Students Present Spring Dance Projects in Bodystories Show

by Sheila Vargas
edited by Abbie Tumbleson

Students in the composition and dance technique classes presented five duets in a program they called Bodystories on Tuesday May 4.

The event was held at the Warehouse Theater at 7:00 p.m. and was a project the students had been working on throughout the spring semester. Their movements blended improvisation and dance performance. Each student was asked to work independently on dance sequences and then combine their ideas with those of a partner in order to create the duet they then presented.

(photo: Sheila Vargas)

“We worked on our duet for a month,” said sophomore Jaime Montagno, who is majoring in both education and dance.

“We practiced every Tuesday in class and the students would give us feedback, it was always very positive. I also met with my partner outside of class.”

The nine student performers were Elissa Cummings, Sarah Dembishack, Nora Cuddy, Alex Hajjar, Jaime Montagno, Gabrielle Aufiero, Colette Fortin, Heather Wilson and Crystal Pratt.

Kimberly Brothers, who saw the performance for the first time, said, “The part I found the most interesting was when Colette and Heather used their bodies to make noises instead of using actual music like everyone else.”

Gabrielle Aufiero, who performed twice during the night commented on her performance by saying, “I think you can always improve but in terms of this performance I have no complaints. This was also the first time I’ve worked with Jamie.”

After the dance portion of the program there was also a piece of a theater final project presented from the advanced acting class. They read a portion of the children’s book “Haroon in the Sea of Stories.”

Senior Courtney Falite, who read with the advanced acting class, also performed two monologues for the crowd on her own as well as a dance piece.