Design & Technology Program, Production Team, House Management, Heidi Jo Schiemer, Guest Choreographer, Jessica Werfel, Student crew and backstage support, The Elon Dance Experience Event, and Parents & Families for continued support
Production Team
| Artistic Director | Jasmine Powell |
| Assistant to the Director | Jessica Werfel |
| Stage Manager | Becca Wycoff |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Ailish O’Brien |
| Production Manager | Charles Johnson |
| Costume Coordinator | Heidi Jo Schiemer |
| Lead Lighting Designer | Gregory Thorn |
| Sound Designer | Michael Smith |
| Technical Director | Luis Silva |
| Light Board Op | Haley Avari |
| Sound Board Op | Winell Henriquez |
| Set Run Crew | Noah Macam |
| Wardrobe | Ella Carver |
| Wardrobe | Noelle Drummonds |
| Front-of-House Supervisor | David McGraw |
| House Manager | Lillian Chen |
| Poster Design | Sydney Dye |
Dances
past tense
Choreographer: Gia Nguyen
Music Credit: “People and I” by Benjamin Clementine and “Long Way Home” by The Slow Show
Costume Coordinator: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Design: Casey Spielman
Main Performer: Mia Johnson
Alternate Performer (2 pm): Hannah Furey
My piece, “past tense” is about the courage it takes to continue after enduring a struggle. My dancer portrays the journey of someone who has experienced a hardship in the past and the process of healing in the present. I want to show that strength can come from within even when you feel alone. I want the audience to feel the emotion from my dancer and understand that there is always a light within the dark. I want to thank my dancers for transforming this piece so beautifully. I am so grateful for this opportunity and hope the audience enjoys my piece!
Excavating Memories
Choreographer: Olivia Lanter
Music Credit: “Ultralight Beam” Instrumental by Kanye West, “White” by Odd Future Ft. Frank Ocean, “Solitude” Instrumental by M83
Costume Design: Olivia Lanter
Costume Coordinator: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Designer: Sophia Walper
Main Performers: Hannah Burnett, Brooke Goldstein, Anna Iglesias, Katey O’Connell, Meredith Peck, Maya Simmons, Jessica Werfel
Alternate Performer (2 pm): Ellie Schmidt
Rehearsal Assistant: Luella Rick
My piece focuses on a fundamental part of the human experience: revisiting your past. ‘Excavating Memories’ is a creation about digging for something but simultaneously not wanting to find it. Reminiscing transports you to a different space and puts a pause on the present, so I encourage the audience to experience the out-of-body feeling of this reflection. Ultimately, resurfacing memories is a delicate process that can torment you before bringing you peace. I want to extend the largest thank you to my dancers for creating this memory-scape with me and am appreciative to share this creation with you all!
Mambo on Eight
Choreographer: Eli Motley
Music Credit: “At Seventeen” by Janis Ian & original score by Eli Motley
Costume Design: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Design: Gregory Thorn
Main Performers: Haley Asbury, Hannah Furey, Lindsey Goldstein, Gaby Minionis, Emma Morris, Aryanna Vindas
Alternate Performer (2 pm): Lila Snodgrass
Halfway Down
Choreographer: Meredith Peck
Music Credit: “The Lake” by Labrinth & Gustave Rudman, “Nate Growing Up” by Labrinth, “Devil That I Know” by Jacob Banks
Costume Design: Meredith Peck
Lighting Design: Casey Spielman
Main Performer: Pheriby Bryan
Rehearsal Assistant: Lilly Sears
When will I be?
Choreographer: Taryn Vander Hoop
Music Credit: Original composition by Squash & Biscuit (Shuwen Zhao & Brian Griffith)
Costume Design: Taryn Vander Hoop
Costume Coordinator: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Designer: Sophia Walper
Main Performers: Maggie Adams, Maya Alizzeo, Olivia Lanter, Sarah Rothacker, Ellie Schmidt
Rehearsal Assistant: Annalise Gehling (Los Angeles), Natalie Dixon (Elon)
Rehearsal Director: Jen Guy Metcalf
This piece is a product of the 2023 summer Elon in LA program.
Flightless Doves
Choreographer: Jasmine Powell
Music Credit: Original Composition by Kyler Chen
Costume Design: Jasmine Powell
Lighting Design: Sarah Adams
Main Performers: Hannah Harris, Sophie Verrecchia
Alternate Performer (2 pm): Aleah Newman
Rehearsal Assistants: Lilly Beaver, Elizabeth Kennedy
This piece circumvents the gaze of nostalgia which either grips remembrance or slips into the unknown. I am excited to bring this piece closer to home by restaging this duet on Elon students after performing in the International Detroit Dance City Festival’s choreographer mainstage theater.
You Will Never Know
Choreographer: Haley Asbury
Music Credit: “The Way I Do” by Bishopp Briggs
Costume Design: Haley Asbury
Costume Coordinator: Heidi Jo Schiemer
Lighting Designer: Sarah Adams
Main Performers: Maggie Adams, Lilly Beaver, Gabby Cataldo, Lila Snodgrass, Evelyn Ealey, Mia Johnson, Madison Kelly, Gia Nguyen, Katey O’Connell
Alternate Performer (2 pm): Angelina DeMartino
Continuous Questions
Guest Choreographer: Lee Edwards
Music Credit: “Reflections” by Nicholas Britell and Robert Glasper, “Sunshine” by Cleo Sol, “After the Storm” by Robert Glasper, “Bad Bad News” by Leon Bridges, and original text from the dancers. Editing by Lee Edwards
Costume Design: Lee Edwards & Dancers
Lighting Design: Gregory Thorn
Main Performers: Anaya Agrad, Sophie David, Evelyn Ealey, Brooke Goldstein, Lilly Sears, Isabella Sessa, Emma Stenger, Madi Trigilio
Rehearsal Assistant: Sophie Seitchik
Ask your self:
What do you care about? What do you love? What are you afraid of?
How does reflecting on these questions aide you in re-grounding or re-orienting?
How do you move through or with your responses?
Choreographers
Jasmine Powell
Haley Asbury
Olivia Lanter
Meredith Peck
Gia Nguyen
Taryn Vander Hoop
Lee Edwards
Elijah Motley
Jasmine Powell
Jasmine Powell, MFA, is a Creative Expressionist from Hillsborough, NC. Her artistry researches untold stories of interrelated sociological and cultural embodiment and serves as an Elon University Performing Arts Professor. Jasmine has danced with Philadanco, Dianne McIntyre, Milton Myers, Ron Brown, Bill T. Jones, Culture Mill and currently performs with KT Dance Collective. Through her various artistic expressions in performance theaters, dance/film festivals, music videos and most recently the 2023 International Detroit Dance City Festival season, she smiles at the opportunity to share her work rooted in conceptual storytelling and is always relating to others through a creative expressionist lens.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Taryn Vander Hoop
Taryn Vander Hoop (she/her) is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and producer. She is the co-founder of Summation Dance, an NYC/LA based modern dance company, called “full of energy and creativity” by The New York Times. Summation has performed at Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC), Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Judson Memorial Church, Jacob’s Pillow, and more, and received commissions from numerous venues and universities across the country. Taryn earned a B.S. in Dance with additional majors in English Literature, and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a M.F.A. from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner and two children and is an Assistant Professor at Loyola Marymount University.
Lee Edwards
Lee Edwards (they/them) is an artist, movement facilitator, memory worker, embodied storyteller; creating through dance, sound, video, and ethnography. Their practice takes shape via creative space making, dreaming, playing, improvisational and somatic techniques, collaboration, and writing. From 2015-2020 Lee presented work through their project based collective. They hold a B.F.A in Dance from University of the Arts, M.F.A in Dance, and Master’s Certificate in African and African American Studies from Duke University. Lee presented work in North Carolina Dance Festival’s 2023 season, and is excited to share Continuous Questions, a new work, created in collaboration with students at Elon University.
Elijah Motley
Elijah, or Eli, Motley (Greensboro, NC) is a choreographer, dancer, instructor, and lecturer. Eli occupies a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance and Choreography from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Eli also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Theatre and a Bachelor of Science in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.Eli’s movement vocabulary is at the intersection of breaking, popping, house, hip-hop, contemporary, and modern dance. Eli performed with Chicago Dance Crash as a company member for three years performing works like Two Inside, Lil Pine Nut, and The Bricklayers. In 2022, he had the honor to perform as a guest performer in Rennie Harris Puremovement’s Lifted at the American Dance Festival. As a solo performer, Eli presented work at the Austin Dance Festival (Texas), Links Hall Co-Missions (Chicago), and Clarice Young Project’s Black History Month Dance (North Carolina). In addition to performing, Eli teaches at dance festivals, intensives, and various colleges. You can check out more of Eli at https://elimotley.com/.
Company Bios
Winell Henriquez
Sophie Verrecchia
Sophie Seitchik
Sophie David
Sophia Walper
Sarah Rothacker
Sarah Kay Adams
Pheriby Bryan
Olivia Lanter
Noelle Drummonds
Noah Macam
Natalie Dixon
Michael Smith
Mia Johnson
Meredith Peck
Maya Simmons
Maya Alizzeo
Maggie Adams
Madison Kelly
Madeline Trigilio
Luella Rick
Lindsey Goldstein
Lilly Sears
Lilly Beaver
Lila Snodgrass
Katey O’Connell
Jessica Werfel
Jen Guy Metcalf
Isabella Sessa
Hannah Harris
Hannah Furey
Hannah Burnett
Haley Asbury
Greg Thorn
Gia Nguyen
Gaby Minionis
Gabrielle Cataldo
Evelyn Ealey
Emma Stenger
Emma Morris
Ellie Schmidt
Elizabeth Kennedy
David McGraw
Brooke Goldstein
Anna Iglesias
Angelina DeMartino
Anaya Agard
Aleah Newman
Ailish O’Brien
Winell Henriquez
Winell Henriquez is a first-year college student at Elon University from Clayton, NC. She is in the 3+1 accelerated program for Business Analytics, as well as majoring in Marketing and Dance Performance and Choreography. Winell has previously trained at the International Ballet Academy in Cary, NC.
Sophie Verrecchia
Sophie Verrecchia is a sophomore originally from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Previously, she danced at Savage Dance Company as a part of the competitive dance team. She is continuing her dance training here at Elon as well as majoring in Psychology and minoring in Neuroscience.
Sophie Seitchik
Sophie Seitchik is a sophomore from Woodstock, MD pursuing her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and BS in Dance Science. This semester, she will be part of the Black History Month Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, The Matriarchy, as well as a student research project performance on SURF Day. She is so excited to be performing for you today!
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!
Sophia Walper
Sophia Walper is a junior with majors in Theatrical Design and Technology, and Psychology. This academic year Sophia will work as a lighting designer on John Proctor Is The Villain, Fall Dance 2023, and Myths and Hymns. Recent credits include: Clue, Black History Month Dance Concert, and Bridges of Madison County.
Sarah Rothacker
Sarah Rothacker is a Junior at Elon University majoring in Dance Performance and Choreography (BFA) and Communication Design (BA) from Dublin, OH. While at Elon she has been given the opportunity to perform in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Concert and Spring Dance Concert along with various student works including Semicolon last fall, and The Rhoades Grant Dance Concert later this semester. She has had the opportunity to study dance in Los Angeles this past Summer and plans to dance at the study abroad program in Florence, Italy in Summer 2024.
Sarah Kay Adams
Sarah Kay is now a senior, here at Elon, as a double major in Arts Administration and Theatre Design/Technology with a concentration in sound and lighting. Her recent credits include A3 for Illinois at The Fisher Center at Bard, Sound Designer for Concord Floral as well as Spring Awakening here at Elon and Sound Designer/Audio Engineer at the Bigfork Summer Playhouse for Guys and Dolls, Mamma Mia, and more. Sarah has worked in theaters and performing arts centers from CA to NY. Sarah is so proud of her work as sound designer for this show she hopes you enjoy.
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.
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.
Noelle Drummonds
Noelle is a freshman Dance major from Rogers, Arkansas and is thrilled to be rolling in the dirt. She has performed and choreographed at Arkansas Public Theatre with most recent credits including Something Rotten!, The Music Man, and Little Shop of Horrors. She would like to thank her family and her Performing Arts LLC friends for coming and supporting her.
Noah Macam
Noah Macam is a freshman BFA Dance Performance & Arts Admin double major from St. Louis, MO. He is thrilled to be closing out his first year of Elon performances with the Spring Dance Concert, which follows his performances in the Black History Month Dance Concert, A Chorus Line (Mike Costa), and Dancing In The Landscape. Regional credits at The Muny include: Beauty & The Best, RENT, Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins, and On Your Feet! Many thanks to his family and friends for their endless support!
Natalie Dixon
Natalie Dixon is a second year at Elon, pursuing a double major in Dance Performance and Choreography and Dance Science. She is from Annapolis Maryland and is excited to participate in Dancing in the Landscape this year!
Michael Smith
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.
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.
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!
Maya Alizzeo
Maya is a junior pursuing a double major in Communication Design and Strategic Communications along with a minor in Dance.
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!
Madison Kelly
Madison Kelly is a sophomore student at Elon University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Business Analytics and minor in Dance. She grew up in Randolph, New Jersey and began dancing at 3 years old primarily at the Dance Academy of North Jersey. She is very excited to perform in her first Fall Dance Concert!
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.
Luella Rick
Luella Rick is a first year at Elon pursuing a major in Dance Performance and Choreography. She is from Oakton, VA and began dancing when she was 4 at Centreville Dance Academy. She trained there for 14 years in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary and was on the competition team for 7 years. This year at Elon, Luella will perform in Dancing in The Landscape and the Spring Dance Concert.
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!
Lilly Sears
Lilly Sears is a sophomore with a major in Dance Performance and Choreography and two minors in Expressive Art and Psychology. She is from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina and is so excited to be a part of the Elon Performing Arts program. This year Lilly will be performing in Dancing in the Landscape, the Fall Dance Concert, the Black History Month Concert, and the Spring Dance Concert.
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.
Lila Snodgrass
Lila Snodgrass is a sophomore from Pittsburgh double majoring in Dance Performance and Choreography and mathematics. This summer, Lila attended the American Dance Festival, where she had the opportunity to perform for Abdel R. Salaam. At Elon this year, Lila performed in Dancing In The Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, and the Black History Month Dance Concert, and she traveled to Ghana to study West African dance. She is currently working on her research involving the intersection between math and dance through knot theory under the mentorship of Dr. Nancy Scherich. Lila is so excited to be part of this performance!
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.
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!
Jen Guy Metcalf
Jen Guy Metcalf is an Associate Professor of Dance at Elon University. She earned an M.F.A. in Dance Choreography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a B.F.A. in Dance with a concentration in Ballet from Point Park University. After undergraduate school, she performed professionally with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet and for many independent choreographers. Metcalf is an award-winning choreographer and filmmaker who presented her work in the US, Ireland, Sweden, France, England, Turkey, Scotland, Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands and Bosnia & Herzegovina. She is the founder and artistic director of TERRANOVA Dance Theatre based in Greensboro, North Carolina
Isabella Sessa
Isabella Sessa was born and raised in Monmouth County, New Jersey. She is currently a senior at Elon University double majoring in Dance Performance & Choreography and Arts Administration with a Business Administration minor. At Elon, Isabella will be performing in Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, The Matriarchy: Stories of Womankind, and her senior thesis production this year! This past spring semester, Isabella trained in Florence, Italy at the Florence Dance Center to continue her dance education. She is so excited to be dancing with her peers for one last time!
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.
Hannah Furey
Hannah Furey is a sophomore at Elon University pursing a major in Dance Performance & Choreography as well as Public Health Studies. She has been dancing for 16 years in her home town of Sturbridge, Massachusetts and is thrilled to continue her training at Elon. Along with Dancing in the Landscape, she will also perform in the Fall Dance Concert and the Black History Month Concert this year.
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.
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.
Greg Thorn
Greg Thorn is the Technical Director for Cultural Programs at Elon University, as well as a freelance lighting designer. Some of his lighting design credits include Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia!, Cabaret, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Greg recently received his M.F.A in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Lighting Design from the University of Idaho in December of 2022.
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.
Gaby Minionis
Gaby is a senior at Elon, working towards her BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography, BA in Arts Administration and BS in Sport Management. Originally from Fairfax, VA, she performed with the Burke Civic Ballet for 7 seasons. As a former member of The Movement Studios in Springfield, VA, she traveled and competed nationally and trained with Kathryn McCormick, Dejan Tubic and Kyle Robinson of DMI. While dancing at Elon, Gaby has performed in multiple shows including: Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert and Black History Month Concert. She proudly represented Elon University at the Accademia Europea di Firenze while performing “Catching Light” by Laura Kerns in Florence, Italy. Currently, Gaby is choreographing for studios in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
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.
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!
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.
Emma Morris
Emma Morris is a junior at Elon pursuing a double major in Dance Performance & Choreography and Dance Science. She is from Lexington, Kentucky and is thrilled to continue on her path of becoming a professional dancer here at Elon. At Elon, she has had multiple opportunities to perform in Dancing In The Landscape, Spring Dance Concert & Black History Month Dance Concert. Emma was given the opportunity to debut her choreography in Dancing in the Landscape earlier this year. She is grateful and excited to perform in Fall Dance for the first time!
Ellie Schmidt
Ellie Schmidt is a senior Cinema and Television Arts major, minoring in Creative Writing and Dance. At Elon, she has performed in and choreographed for Elon DanceWorks spring showcases. Ellie has been dancing for 13 years and danced competitively at Footnotes Dance and Acrobatics Studio in Roswell, GA for 8 years. During that time, she earned many first place awards and regional titles for her solos. Ellie is trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical, modern, musical theater, and acrobatics.
Elizabeth Kennedy
Elizabeth Kennedy is a second year Psychology Major with two minors in Dance and Criminal Justice. She is from Redding, Connecticut, where she started her dance training at 3 years old. Her first year at Elon she performed in Dancing in the Landscape as well as worked on tech crew for the spring play, Clue. This year she has worked as an alternate/rehearsal assistant for the Fall Dance Concert.
David McGraw
Prof. McGraw serves as the Program Coordinator for Arts Administration and the Front-of-House Supervisor for Performing Arts. Field research: Stage Manager Survey (2006-Present, www.stagemanagersurvey.com), Research Fellow for the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (2021, www.snaaparts.org), South African Creative Industries Technical Staff Survey (2019), SM2030 Project (2020-Present, www.stagemanagersurvey.com), and Return to the Stage (2020-2021, www.returntothestage.com). His most recent professional credit has been stage manager for REBELLIOUS at Triad Stage. www.davidjmcgraw.com
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.
Anna Iglesias
Anna Iglesias is from Tampa, Florida. She is a third year student pursuing a B.S. in Dance Science on the Accelerated Pathway to PT. She has been dancing for 17 years, and danced for most of her life at her former studio, All American Dance Factory. So far, she has been a part of Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, DanceWorks shows, and some student-run productions here at Elon. She can't wait to be involved in more shows this year and in the future.
Angelina DeMartino
Angelina DeMartino is a second year at Elon pursuing a double major in Dance Performance and Choreography and Psychology. She is from Holland, Massachusetts and is so excited to be a part of the Elon Performing Arts community. This year, she will be participating in Dancing In The Landscape, the Fall Dance Concert, and the Black History Month Dance Concert.
Anaya Agard
Anaya is a second year Dance Performance & Choreography and Arts Administration double major from Norwalk CT. She has trained in ballet and modern since she was five years old and is loving all the new dance styles and movements she has been learning in Elon’s dance program thus far. This year, she will be performing in Dancing in the Landscape, the Fall Dance Concert, the Black History Month Dance Concert, and the Spring Dance Concert. She is so excited to share her love of dance with you!!
Aleah Newman
Aleah Newman Is a sophomore BFA Dance Major from Chicago who has been dancing from a young age in various styles and spent four years dancing with Inaside Chicago Dance's Pre-professional company. She is so happy to continue her study of dance here at Elon.
Ailish O’Brien
Ailish O’Brien is a first-year Acting Major and Dance Minor from Southern Pines, North Carolina. She is beyond excited to be in her first mainstage production at Elon and hopes that everyone enjoys the show!