WinterWorks

Welcome to WinterWorks, an annual dance performance that features the mainstage debut of both our contemporary and commercial dance programs' first-year students. Alumni guest artists currently working in the field have been commissioned to make work for our contemporary dance students; and resident guest artist Jessica Franco choreographed works for our commercial dance students. We welcome and hold dear this year's alumni choreographers Chung-Fu Chang, Da'Rius Malone, and Lydia Zimmer. The alumni guest artist residencies are made possible through the Dance Division's Alumni Commissioning Project. 

The program also presents dances by creative sophomore, junior, and senior student choreographers. This year's WinterWorks concert has grown in diversity and showcases the many talents of our student population. Always exciting and unexpected, WinterWorks is a celebration of creativity, imagination, and firsts.

—Diane Arvanites, associate professor of dance and producer of WinterWorks

Choreography: Chung-Fu Chang (B.F.A. '96, dance)
Music: sacred Rukai indigenous song from Taiwan: "Dalubaling" (Love of Ghost Lake), performed by Malheve-Lheve; sacred Bunun indigenous song from Taiwan: "Pasibutbut" (Praying for Millets Harvest), performed by Bunun Elders; sacred Paiwan indigenous song from Taiwan: "Semaljawliyan" (Gratitude), performed by Seredau. Composers unknown. 
Costume Design: Penney Pinette
Lighting Design: Paul Marr
Lead Rehearsal Direction: Denise Pons
Senior Rehearsal Direction: Teresa Castaneda, Jayda Escobar
Student Rehearsal Assistance: Samantha Zane

Performers: Chloe Bland, Mackenzie Campbell, Halley Campo, Nigel Clifford, Emily Crone, Lilly David, Angela Hamlin, Anna Keklak, Yoomin Kim, Sophie Locke, Esme Stone, Morgan Thompson, Kylah Walker, Makayla Williams, Emma Jane Zaher

Program Note: 
Dance unites us through differences. 
—Chung-Fu Chang, alumni guest choreographer

Choreography: Ava Grebe (B.F.A. '24, dance)
Music: Josephine Baker and the Lecuona Cuban Boys ("Mayari," "La Conga Blicoti")
Costume Design: Ava Grebe
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Performers: Yazmine Akamine, Ana Delgado Cruz, Macy McCann, Solana McGonagle, Olivia Mozie, Mia Muntu, Punch Purichat, Mar Rivero Carretero, Emily Wang, Lila Kushner

Program Note: 
Thank you, Abigail Desmond, for your contributions and commitment to this dance. 
—Ava Grebe, student choreographer

Choreography: Lucia Taylor (B.F.A. '25, dance), in collaboration with the dancers
Music: AGF, Kubra Khademi ("The Radical Self"); Ludwig van Beethoven (Sonata No. 14, "Moonlight")
Costume Design: Lucia Taylor
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Performers: Sabril Amin, Jackson Bradford, Amber Lew, Mia Nolte

Program Note:
Her mood swings when the moon sings,
And she walks on polished eggshells 
Scalloped by the waves,
Down crazy garden paths
Where roses grow on graves 
—Miles Taylor, in collaboration with Lucia Taylor, student choreographer

Choreography: Ekko Greenbaum (B.F.A. '25, dance)
Music: Stereolab ("Come and Play in the Milky Night [Demo]"); Giovanni Venosta (“Woman in Late”)
Costume Design: Ekko Greenbaum
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Performers: Cara Breeding, Ekko Greenbaum

Choreography: Solana McGonagle (B.F.A. '24, dance)
Music: Daft Punk ("Motherboard")
Costume Design: Solana McGonagle
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Cast List: Yazmine Akamine, Olivia Mozie, Mia Muntu, Rhapsody Stiggers, Alexis Tsiramanes, Emily Wang

Program Note: 
Special thanks to the crochet queens, Olivia Mozie and Alexis Tsiramanes and to Bianca Brown for her contributions and commitment to this dance.  
—Solana McGonagle, student choreographer

Choreography: Hailey Fleming (B.F.A. '25, dance)
Music: Julian Dürr ("Lend a Hand")
Costume Design: Hailey Fleming
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Performers: Natalia Andrade, Hannah Bilodeau, Cara Breeding, Bridget Suchar

Program Note: 
Lend a Hand is a collaborative piece where the music and choreography were developed in tandem and, likewise, work together in expressing the complete offering of one's self to the people you love most. 
—Hailey Fleming, student choreographer

Choreography: Tricia Dietrick (B.F.A. '24, dance)
Music: Nebulo ("Asht")
Costume Design: Tricia Dietrick
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Performers: Drew Allen, Daede Ott, Pete Pierantozzi, Megan Prout, Raxel Kempenaar

Choreography: Jessica Franco
Music: Beyoncé ("Summer Renaissance")
Costume Design: Jessica Franco and Raul Cruz, in collaboration with the dancers
Lighting Design: Paul Marr
Rehearsal Direction: Raul Cruz

Performers: Sophie Atseff, Madeline Bannwarth, Carina Brunstein, Bella Crews, Andrew DiLaura, Monica Gallego, Melissa Gaskin, Emma Guan, Ariana Hart, Zakiya Hudson, Tula Johnson, Gianna Jones, Brie Kensing, Kay-Lin Koh, Alena Manske, Colin Niska, Aja Pruitt, Sophie Reynolds, Romy Saias, Kaylee Strange, Julia Troy, Madison Upham, Naomi Wilcox

Program Note: 
Big "thank you" to the entire BoCo family! Shine bright together, fam!
—Jessica Franco, Commercial Dance Department guest choreographer

Choreography: Lydia Zimmer (B.F.A. '11, dance)
Music: Amie Doherty ("A Life Without Limitations"); Kreng ("Asphyxia," "Slaapliedje"); Max Richter ("Taboo Lament"); Jóhann Jóhannsson ("Heptapod B," "The Rocket Builder (lo Pan!)"); Dan Romer ("Final Question"); Hildur Guðnadóttir ("Fólk fær andlit"); Nicholas Britell ("The Middle of the World")
Costume Design: Penney Pinette
Lighting Design: Paul Marr
Lead Rehearsal Direction: Denise Pons
Senior Rehearsal Direction: Kaiti Bachman, Alana Stubbs

Performers: Valerie Abegg, Amanda Bacallao, Grace Chaney, Kayenne Charles-Pierre, Cammie Coleman, Campbell Colimore, Gabrielle Honore, Emma Hourigan, Derek Lee, Demi Mutz, Aidan Robbins, Samarra Rodriguez, Bella Schott, Chloé Wasser, Teresa Zimmerman

Program Note: 
I am deeply appreciative of my dancers and assistants. To the audience: This piece is in collaboration with my wonderful dancers. To the dancers: I am in awe of your beautiful and intelligent minds. Thank you, Tommy Neblett, for this opportunity. I am very grateful! 
—Lydia Zimmer, alumni guest choreographer

Choreography: Ben Moleta (B.F.A. '25, dance)
Assistant to the Choreographer: Drew Allen
Music: Mikael Karlsson ("Overture Act 2"); Dictaphone ("The Conversation")
Costume Design: Ben Moleta
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Performers: Drew Allen, Hannah Laski, Hannah Morris, Mia Nolte, Rhapsody Stiggers, Emily Winkelbauer

Program Note: 
An exploration of how the relationships in our past and future shape the present sense of self. 
—Ben Moleta, student choreographer

Choreography: Trea Dipkin (B.F.A. '23, dance), Lila Kushner (B.F.A. '23, dance)
Music: Francisco Tárrega ("Capricho árabe")
Costume Design: Trea Dipkin, Lila Kushner
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Performers: Trea Dipkin, Lila Kushner

Program Note: 
Lucky to be dancing with a friend you feel like you've always known. 
—Trea Dipkin and Lila Kushner, student choreographers

Choreography: Daede Ott (B.F.A. '24, dance)
Music: Baby Keem ("family ties"); Hudson Mohawke ("Spruce Illest Bumper"); JPEGMAFIA ("HAZARD DUTY PAY!")
Costume Design: Daede Ott
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Performers: Suriya Allain, Drew Allen, Cara Breeding, Tamia Blackwell, Tricia Dietrick, Molly Jane Dunne, Olivia Mozie, Megan Prout

Program Note: 
IF YOU KEEP STARING, YOU WON’T SEE IT. Special thanks to Raxel Kempenaar and Somer February for their excellence. 
—Daede Ott, student choreographer

Choreography: Ali Cederholm (B.F.A. '25, dance), in collaboration with the dancers
Music: Koreless ("Never") 
Costume Design: Ali Cederholm
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Performers: Kanella Benavides, Ekko Greenbaum, Amber Lew, Bridget Suchar

Choreography: Raxel Kempenaar (B.F.A. '24, dance)
Music: Les Yeux Noirs ("Lodz," "Balamouk," "Cioara")
Costume Design: Raxel Kempenaar
Lighting Design: Paul Marr

Performers: Kanella Benavides, Tricia Dietrick, Molly Jane Dunne, Hannah Laski, Hannah Morris, Daede Ott, Monica Zesch

Program Note: 
welcome to the house of the insane. 
—Raxel Kempenaar, student choreographer

Choreography: Da'Rius Malone (B.F.A. '18, dance)
Music: Fred again.. ("October 15th 2021"); Nicholas Britell ("Chiron's Theme"); Ryoji Ikeda, Alva Noto, Mika Vainio ("Movement 4 [Live]"); Jóhann Jóhannsson ("Heptapod B"); Andy Moor ("Chapitre I: En Ville," "Chapitre II: US Border")
Costume Design: Penney Pinette
Lighting Design: Paul Marr
Lead Rehearsal Direction: Denise Pons
Senior Rehearsal Direction: Somer February, Pete Pierantozzi

Performers: Nora Augenstein, Eliana Balzano, Michael Braun, Cheyenne Carrington-Greene, Sonrisa Hubbard, Eliana LaBreche, Emersyn Novach, Tess O’Riordan, Ana Perez Yudin, Brianna Sullivan, Yadi Zhang, Brooke Zide

Program Note: 
What happens when angels lie? Liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing while retrograding the intense feeling of deep affection. un·be·liev·a·ble. Those who cling to the shadows will always hate and despise the light. 
—Da'Rius Malone, alumni guest choreographer

Chung-Fu Chang, alumni guest choreographer, is grateful to have studied at Boston Conservatory and graduated in 1996. Born in Taiwan, he danced professionally with the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre company. Chang is a full professor of dance at Colorado State University, where he received the CLA Academic Enrichment Program Award, an Outstanding Faculty Award from Mortar Board, and the 2009 Best Teacher Award. He was named one of the 2021 Legends of Dance by the Dance Archive at the University of Denver. Learn more about Chang.

Jessica Franco, commercial dance program guest choreographer, is a dancer, choreographer, and lover of life who has performed for tours, award shows, and music festivals. Her work as an assistant choreographer can be seen on Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman World Tour and many of Grande's performances on The Voice, Jimmy Kimmel Live, the American Music Awards telecast, Saturday Night Live, Dancing with the Stars, and more. 

Da'Rius Malone, alumni guest choreographer, is a 2014 graduate of the Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) and a 2018 graduate of Boston Conservatory. During his time at the Conservatory, Da'Rius was asked to join the Jon Lehrer Dance Company as a guest artist on their European tour. In 2018, Da'Rius became a company member with James Sewell Ballet; and in 2021, he became the company's first resident choreographer. In 2022, Da'Rius went on to join Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Learn more about Malone.

Lydia Zimmer, alumni guest choreographer, is a graduate of Walnut Hill School for the Arts and Boston Conservatory (B.F.A. '11). Since returning to her home city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Lydia has created several works supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and Arts Nova Scotia. Her most recent creations include Mercurials (2022) and STRATA, a dance film duet for Little Pear Garden Dance Company (2023). Zimmer is currently a guest choreographer at Atlantic Ballet Theatre and a collaborator for Rebecca Lazier's Everywhere the Edges, to premiere in Montreal in 2023.

CREATIVE TEAM:
Artistic Director – Tommy Neblett
Producer – Diane Arvanites
Costume Designer – Penney Pinette
Lighting Designer – Paul Marr

PRODUCTION STAFF:
Interim Director of Performance Services and Producer – Hanna Oravec 
Production Stage Manager – Bethany Rachel
Assistant Stage Manager – Zachary Sayre
Technical Director – Greg Rishoi
Associate Technical Director – Taylor Kaufman
Technical Directing Consultant – Audrey Kimball
Costume Shop Manager – Alison Pugh
Assistant Costume Shop Manager – Leah Foley
Draper/Stitcher – Caroline Seeley, Sam Martin
Stitcher – Maegan Pate, Lindsey Weaver
Costume Shop Intern – Natasha Newcomb
Wardrobe Manager – Blue Barber
Wardrobe Assistant – Kiara Escalera, Lindsey Weaver
Audio Supervisor – Steve Younkins
Audio Assistant – Maddy Poston
Lighting Supervisor – Matthew Martino
Production Electrician – Gabe Goldman
Props Manager – Larry Dembski
Stage Supervisor – Steve Toren

STUDENT PRODUCTION STAFF:
Assistant Stage Manager – Annabella Hunt
Light Board Operator – Preston Milne
Light Board Programer – Brogan Nelson
Slide Operator – Kammeron Frost, Swathi Maddi, Maria Pellegrino
Production Assistants – Evelyn Dumeer, Meghan Hoey, Julia Kelly, Olivia Monarch, Brogan Nelson, Lori Newsom, Kalika Reece, Aidan Rufer, Cooper Sheehy, Trisha Soo, Preston Milne
Costume Assistants – Maya Boyce, Penn Burall, Jacob Fincannon, Oliva Martinez, Emily O'Connor

CONCERT OPERATIONS STAFF:
Senior Manager for Concert Services – Luis Herrera
Senior Manager of Performance Technology – Wes Fowler
Performance Technology Technicians – Goran Daskalov, Sara Pagiaro
Production Manager – Kendall Floyd
Concert Operations Coordinator – Matthew Carey

As always, thank you to adjudicators Brian McGinnis, Junichi Fukuda, Kurt Douglas, and Ruka White. You are remarkable educators, mentors, and colleagues. Thank you to Tommy Neblett, dean of dance; Dr. Mila Thigpen, chair of dance; and Margaret Falcone, assistant to the dean, myself, the choreographers, and the dancers. Of course, a special thank you to the amazing production crew for making it all possible, and lastly, to our audience for taking in all that these young artists have to offer.

—Diane Arvanites, associate professor of dance and producer of WinterWorks