Director’s Note
Welcome to the Department of Performing Arts 2020 Fall Dance Concert. This year’s first-ever virtual presentation features six original dance compositions for physically distanced solos, duets, trios, and quartets celebrating diverse and varied voices in dance. While uniquely different in presentation, the choreographers created rich emotional content that, even while physically distanced, reflects the challenges, limitations, repressions, and isolation experienced uniquely by being alive in 2020. The artistic choices made from one dance to another are eloquently executed by Elon dance majors charged with performing such varied and nuanced choreography. While certainly with its challenges, we have found this to be a rich and fruitful experience that captures the essence of live theater that audiences can view from the comfort of their own home. This year’s production features dances from three student choreographers: Caroline Boothe, Marissa Mahoney, and Lauren Mitchell. It also features works by Professors Renay Aumiller, Alexandra Joye Warren, and guest artist Jasmine Powell. This show represents one more example of how dancers work very well with limitations and find ways to create and move in any given circumstance. Thank you for viewing, and I hope you enjoy Elon’s first-ever virtual Fall Dance Concert!
Warmly,
Renay Aumiller, Artistic Director
Special Thanks
Casey Avaunt, Lauren Kearns, Marissa Mahoney, David McGraw, J. McMerty, Jen Guy Metcalf, Kimberly Rippy, Justin Tornow, and Jessica Werfel
Pieces
Holding Space
Choreographed by Renay Aumiller
Music Credit: “Faith’s Hymn” by Beautiful Chorus
Renay Aumiller
Caroline Boothe
Caroline Bernardon
Renay Aumiller
Renay Aumiller is an Associate Professor of Dance at Elon University, Registered Yoga teacher, and a Franklin Method Educator. She is an artist and scholar specializing in contemporary dance technique and the creative process of dance-making. She has presented her choreography in festivals across United States, Sweden, United Kingdom, Canada, Pakistan, Serbia, Taiwan, and Italy. Her research in teaching pedagogy has been presented in the National Dance Educators Organization conferences, Somatic Dance Educators Conference, the NC Dance Educators Organization conferences, the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast American College Dance Association Conferences, and Northeast Normal University in Changchun, China. Aumiller’s education includes earning an MFA in Choreography from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BA in Dance Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Caroline Boothe
Caroline Boothe is a native of Chester, New Jersey. She is currently a senior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A in Dance and a B.S in Accounting. She has performed in Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month, and student choreographed research projects/pieces. She has presented choreography in Fall Dance Concert and will be choreographing for this year's Fall Dance Concert.
Caroline Bernardon
Caroline Bernardon is a native of Madison, New Jersey and is currently living in Naples, Florida. She is a Senior Dance Performance & Choreography Major with minors in Exercise Science and Biology. In addition to pursuing a career in dance, and as a certified yoga instructor, she will be attending graduate school in the fall for her Masters of Science in Nutrition. Caroline is so thankful for her four years at Elon and is looking forward to her last main stage performance!
Beings
Choreographed by Lauren Mitchell
Music Credit: “Hurricane” by Slow Meadow, Mac Miller in an interview with Sway’s Universe: “Mac Miller Speaks on Addiction + talks Love & Working with Kendrick & Anderson. Paak,” Music Edited by Lauren Mitchell
Kate Axness
Mackenzie Holub
Sarah McNamee
Lauren Mitchell
Rachel Rightmyer
Alexandra Strouse
Erin Woods
Kate Axness
Katherine (Kate) Axness is a senior Dance Performance and Choreography major from Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She is also pursuing a Leadership Studies minor, a Chemistry Minor, and the Pre-Medicine track. She has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Salon, Red Circle Showcase, Fall Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert as well as choreographed for Red Circle Showcase and Salon. While studying abroad in Israel last semester, she took artistic and technical training courses at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in the disciplines of classical ballet, Cunningham technique, Gaga, contemporary, release technique, repertoire, and improvisation.
Mackenzie Holub
Mackenzie Holub is originally from Springfield, VA. She is currently a senior pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography and a B.A. in Arts Administration. She has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concerts and Spring Dance Concerts. During her time at Elon, she has interned with the Los Angeles Ballet and McDonald Selznick Associates Agency, having most recently completed the Elon in LA program this past summer. She is also currently working on her Pilates mat and reformer certification.
Sarah McNamee
Sarah McNamee is a senior majoring in Dance Performance and Choreography and Exercise Science. From Charlotte, NC, she danced at Dance Productions and graduated from Northwest School of the Arts as a dance major. At Elon, she has performed in Dancing in the Landscape in 2017 and 2019, Echoes: the Spring Dance Concert in 2018, Chroma: the Spring Dance Concert in 2019, the Research Fellows show in 2019, and the Fall Dance Concert in 2019. She also spent a summer performing in Florence, Italy. Sarah is excited to spend her senior year with a great group of dancers and faculty!
Lauren Mitchell
Lauren Mitchell, from Sparta, New Jersey, is a senior at Elon pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography and B.S. in Dance Science. She has worked with various faculty and student choreographers in performances throughout the years, both on film and stage. During the summer of 2019 she had the incredible opportunity to travel and study abroad in Florence, Italy, training at the Florence Dance Center. This year she is working towards her goals of becoming a pediatric occupational therapist and dance teacher, where she will get to work with kids while continuing her passion for dance!
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.
Alexandra Strouse
Alexandra Love Strouse is a senior at Elon University, pursuing her B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography and B.A. in Strategic Communications. Alexandra has performed as an Apprentice with JOYEMOVEMENT, dance company in Greensboro, North Carolina, under the direction of Alexandra Joye Warren. At Elon, she has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Concert, College Fellows Concert, Red Circle Showcase, and Spring Dance Concert. At Elon, Alexandra has presented her choreography in Dancing in the Landscape and Red Circle Showcase. Alexandra was recently awarded the Elon Outstanding Senior Dance Performance and Choreography Award. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Alexandra studied dance with the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, the Inertia Dance Company, and The Moving Company Dance Center. Alexandra was awarded the Maryland All-State Dance Award and the Carver Unsung Hero Dance Award. Her training has also included summer intensive programs with The Ailey School and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. The past two summers, Alexandra has worked as the Ailey Extension Workshop Coordinator and Intern with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. This summer, she also worked as the Marketing/Public Relations Intern with the Durham Performing Arts Center.
Erin Woods
Erin Woods is a native of Ridgewood, New Jersey. She is currently a junior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography and a B.S. in Dance Science. Previously, Erin trained with the Steps on Broadway Conservatory program and Ridgewood Performing Arts Center, and has attended summer intensives with the Pennsylvania Ballet. She completed an internship with Hackensack Meridian Health in the inpatient Physical Therapy unit. Erin has performed in Elon’s Fall Dance Concert (2019 & 2020), the Elon College Fellows Showcase (2019), Dancing in the Landscape (2018), and is excited to perform in this year’s Spring Dance Concert!
Overthought
Choreographed by Caroline Boothe
Music Credit: “Slow Up” by Jacob Banks, Radio Static, edited by Caroline Boothe
Caroline Boothe
Lia Kelly
Caroline Boothe
Caroline Boothe is a native of Chester, New Jersey. She is currently a senior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A in Dance and a B.S in Accounting. She has performed in Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month, and student choreographed research projects/pieces. She has presented choreography in Fall Dance Concert and will be choreographing for this year's Fall Dance Concert.
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.
Enkindle
Choreographed by Jasmine Powell
Music Credit: “ASMR Lighter Sounds” by Pudding ASMR, “Tracking Airplanes” by The Echelon Effect, “Temple of the Sun” by Robin Mahler, “Reaching for the Moon” by Lizz Wright
Jasmine Powell
Olivia Lanter
Cassidy Perry
Madi Trigilio
Lauren Weinberg
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.
Olivia Lanter
Olivia Lanter is a senior undergraduate student at Elon University in Elon, NC. She is pursuing a double major in BFA Dance Performance & Choreography and BA Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. Olivia is a proud St. Louis native and began dancing at the age of two. Besides performing in numerous dance concerts on campus, she has also studied dance in Florence, Italy and Los Angeles. This fall, she presented her dance neuropsychological research at IADMS. Olivia is endlessly grateful for the opportunity to be a choreographer in this show. She hopes to pursue commercial dance after graduating in this coming spring.
Cassidy Perry
Cassidy Perry is a native of Stone Mountain, Georgia. She is currently a senior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography and Minors in Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, and Exercise Science. She trained with Phusion Dance Company for 11 years as a pre-professional artist and has attended summer intensives, including Dance Theater of Harlem and Atlanta Dance Experience. At Elon, she has performed in a number of dance concerts. She was also able to dance abroad over Winter Term during which she studied West African dance and culture in Ghana.
Madi Trigilio
Madeline Trigilio is a senior and is native of Georgetown, MA. She has performed across the United States and in Florence, Italy, and made her professional choreographic debut with Ash & Elm Dance Co. in 2022. She is making her directorial debut as a Rhoades Scholar in March 2024 with her show, The Matriarchy: Stories of Womankind. Madeline is excited to be performing in Fall Dance Concert this year as she finishes up her final year Elon University. She is looking forward to pursuing a career in arts administration while keeping dance in her life in new forms.
Lauren Weinberg
Lauren Weinberg is a native of San Antonio, Texas and currently, a senior at Elon University. She is pursuing a double major with a B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography and a B.S in Dance Science, along with a minor in Exercise Science. She studied at San Antonio Dance Academy for ten years along with San Antonio Metropolitan Dance Company for four years. She has attended summer intensives with American Ballet Theater, The Joffrey Ballet, and Point Park University. During her undergraduate career, Lauren has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, Black History Dance Concert, Student Fellowship Productions and various student works. She has also choreographed in the Red Circle Showcase and her first mainstage choreography piece, Just A Number, was performed in this year’s Fall Dance Concert. Just A Number¸ was selected through an adjudicating process, to be performed and compete in the Richmond Dance Festival in May. Lauren is also a Club Pilates Apprentice and will be fully certified in Pilate’s mat and equipment by graduation!
En Caul
Choreographed by Marissa Mahoney
Music Credit: “Seigfried” by Frank Ocean
Nov. 13 Performers: Olivia Haskell, Olivia Walton, and Erin Woods
Nov. 14 Performers: Kate Axness, Ashlyn Deloughy, and Sarah DeSordi
Kate Axness
Sarah DeSordi
Olivia Haskell
Marissa Mahoney
Olivia Walton
Erin Woods
Kate Axness
Katherine (Kate) Axness is a senior Dance Performance and Choreography major from Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She is also pursuing a Leadership Studies minor, a Chemistry Minor, and the Pre-Medicine track. She has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Salon, Red Circle Showcase, Fall Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert as well as choreographed for Red Circle Showcase and Salon. While studying abroad in Israel last semester, she took artistic and technical training courses at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in the disciplines of classical ballet, Cunningham technique, Gaga, contemporary, release technique, repertoire, and improvisation.
Sarah DeSordi
Sarah DeSordi is a Senior at Elon University earning her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, BS in Dance Science and BS in Exercise Science. Before choosing to study dance in a collegiate setting, she trained at her home studio in New Jersey. Her time at Elon thus far has consisted of performing in multiple dance concerts, site-specific works, and student choreography-research projects in addition to presenting choreographic works of her own. She was even able to further her performance experience and dance training by studying in Florence, Italy. She is excited to pursue an intersection of her interests in both choreography and human performance through art and wellness!
Olivia Haskell
Olivia Haskell is a fourth year student working to complete her B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography and her BA in Psychology. She spends her summers teaching and choreographing at her home studio on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. During her time at Elon University, she has performed in various Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, Senior Fellows Performances, and American College Dance Association. She is excited to continue dancing through her last year at Elon.
Marissa Mahoney
Marissa Mahoney is from Naples, Florida. She is a senior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography, B.A. in Strategic Communications, and a minor in Creative Writing. Marissa’s choreography was featured in the American College Dance Association Southeast Regional Gala and she is excited to showcase her work in the 2020 Fall Dance Concert. Marissa has completed internships at the Merce Cunningham Trust in NYC and Avalon Artists Group in LA. She is also the president of Elon DanceWorks, as well as an office assistant to the head of the performing arts department.
Olivia Walton
Olivia is a native of Wilmington, North Carolina. She is a senior pursuing a BFA in Dance and a BA in Arts Administration with a minor in Business Administration. At Elon, she has worked with various guest artists, such as Gallim and Kira Blazek Ziaii, faculty, and student choreographers in performances throughout the year, both on film and the stage. Recently Olivia participated in the DanceJerusalem Program at Hebrew University in the Spring of 2020, where she worked with past members of the prestigious Batsheva Dance Company. Olivia would like to thank her Elon family for everything and more.
Erin Woods
Erin Woods is a native of Ridgewood, New Jersey. She is currently a junior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography and a B.S. in Dance Science. Previously, Erin trained with the Steps on Broadway Conservatory program and Ridgewood Performing Arts Center, and has attended summer intensives with the Pennsylvania Ballet. She completed an internship with Hackensack Meridian Health in the inpatient Physical Therapy unit. Erin has performed in Elon’s Fall Dance Concert (2019 & 2020), the Elon College Fellows Showcase (2019), Dancing in the Landscape (2018), and is excited to perform in this year’s Spring Dance Concert!
Reclamation
Choreographed by Alexandra Joye Warren
“Go on Blues” by Matthew L. Downer, Original Poetry Commission: Lavinia Jackson and Read by Kayla Jacobs, “Empty Chairs” by Randy Martin, featuring Shannon Harden and Stephanie Liu, “Middle” composed by Alexandra Joye Warren
Alexandra Joye Warren
Hannah Burnett
Hannah Kieserman
Jenna Kulacz
Lauren Jacobbe
Kayla Spalding
Alexandra Joye Warren
Alexandra Joye Warren is the Founding Artistic Director of JOYEMOVEMENT. Her most recent projects include Head Over Heels (Choreographer), Womanifesto (Performer, choreographed by Amelia Renee Byrd) 42nd Street (Director), A Wicked Silence (Playwright, Director, Choreographer), and Movin On’ (Choreographer) a new work in development by Julio Matos and John Franceschina. She was selected for the 2022-2023 Artist-In-Residence for the North Carolina Dance Festival. Alexandra Joye Warren is currently an Assistant Professor of Performing Arts at Elon University, Director/Choreographer for the Music Theatre program.
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.
Hannah Kieserman
Hannah Kieserman is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is currently a freshman at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography. She trained at the Institute of Dance Artistry located in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania for the past 15 years and has completed a pre-college summer program at the University of the Arts earning 3 credits.
Jenna Kulacz
Jenna Kulacz is a native of Westchester, New York. She is currently a senior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography. She has a passion for health and wellness and is a certified yoga instructor. Performance credits include Elon’s Fall Dance Concert and Spring Dance Concert, ACDA, where she performed a duet representing Elon and had her piece selected to be featured in the 2020 Choreography Showcase and the CAPEZIO 125th ANNIVERSARY GALA. She has also performed professionally for Christal Brown’s INSPIRIT In Arts Across America: A Live Virtual Performance with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Jenna is grateful for the talented and dedicated artists who have supported her growth as a dancer and is excited for the future!
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.
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!
Bios
Renay Aumiller
Alexandra Joye Warren
Jasmine Powell
Kate Axness
Caroline Boothe
Caroline Bernardon
Hannah Burnett
Sarah DeSordi
Olivia Haskell
Mackenzie Holub
Hannah Kieserman
Jenna Kulacz
Lauren Jacobbe
Marissa Mahoney
Lia Kelly
Sarah McNamee
Olivia Lanter
Lauren Mitchell
Cassidy Perry
Rachel Rightmyer
Alexandra Strouse
Madi Trigilio
Kayla Spalding
Olivia Walton
Lauren Weinberg
Erin Woods
Renay Aumiller
Renay Aumiller is an Associate Professor of Dance at Elon University, Registered Yoga teacher, and a Franklin Method Educator. She is an artist and scholar specializing in contemporary dance technique and the creative process of dance-making. She has presented her choreography in festivals across United States, Sweden, United Kingdom, Canada, Pakistan, Serbia, Taiwan, and Italy. Her research in teaching pedagogy has been presented in the National Dance Educators Organization conferences, Somatic Dance Educators Conference, the NC Dance Educators Organization conferences, the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast American College Dance Association Conferences, and Northeast Normal University in Changchun, China. Aumiller’s education includes earning an MFA in Choreography from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BA in Dance Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Alexandra Joye Warren
Alexandra Joye Warren is the Founding Artistic Director of JOYEMOVEMENT. Her most recent projects include Head Over Heels (Choreographer), Womanifesto (Performer, choreographed by Amelia Renee Byrd) 42nd Street (Director), A Wicked Silence (Playwright, Director, Choreographer), and Movin On’ (Choreographer) a new work in development by Julio Matos and John Franceschina. She was selected for the 2022-2023 Artist-In-Residence for the North Carolina Dance Festival. Alexandra Joye Warren is currently an Assistant Professor of Performing Arts at Elon University, Director/Choreographer for the Music Theatre program.
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.
Kate Axness
Katherine (Kate) Axness is a senior Dance Performance and Choreography major from Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She is also pursuing a Leadership Studies minor, a Chemistry Minor, and the Pre-Medicine track. She has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Salon, Red Circle Showcase, Fall Dance Concert, and Spring Dance Concert as well as choreographed for Red Circle Showcase and Salon. While studying abroad in Israel last semester, she took artistic and technical training courses at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in the disciplines of classical ballet, Cunningham technique, Gaga, contemporary, release technique, repertoire, and improvisation.
Caroline Boothe
Caroline Boothe is a native of Chester, New Jersey. She is currently a senior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A in Dance and a B.S in Accounting. She has performed in Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, Dancing in the Landscape, Black History Month, and student choreographed research projects/pieces. She has presented choreography in Fall Dance Concert and will be choreographing for this year's Fall Dance Concert.
Caroline Bernardon
Caroline Bernardon is a native of Madison, New Jersey and is currently living in Naples, Florida. She is a Senior Dance Performance & Choreography Major with minors in Exercise Science and Biology. In addition to pursuing a career in dance, and as a certified yoga instructor, she will be attending graduate school in the fall for her Masters of Science in Nutrition. Caroline is so thankful for her four years at Elon and is looking forward to her last main stage performance!
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.
Sarah DeSordi
Sarah DeSordi is a Senior at Elon University earning her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, BS in Dance Science and BS in Exercise Science. Before choosing to study dance in a collegiate setting, she trained at her home studio in New Jersey. Her time at Elon thus far has consisted of performing in multiple dance concerts, site-specific works, and student choreography-research projects in addition to presenting choreographic works of her own. She was even able to further her performance experience and dance training by studying in Florence, Italy. She is excited to pursue an intersection of her interests in both choreography and human performance through art and wellness!
Olivia Haskell
Olivia Haskell is a fourth year student working to complete her B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography and her BA in Psychology. She spends her summers teaching and choreographing at her home studio on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. During her time at Elon University, she has performed in various Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, Black History Month Dance Concert, Senior Fellows Performances, and American College Dance Association. She is excited to continue dancing through her last year at Elon.
Mackenzie Holub
Mackenzie Holub is originally from Springfield, VA. She is currently a senior pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography and a B.A. in Arts Administration. She has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concerts and Spring Dance Concerts. During her time at Elon, she has interned with the Los Angeles Ballet and McDonald Selznick Associates Agency, having most recently completed the Elon in LA program this past summer. She is also currently working on her Pilates mat and reformer certification.
Hannah Kieserman
Hannah Kieserman is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is currently a freshman at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography. She trained at the Institute of Dance Artistry located in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania for the past 15 years and has completed a pre-college summer program at the University of the Arts earning 3 credits.
Jenna Kulacz
Jenna Kulacz is a native of Westchester, New York. She is currently a senior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography. She has a passion for health and wellness and is a certified yoga instructor. Performance credits include Elon’s Fall Dance Concert and Spring Dance Concert, ACDA, where she performed a duet representing Elon and had her piece selected to be featured in the 2020 Choreography Showcase and the CAPEZIO 125th ANNIVERSARY GALA. She has also performed professionally for Christal Brown’s INSPIRIT In Arts Across America: A Live Virtual Performance with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Jenna is grateful for the talented and dedicated artists who have supported her growth as a dancer and is excited for the future!
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.
Marissa Mahoney
Marissa Mahoney is from Naples, Florida. She is a senior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography, B.A. in Strategic Communications, and a minor in Creative Writing. Marissa’s choreography was featured in the American College Dance Association Southeast Regional Gala and she is excited to showcase her work in the 2020 Fall Dance Concert. Marissa has completed internships at the Merce Cunningham Trust in NYC and Avalon Artists Group in LA. She is also the president of Elon DanceWorks, as well as an office assistant to the head of the performing arts department.
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.
Sarah McNamee
Sarah McNamee is a senior majoring in Dance Performance and Choreography and Exercise Science. From Charlotte, NC, she danced at Dance Productions and graduated from Northwest School of the Arts as a dance major. At Elon, she has performed in Dancing in the Landscape in 2017 and 2019, Echoes: the Spring Dance Concert in 2018, Chroma: the Spring Dance Concert in 2019, the Research Fellows show in 2019, and the Fall Dance Concert in 2019. She also spent a summer performing in Florence, Italy. Sarah is excited to spend her senior year with a great group of dancers and faculty!
Olivia Lanter
Olivia Lanter is a senior undergraduate student at Elon University in Elon, NC. She is pursuing a double major in BFA Dance Performance & Choreography and BA Psychology with a minor in Neuroscience. Olivia is a proud St. Louis native and began dancing at the age of two. Besides performing in numerous dance concerts on campus, she has also studied dance in Florence, Italy and Los Angeles. This fall, she presented her dance neuropsychological research at IADMS. Olivia is endlessly grateful for the opportunity to be a choreographer in this show. She hopes to pursue commercial dance after graduating in this coming spring.
Lauren Mitchell
Lauren Mitchell, from Sparta, New Jersey, is a senior at Elon pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography and B.S. in Dance Science. She has worked with various faculty and student choreographers in performances throughout the years, both on film and stage. During the summer of 2019 she had the incredible opportunity to travel and study abroad in Florence, Italy, training at the Florence Dance Center. This year she is working towards her goals of becoming a pediatric occupational therapist and dance teacher, where she will get to work with kids while continuing her passion for dance!
Cassidy Perry
Cassidy Perry is a native of Stone Mountain, Georgia. She is currently a senior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography and Minors in Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, and Exercise Science. She trained with Phusion Dance Company for 11 years as a pre-professional artist and has attended summer intensives, including Dance Theater of Harlem and Atlanta Dance Experience. At Elon, she has performed in a number of dance concerts. She was also able to dance abroad over Winter Term during which she studied West African dance and culture in Ghana.
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.
Alexandra Strouse
Alexandra Love Strouse is a senior at Elon University, pursuing her B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography and B.A. in Strategic Communications. Alexandra has performed as an Apprentice with JOYEMOVEMENT, dance company in Greensboro, North Carolina, under the direction of Alexandra Joye Warren. At Elon, she has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Black History Month Concert, College Fellows Concert, Red Circle Showcase, and Spring Dance Concert. At Elon, Alexandra has presented her choreography in Dancing in the Landscape and Red Circle Showcase. Alexandra was recently awarded the Elon Outstanding Senior Dance Performance and Choreography Award. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Alexandra studied dance with the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology, the Inertia Dance Company, and The Moving Company Dance Center. Alexandra was awarded the Maryland All-State Dance Award and the Carver Unsung Hero Dance Award. Her training has also included summer intensive programs with The Ailey School and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. The past two summers, Alexandra has worked as the Ailey Extension Workshop Coordinator and Intern with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. This summer, she also worked as the Marketing/Public Relations Intern with the Durham Performing Arts Center.
Madi Trigilio
Madeline Trigilio is a senior and is native of Georgetown, MA. She has performed across the United States and in Florence, Italy, and made her professional choreographic debut with Ash & Elm Dance Co. in 2022. She is making her directorial debut as a Rhoades Scholar in March 2024 with her show, The Matriarchy: Stories of Womankind. Madeline is excited to be performing in Fall Dance Concert this year as she finishes up her final year Elon University. She 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!
Olivia Walton
Olivia is a native of Wilmington, North Carolina. She is a senior pursuing a BFA in Dance and a BA in Arts Administration with a minor in Business Administration. At Elon, she has worked with various guest artists, such as Gallim and Kira Blazek Ziaii, faculty, and student choreographers in performances throughout the year, both on film and the stage. Recently Olivia participated in the DanceJerusalem Program at Hebrew University in the Spring of 2020, where she worked with past members of the prestigious Batsheva Dance Company. Olivia would like to thank her Elon family for everything and more.
Lauren Weinberg
Lauren Weinberg is a native of San Antonio, Texas and currently, a senior at Elon University. She is pursuing a double major with a B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography and a B.S in Dance Science, along with a minor in Exercise Science. She studied at San Antonio Dance Academy for ten years along with San Antonio Metropolitan Dance Company for four years. She has attended summer intensives with American Ballet Theater, The Joffrey Ballet, and Point Park University. During her undergraduate career, Lauren has performed in Dancing in the Landscape, Fall Dance Concert, Spring Dance Concert, Black History Dance Concert, Student Fellowship Productions and various student works. She has also choreographed in the Red Circle Showcase and her first mainstage choreography piece, Just A Number, was performed in this year’s Fall Dance Concert. Just A Number¸ was selected through an adjudicating process, to be performed and compete in the Richmond Dance Festival in May. Lauren is also a Club Pilates Apprentice and will be fully certified in Pilate’s mat and equipment by graduation!
Erin Woods
Erin Woods is a native of Ridgewood, New Jersey. She is currently a junior at Elon University pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography and a B.S. in Dance Science. Previously, Erin trained with the Steps on Broadway Conservatory program and Ridgewood Performing Arts Center, and has attended summer intensives with the Pennsylvania Ballet. She completed an internship with Hackensack Meridian Health in the inpatient Physical Therapy unit. Erin has performed in Elon’s Fall Dance Concert (2019 & 2020), the Elon College Fellows Showcase (2019), Dancing in the Landscape (2018), and is excited to perform in this year’s Spring Dance Concert!
Learn more about the process of making this year’s virtual concert.
