Dance Gala Concert

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater ‘awakens’ School of Dance students at Mason’s 2023 Gala Concert

Shayla Brown — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 15:16:59 +0000

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater ‘awakens’ School of Dance students at Mason’s 2023 Gala Concert Shayla Brown Fri, 04/07/2023 - 11:16

In This Story

Karen Reedy

Lawrence M. Jackson

School of Dance students rehearse the choreography for Robert Battle's "Awakening." Photo by Cristian Torres.

Lawrence Jackson, a ��AV School of Dance associate professor, explained why it’s so significant to have contemporary professional choreographers like Robert Battle produce works for the school’s 2023 Dance Company Gala Concert.

School of Dance students rehearse the choreography for Robert Battle's "Awakening." Photo by Cristian Torres.

“Robert Battle is the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), but he's also a choreographer of his own right,” Jackson said. “[Battle] is a choreographic genius and living legend.”

Battle’s “Awakening,” along with works by others, were performed by Mason dance students at the gala concert in March.

“It’s a really unique piece, because it was the first dance that Battle created after he became the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater,” said Karen Reedy, director of Mason’s School of Dance.

In Battle’s “Awakening,” Reedy said, “there's a solo figure that emerges from the group symbolizing himself and all the feelings that go along with that of being chosen to lead the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and this community of people that has such a legacy.”

School of Dance students rehearse the choreography for Robert Battle's "Awakening." Photo by Cristian Torres.

Junior dance major Morgan Olschewske is one of 12 students who performed Battle’s piece, and one of 42 student performers overall, including understudies.

“A couple of us female-identifying dancers were cast in male roles, which was also a cool thing because the dance is kind of gendered but also it doesn't really matter,” said Olschewske. “I am dancing the role of current company dancer, Yannick Lebrun. Yannick is this gigantic man, and I'm like 5 feet 4 inches, so I was honored to get cast as such a larger-than-life dancer.”

Battle visited Mason’s dance students and offered artistic insight into the work, while former AAADT dancer Elisa Clark acting as a choreographic tutor known as a repetiteur.

“Elisa is an incredible stager,” Reedy said. “She's danced most of the works created by Robert Battle. She's his right hand and has done this incredible job of sharing this work.”

Olschewske agreed, calling Elisa “one of the most thorough individuals I ever worked with in terms of knowing everything about the choreography.”

School of Dance students rehearse the choreography for Robert Battle's "Awakening." Photo by Shelby Burgess.

The Gala included of four performances split into two acts. “Awakening,” an 18-minute piece, closed the first half to a standing ovation, said Reedy.

“It was quite gripping for the audience. I believe that many resonated with this very cathartic work,” she said.

The gala is one of the School of Dance’s biggest annual events. Prospective students are often invited.

“If students are on the fence about wanting to join the School of Dance, this concert pushes them over and they're [excited] to come to Mason,” said Jackson. “I was invited to come to one of these concerts, and it's actually what convinced me to accept my position here.”

“This was my first time meeting [Robert Battle], and it was certainly the highlight of my career,” said Jackson. “One of the reasons I was attracted to the School of Dance is its reputation for hosting an array of eminent and emerging artists, providing artistic inspiration and networking opportunities for Mason students and faculty alike.”

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College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

Dance Gala Concert

Dance

Students

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Mason School of Dance students collaborate with Doug Varone and Dancers in upcoming performances

Shayla Brown — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 19:18:42 +0000

Mason School of Dance students collaborate with Doug Varone and Dancers in upcoming performances Shayla Brown Wed, 11/30/2022 - 14:18

In This Story

Karen Reedy

Mason School of Dance students rehearsing for upcoming performance of "Double Octet." Photo by Jessie Ferguson

Dancing is in Morgan Olschewske’s blood. “I was dancing around the house since I could walk. My mom is a dance teacher, and she also went to school for dance.”

The ��AV junior and 16 of her peers were selected by esteemed Doug Varone and Dancers, one of Mason’s artists-in-residence, to participate in the upcoming performances. Eight of the students will perform alongside the company in February, and all 17 will perform at the Center for the Arts at the annual Mason Dance Company Gala in the spring. The students will be performing a version of the piece, “Double Octet."

Auditions took place in October, and all 70 School of Dance majors participated.

“Casting is completely up to the artist who comes in. We try to make this as real-world as possible for our field,” said Karen Reedy, director of Mason’s School of Dance. “All of the students would give anything to be in that room working, so it’s a real highlight for these dancers who were selected.”

Morgan Olschewske (front) and Michael Cherry rehearsing for "Double Octet." Photo by Jessie Ferguson

Guest artist residencies are intense and invaluable artistic experiences for our dancers, said Reedy.

Sophomore Joseph Schuman has been dancing for 16 years and was cast by Doug Varone and Dancers as a cover in the performance.

“I am covering two main roles in the work. So, in the case of injury or any other issue that pulls one of those dancers out of the performance, I would go in for them,” Schuman explained. “It’s a hugely important and integral part of choreographic work, especially now after what we’ve seen through COVID. Things change quickly, and it’s better to have more bodies than less.” 

Olschewske and Schuman said they both admire Varone’s creative process, particularly his style of movement and composition. They found mentors in company dancers Daeyana Moss and Ryan Yamauchi who led the students through the audition process.

“They were so kind and down to earth. I loved just watching them move because they’re professionals in the company,” said Olschewske. “That was a highlight for me in the lesson of what kind of dancer I want to be.”

“I think what makes instructors and auditioners special is when they offer you the same vulnerability that they expect from you. Some people can be cold and unfeeling and still ask you for this very sensitive part of yourself,” said Schuman. “As artists, we’re meant to offer these parts of ourselves, and it’s comforting to have them offer that same level of being vulnerable with us, and making it a space where we can really dive into what we need to.” 

Mason School of Dance students rehearsing for "Double Octet." Photo by Jessie Ferguson

"The fact that Doug Varone has invited our dancers to perform with his company is a big deal," said Reedy, who is also a Mason alum with an MFA in Dance. "It says a lot about the respect he holds for our School of Dance and the professional level of our incredibly talented young artists."

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Dance

Artist in Residence

Dance Gala Concert

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

Students

Mason Dance Gala celebrates legacy and resilience

Colleen Rich — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 16:32:41 +0000

Mason Dance Gala celebrates legacy and resilience Colleen Rich Wed, 03/24/2021 - 12:32

Members of the Mason Dance Company perform “Running To and Toward” by Hope Boykin for the pre-recorded digital stream of 2021 Mason Dance Gala Concert on March 27 at 8 p.m. on Mason Arts at Home. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

Members of the ��AV Dance Company are grateful to be performing in this year’s Dance Gala and Fete.

“I did not realize how important it is for me to be able to dance in person,” said Carlos Martinez, a junior in the School of Dance and one of eight student-dancers cast in the production of “Sunlit Song,” choreographed by Susan Shields. “Nowadays, having the opportunity to dance in a studio is a luxury that not all performers get to enjoy.”

Martinez and other students will showcase their artistry and resilience March 27 for this year’s virtual Gala concert to perform works by some of the country’s most prominent choreographers, including a world premiere by choreographer Hope Boykin.

“Our Mason dancers are some of the most talented young artists in the country,” said Karen Reedy, School of Dance director. “The pandemic has provided challenges to the way we work, but our dancers have continued to persevere. These dancers bring great technical skill, versatility, passion, humanity and artistry to these wonderful works.”

The evening celebrates the legacy within the school, as well as the resilience of the dance community over the past year, Reedy said.

Boykin, who recently completed her 20th and final year as a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, created a new work for this year’s dance gala that’s grounded in the pandemic and reflects the current times we are living in. Throughout the Fall 2020 semester, Boykin used Mason’s Moving Story Window Wall. The innovative technology—conceived and spearheaded by Heritage Professor of Dance Christopher d’Amboise—facilitated interaction for Boykin’s virtual residency, allowing her to collaborate with 38 junior and senior dance majors.

Georgia Dahill, a junior dance major, knows the importance of engaging in the creative process with top professionals in the field. She collaborated with Boykin her world premiere piece titled “Running To and Toward.”

“Hope Boykin absolutely had a vision for what she wanted,” said Dahill. “It’s a privilege and testament to Mason connecting us to the real world even during global pandemic.”

Hope Spears, a senior dance major, said she has followed Boykin’s dance career her entire life. “She’s one of those people that just lights up a room,” Spears said. “The way she challenged us to elevate the piece to the next level made us all come out of this process better artists and masters of our craft.”

Shields re-staged her 2002 work, “Sunlit Song,” for the gala.

“When ‘Sunlit’ was created, I was in a dark place,” said Shields. “I was in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, riding a train out of the city and looked out the window to behold rays of sunlight illuminating fields of yellow grapeseed flowers—glistening in bright hope and energy. The piece is a celebration of hope, energy, brightness—something we all crave.”

“Now more than ever, I appreciate the ability to dance and connect to one another,” said senior Olivia McCall. “Susan motivated us and she brings a tireless energy to the studio.” The Baltimore native plans to return to her hometown and teach dance after she graduates in May.

The free public broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, preceded by the fête, a special presentation for supporters and sponsors of the School of Dance. Learn more here.

Topics

Students

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

Dance Gala Concert

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)