Fall Dance Concert: From the Ground Up

Welcome back to live dance performance! On behalf of the Dance Division and entire Boston Conservatory community, I am thrilled to present the fall 2021 dance concert, From The Ground Up, an evening of five commissioned world premieres by guest artists Robert Moses (San Francisco), Gabrielle Lamb (NYC), T. Lang (Atlanta), and esteemed faculty members Daniel Pelzig and Jim Viera.

Over the past several weeks, there has been an abundance of excitement and joy in our dance studios as  students gathered together once again to create and rehearse tonight’s pieces. I am honored and privileged to have such an amazing array of artists here working with our incredible students. And to you, our audience, thank you for returning to the Boston Conservatory Theater to see the ephemeral magic of dance. Enjoy!

—Tommy Neblett, Dean of Dance and From the Ground Up Artistic Director

These performances of From The Ground Up are dedicated to the memory of Boston Conservatory dance faculty member Marianne Harkless Diabate (1958–2021).

Choreography: Daniel Pelzig
Assistant to the Choreographer: Leah Misano
Music: Georg Friedrich Händel (Acis and Galatea, “The Pleasure of the Plains,” “Sinfonia,” and “Wretched Lovers,” performed by the Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble)
Lighting Design: Paul Marr
Rehearsal Assistants: Jaqi Gendreau, Bella Villa

Performers: 

Drew Allen, Bianca Brown, Sonia Cable, Ava Grebe, CiCi Gregory, Sarah Hughes, Rachel Kempenaar, Demetrius Lee, Sadie Levinsohn, Solana McGonagle, Ai Li Mok, Isabella Soo-Hoo, Alexis Tsiramanes, Monica Zesch 

Choreography: Gabrielle Lamb 
Music: Robert Sirota (“Floating” and “Rising,” performed by The Neave Trio: Anna Williams, violin; Mikhail Vaselov, cello; and Eri Nakamura, piano) 
Text: Curtis Ebbesmeyer
Lighting Design: Paul Marr
Rehearsal Director: Denise Pons-Leone

Performers: 

Tatum Backer, Isabella Baklayan, Rowan Casillas, Bianca Cheung, Paige Doku, Shaun Ferren, Jasmine Forrest, Abby Fuller, Antrea Gregoriades, Zoe Jumabhoy, Marissa Miller, Pete Pierantozzi, Adam Ross, Adrian Ruiz, Nicaya Wiley, Ysai Zamora

Choreographer's Note:

This work is the first sketch of a longer collaboration between myself, composer Robert Sirota, and the Neave Trio called “Rising." The eventual work in four sections (Floating, Rising, Stepping, Spiraling) will explore different aspects and energy of what it means to rise. 

Choreography: Robert Moses
Assistant to the Choreographer: Elena Martins
Music: Traditional (“In the Pines,” arranged by Dick Connette, performed by Last Forever); PC Muñoz ("Burying Children" performed by PC Muñoz and Bryan Dyer, text by Robert Moses and PC Muñoz); PC Muñoz ("Betrayed," performed by PC Muñoz); SoVoSó (“In My Prime,” performed by SoVoSó)
Lighting Design: Paul Marr
Rehearsal Director: Dean Vollick

Performers: 

Chloe Chua, Kailey Doukszewicz, Willow DuBose, Hoang-Anh (Ashley) Eng, Hannah Garcia, Mira Göksel, Samantha Krachtus, Lily Massie, Jess Massimino, Alex Meeth, Simon Montalvo, Haley Reed, Alessandra Salazar, Brooke Sessler, Caitie Smith, Talia Stern, Tshedzom Tingkhye, Ashe Turner, Jacob Windeler 

Choreography: T.Lang 
Music: Torey Best (Original sound score performed by Torey Best and Jonathan Eldridge III)
Lighting Design: Paul Marr
Rehearsal Director: Kurt Douglas

Performers: 

Kasey Aguilar, Kaiti Bachman, Mackenzie Bessner, Teresa Castaneda, Morgyn Crowley, Trea Dipkin, Jayda Escobar, Sammy Falk, Delilah Farrell, Somer February, Christian Gonzalez, Amber Gott, Skye Kita, Lila Kushner, Becca Lind, Jocelyn Scullion, Christopher Stansell, Tess Stevens, Alana Stubbs 

won’t you celebrate with me 

A poem by Lucille Clifton

won't you celebrate with me
what i have shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon
both nonwhite and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay,
my one hand holding tight
my other hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed. 

Choreography: Jim Viera
Music: Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn (“BDB—For Basie, Duke, and Billy,” performed by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra and the Count Basie Orchestra); Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorm (“Such Sweet Thunder,” performed by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra); Duke Ellington (“In a Sentimental Mood,” performed by Phyllis Hyman); Frank Foster (“Blues In Hoss’ Flat,” performed by the Count Basie Orchestra).
Lighting Design: Paul Marr
Rehearsal Assistant: Maria Pellegrino

Performers: 

Penn Burrall, Tricia Dietrick, Jacob Fincannon, Abby Lyons, Olivia Mozie, Mia Muntu, Daede Ott, Megan Prout, Punch Purichat, Rhapsody Stiggers, Emily Wang, Kate Warner, Dawvyn Winters 

PRODUCTION STAFF

Artistic Director/Producer – Tommy Neblett
Director of Performance Services – Liz Keller-Tripp
Stage Manager – Bethany Rachel
Technical Director – Taylor Hansen
Associate Technical Director – Audrey Kimball
Lighting Supervisor – Evyn Newton
A1/Sound Supervisor – Steve Younkins
Production Electrician – Connor O'Brien
Costume Director – Becky Butler
Assistant Costume Shop Manager – Amanda Feeley
Wardrobe Manager – Becky Thorogood
Wardrobe Assistant – Kiara Escalera
Draper/Stitcher – Sam Martin, Caroline Seeley
Draper/Stitcher/Stock Manager – Alison Pugh
Ticket Operations and Patron Services Manager – Erin Connors

STUDENT PRODUCTION STAFF

Assistant Stage Manager – Emily Hanson
Lighting Programer – Julia Grace Kelley
Stage Supervisor – Tyler Mell
Light Board Operator – Eve Harrison
Wardrobe Crew – Karina Gonzalez, Jordan Blanche, Dargan Cole
Run Crew – Samantha Hallenberg, Gigi George, Steven Eckloff, Darr Lilly
Production Assistants – Tyler Mell, Emma Fettig, Carly Nadeau, Emily Hanson, Kalika Reece, Evelyn Dumeer

Dean of Dance – Tommy Neblett
Chair of Dance – Mila Thigpen
Dance Division Administrative Coordinator – Margaret Falcone