UVU Department of Dance Presents
BB Jones Dance Theatre
March 24–26, 2022
ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
Monica Campbell & Melissa Younker
Stage Manager
Samijo Kougioulis
LIGHTING DESIGNER
William Peterson
REHEARSAL DIRECTOR
Melissa Younker
REHEARSAL ASSISTANT
Rachel Miller
CDE COMPANY DANCERS
|
Camry Blackhurst |
Heather Morley |
UVU SCHOOL OF THE ARTS COSTUME SHOP
Costume Manager: Amy Whipple
Costume Supervisor: Carla Summers
Assistant Supervisor: Anna-Marie McDaniel
Assistant: Janessa Law
All of us are incorrect
Choreography: Courtney Mazeika & CDE Company Dancers
Music: Nils Frahm
Text: Courtney Mazeika & CDE Company Dancers
Costumes: UVU Costume Shop & Courtney Mazeika
Performers:
Camry Blackhurst, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day, Ciera Erekson, Lexie Johnson, LeGrande Lolo,
Rachel Miller, Heather Morley, Jadyn Nelms, Savannah Petersen, Ethan Pitcher, Katelynne Wade,
Holly Ward, Estie Weisler
This work stems from the layered idea that two (or more) things can be true simultaneously. How we can be in the same room, the same relationship, the same situation with others - and yet have completely individual perspectives of what's happening, informed by our own histories, values, and expectations.
Ekstasis
Choreography: Martha Graham
reimagined by Virginie Mécène
Original Music: Lehman Engel
Music for reimagined Ekstasis: Ramon Humet†
Costumes: Martha Graham
Lighting: Nick Hung
Performers:
Jaydn Nelms (3/24 & 3/26 evening)
Rachel Miller (3/25 & 3/26 matinee)
Premiere: May 4, 1933, Guild Theatre, New York City
Ekstasis (reimagined): February 14, 2017, The Joyce Theater, New York City
"The body is a sacred garment." — Martha Graham
Special guest appearance by members of UVU’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble
†"Interludi meditatiu VII" from Homenaje a Martha Graham, © Neu Records 2016, used
by arrangement with the copyright owner.
Ekstasis(1933) is thought to be the 37th creation by Graham. In a 1980 interview, Graham explained that the genesis of this dance came from a pelvic thrust gesture that she discovered one day. This led her to explore “a cycle of distortion” that she found deeply meaningful. “Before Ekstasis, I had been using a more static form, trying to find a ritualist working of the body,” she concluded. Virginie Mécène reimagined this version of Ekstasis based on the sparse documentation of this original solo, which included a few photos by Soichi Sunami and Barbara Morgan.
Danke
Choreography: WHYTEBERG
Music: Olivia Newton-John, The Chordettes, Anita Kerr, Brenda Lee, Johnny Tillotson,
Nat King Cole
Costumes: UVU Costume Shop & WHYTEBERG
Performers:
Camry Blackhurst, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day, Ciera Erekson, Lexie Johnson, LeGrande
Lolo, Rachel Miller, Heather Morley, Jadyn Nelms, Savannah Petersen, Ethan Pitcher,
Holly Ward, Estie Weisler
[10 MINUTE INTERMISSION]
Meno’s Garden
Concept & Direction: Brian Gerke
Choreography: Camry Blackhurst, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day, Ciera Erekson, Brian
Gerke, Lexie Johnson, LeGrande Lolo, Rachel Miller, Heather Morley, Jadyn Nelms, Savannah
Petersen, Ethan Pitcher, Katelynne Wade, Holly Ward & Estie Weisler
Music: Ólafur Arnalds, Thom Yorke, Tami T, The Everly Brothers
Costumes: UVU Costume Shop & Brian Gerke
Performers:
Camry Blackhurst, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day, Ciera Erekson, Lexie Johnson, LeGrande Lolo,
Rachel Miller, Heather Morley, Jadyn Nelms, Savannah Petersen, Ethan Pitcher, Katelynne Wade,
Holly Ward, Estie Weisler
More Beautiful for Having Been Broken
Choreography: Monica Campbell in collaboration with Lexie Johnson & Rachel Miller
Music: Timothy Vajda
Costumes: UVU Costume Shop & Melissa Younker
Performers:
Lexie Johnson & Rachel Miller
Dedicated to Jamie Ross.
Common Bond
Choreography: Martina Jorgensen & Esprit d.c.
Music: Hundred Waters (feat. Chance The Rapper, Moses Sumney & Robin Hannibal)
Esprit d.c. Ensemble:
Ana Aguilar, Madi Allred, Tiffany Asay, Matt Dalebout, Summer Hall, Emma Jensen, Kylie Jensen,
Anika Laws, Jessy Ibarra Licona, Lexi Mattson, Lauren Palmer, Ben Pena, Fio Ravello Pulido,
Karlee Secakuku, Holly Thelin, John Torio, Lisa Torres, Bekah Williams, Kinley Wilson
Featuring:
Johnny Miller & Valeria Rodriguez
Esprit d.c. is a Hip Hop performance company in its first year at UVU. The company is directed by Martina Jorgensen with incredible support from Dance Department faculty. Fueled by artistic, passionate company members, Esprit hopes to bring the joy, unity, and appreciation of Hip Hop to their community.
Me, Seeing You, See Me
Concept & Direction: Melissa Younker
Choreography: CDE Company Dancers & Melissa Younker
Music: The Comet is Coming & The Smiths (Cover by CDE)
Ukulele: Darcie Day
Vocal Coach: Elijah Hancock
Costumes: UVU Costume Shop & Melissa Younker
Performers:
Camry Blackhurst, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day, Ciera Erekson, Lexie Johnson, LeGrande Lolo,
Rachel Miller, Heather Morley, Jadyn Nelms, Savannah Petersen, Ethan Pitcher, Katelynne Wade,
Holly Ward, Estie Weisler
Program
Interactive
Student Matinee
CDE Introductions & Meno’s Garden (excerpts)
Ekstasis
Danke
More Beautiful for Having Been Broken
Common Bond
Me, Seeing You, See Me
CDE CHOREOGRapHERS
Monica Campbell danced nationally and internationally with Diavolo –Architecture in Motion, where she also acted as the Rehearsal Director and Associate Artistic Director with Jacques Heim. She was an Associate Choreographer for Diavolo’s Fluid Infinities that premiered at the Hollywood Bowl in 2013. She completed a sold out run in Salt Lake City of her evening length piece The Final Hours and her screendances Truimvirate and Aleppo Agonistes have been featured in international screendance festivals. She is currently an Associate Professor in Utah Valley University’s Department of Dance, as well as the Department of Dance Chair, and the Co-Artistic Director of Contemporary Dance Ensemble.
Brian Gerke is an award-winning choreographer, performer, and educator from Montana, who spent the majority of his career living, performing, and teaching in Europe, where he was a soloist in Iceland's National Dance Company. Also, while living abroad, Brian co-directed his own dance company, presenting works in over 50 theaters, spanning 12 countries. Brian is an Assistant Professor and the Coordinator of Modern Dance at Utah Valley University. He has been a member of the Heartland Collective, a SLC-based company since its inception in 2018. Above all, Brian is driven by the desire to wholeheartedly live, work, play, communicate, and educate while remaining mindful of and supported by his core values...Compassion & Integrity.
Courtney Mazeika received her BFA in Dance from the University of Texas at Austin; then trained under Summer Lee Rhatigan at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. She has had the opportunity to perform in original works by Tom Weinberger, Bobbi Jene Smith, David Harvey, Christian Burns, Lone King Projects, Alex Ketley and more. Her independent choreography has been shared at the Rotterdam International Duet Choreography Competition, Chop Shop Contemporary Dance Festival, Austin Dance Festival, University of Texas at Austin, SALT Contemporary Dance, SALT2, Oquirrh West Project and more. She has been a performing artist with UNA Productions since 2018. www.courtneymazeika.com.
WHYTEBERG is a Los Angeles based duo created by Gracie Whyte and Laura Berg as a platform for their collaborative work. Since their inception in August 2014, WHYTEBERG has created and performed work for stage and film, including Warner Bros. produced “Dang,” a music video for hip-hop musicians Mac Miller and Anderson .Paak and an evening of dance hosted by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros at their Pop-Up Gallery. WHYTEBERG has performed live work at venues such as REDCAT, Musco Center for the Arts, Tempe Center for the Arts, Robert B Moore Theatre, Bootleg Theatre, Electric Lodge, among others. They teach their floorwork class Ground Grooves to professionals in Los Angeles and college-level students at universities such as CSULB, LMU, Chapman, UCLA, CSULA. Gracie and Laura are most interested in figuring out how to blend disciplines, integrating dance into other genres to elevate the level of art being created. www.whyteberg.com.
Melissa Younker is a movement artist with a multifaceted dedication to dance. She is a founding member of Heartland Collective, collaborating in choreography, performance, video editing and costume design. Additionally, she is Co-Artistic Director for Contemporary Dance Ensemble at UVU. She received her BFA from California State University, Long Beach and was a dance artist with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company from 2014-2020. Melissa has toured as a performing and teaching artist in over 10 states in the US, as well as internationally in France, Mongolia, and South Korea. Through every aspect of her work, she remains thoroughly curious. www.melissayounker.com.
CONTEMPORARY DANCE ENSEMBLE
Camry Blackhurst is a dancer and choreographer from Pleasant Grove, Utah. She has worked with notable artists like Francisco Gella, Virginie Mécène, and Jason Parsons. In 2021, Camry joined CDE and was a guest artist with RDT performing the iconic “Steps in the Street” by Martha Graham.
Kamryn Daughters is a dance artist from CA who is pursuing her BFA in Modern dance at UVU. She danced with Synergy Dance Company for 2 seasons, is a founding member of Shift Dance Company & joined CDE in 2021. She has performed works by Bret Esterling, Martha Graham & Andy Noble.
Darcie Day is a dance artist and somatics advocate from Orem, Utah. She is currently finishing
her degree in UVU’s Modern Dance BFA program. This being Darcie’s first season with
CDE, she is thrilled to taste what this type of work is like as a pre-professional
dancer.
Ciera Erekson has been dancing since youth and started her dance training in American Fork, Utah.
She was a dancer with the Repertory Ballet Ensemble at UVU in 2020. Ciera has performed
works by Martha Graham, Jamie Johnson, Stefan Zubal, and has been a guest artist with
RDT.
Lexie Johnson is a dance artist from Riverton, Utah. She has been an apprentice with Divinity Dance Company since 2019. Lexie is a junior in the Modern Dance Program and this is her 2nd season with CDE. She has performed works by Laura Brick, Mike Esperanza, Brian Gerke and LAJAMARTIN.
LeGrande Lolo is an artist hailing from Samoa pursuing a BFA in Modern Dance. He’s worked with renowned
artists Bret Esterling, Francisco Gella, Virginie Mécène and Andy Noble. A founding
member of Atlas Dance Collective, his works have premiered on theirs and Synergy Dance
Company’s professional and collegiate stages.
Rachel Miller is in her final semester of her BFA in Modern Dance and her BFA in Ballet. Born and raised in Billings, MT, she is excited to expand her artistry after graduating. While at UVU, Rachel has enjoyed performing as a guest artist with RDT and Ririe-Woodbury.
Heather Morley is from Highland, UT and is a freshman in the UVU dance program. She is a dancer with CDE & Mos.A.I.C. In 2021, Heather was a guest dancer with RDT & performed choreography by Martha Graham. She is currently pursuing her BA in Dance Education & Modern.
Jadyn Nelms is a dance artist from El Paso, TX. She began dancing at the age of 3 & is a senior in the Modern Dance Program. While at UVU, she has performed works by Bret Easterling, Martha Graham, & Andy Noble. Upon graduation, Jadyn hopes to pursue a professional dancer career.
Savannah Petersen is a dance artist from Vernon, UT who is pursuing a BFA in Modern Dance. She has worked with esteemed choreographers like Duncan Cooper, Franscico Degala, and Virginie Mécène. Savannah joined CDE in 2021, performed 2 seasons with Synergy Dance Company, and is a founding member of Shift Dance Company.
Ethan Pitcher discovered his passion for dance in middle school & joined Westlake Dance Company at his HS in Eagle Mountain. He began studying Modern at UVU in 2018 & joined MosAIC. After serving his mission in Ukraine, Ethan returned to the program & was invited to dance with CDE in 2021.
Katelynne Wade is a dance artist from Granite Bay, California. She began her dance training at the age of three and is a sophomore in the Modern Dance program at UVU. This is her 1st season with CDE and danced with Synergy Dance Company during the 2020 season.
Holly Ward constantly pushes herself to discover the unknown & uncomfortable, while remaining true to her movement preference. She has been recognized in many choreography festivals including the Utah Shakespeare Festival, where she received the 1st Place awards for her works in 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021.
Estie Weisler is a dance artist and choreographer based in Utah Valley. She has danced with BYU-Idaho’s Dance Alliance, as well as Oquirrh West Project, and Salt Pro. She has performed in works choreographed by Nick Cendese, Molly Heller, Jon Kim, and Ching Ching Wong.
Utah Valley University acknowledges that we gather on land sacred to all Indigenous people who came before us in this vast crossroads region. The University is committed to working in partnership—as enacted through education and community activities—with Utah’s Native Nations comprising: the San Juan Southern Paiute, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Uintah & Ouray Reservation of the Northern Ute, Skull Valley Goshute, Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation, Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute-White Mesa Community, and urban Indian communities. We recognize these Native Nations and their continued connections with traditional homelands, mountains, rivers, and lakes as well as their sovereign relationships with state and federal governments. We honor their collective memory and continued physical and spiritual presence. We revere their resilience and example in preserving their connections to the Creator and to all their relations, now and in the future.
With this statement comes responsibility and accountability. We resolve to follow up with actionable items to make the School of the Arts at UVU and The Noorda Center for the Performing Arts an inclusive, equitable, and just space for all. There is much work to be done, and we are committed to putting these words into practice.
Chair, Associate Professor
Jamie Johnson
Administrative Assistant
LAURAL HILL
Associate Chair
Sarah Donohue
Modern/Contemporary
Dr. Lyndsey Vader
Ballet
Nichole Ortega
Ballroom
Chris Witt
Dance Ed
Amy Markgraf
