Dance Gala 2021

 

UVU Department of Dance Presents

Dance Gala

October 28-30, 2021 | 7:30 PM

 
 

Program

Ballroom Tour Team

Sol - Samba

Choreography by: Tara Boyd 
Music: Sol Beer US

DANCERS

Stephanie Arias
Mikelle Argyle
Yuka Fujii
Cristian Jones
Rene Guzman
Ayane Matsuda

Brandon Olivas
Rebecca Oliviera
Jackson Phippen
Mason Simkins
Lisa Torres
Stephen Trujillo

Repertory Ballet Ensemble

Alice in Pandemicland

Choreography by: Jamie Johnson
Music: Nate and the Invisible Band

DANCERS

Stephani Barnes
Tatum Bates
Kylie Grant
Makena Lyman
Mikayla Milligan
Olivia Perry

Kendra Rangel
Hannah Roberts
Mary Shaw
Ciera Smith
Megan Stallings
Maren Wood

Ballroom Tour Team

Leaves on the Seine - Waltz

Choreography by: Kyle &Alli Spinder
Music: David Lanz

DANCERS

Mikelle Argule
Kiaya Casper
Ayane Matsuda
Brandon Olivas

Jackson Phippen
Mason Simkins
Kayla Wakefield
Collin Williams

Synergy Dance Company

Earthlink

Choreography by: Doris Trujillo & Katie Taylor
Music: Nate Anderson

DANCERS

Cassidy Blackham
Sarah Christensen
Kamryn Daughters
Franky DeMartino
Nicholas Jolley-Harding
Tiffany Hipple
Sarah Hutchinson
Brookely Jenson
Jessica Ketchum

LeGrande Lolo
Jadyn Nelms
Edwin Perez
Savannah Petersen
Shain Salmon
Karlee Secakuku
Richelle Rindlisbacher
Katelynne Wade
Hannah White

Ballroom Tour Team

Live Like Legends - Rumba

Choreography by: Tara Boyd
Music: Ruelle

DANCERS

Stephanie Arias
Jacob Baker
Kiaya Casper
Yuka Fujii
Ayane Matsuda

Brandon Olivas
Mason Simkins
Lisa Torres
Steven Trujillo
Collin Williams

Contemporary Dance Ensemble

Mindlapse

Choreography by: LajaMartin in collaboration with the dancers
Music: Martin Durov and various artists

DANCERS

Ashlie Carlile
Sammy Gomm
Dae Marcuz
Raven Paraso 
Miranda Reeves
Holly Ward

Kristi Lago Bingham
Abbigail Fausett
Sarah Hancock
Kayla Hansen
Lexie Johnson
Rachel Miller

 

Company Information

UVU Ballroom Dance Company/Tour Team

Over the last several years, the UVU Ballroom Dance Company has grown into a premiere performance company. The team captured the nation's attention when they stormed onto the set of the popular ABC competitive dance show, Dancing with the Stars. After wowing the judges and wooing the nation's voting audience, UVU ran away with the coveted Mirror Ball trophy as the champions of the show's first-ever collegiate competition. The UVU Ballroom Dance Company has won four world titles at the Open British Championships held in Blackpool, England putting UVU in an elite category for collegiate dance teams. The Utah Valley University Ballroom Dance Company represented the United States of America at the Ninth China International Folk Art Festival in Yichang and Beijing, China in 2013. Only 14 countries were invited to perform in the Opening Ceremonies for a live audience of 40,000 people and televised to 1.3 billion viewers in China and abroad. Due to the success of this tour, the UVU Ballroom Dance Company was invited to return to China in July 2014 to perform at a large dance festival in Beijing. Many former UVU ballroom company dancers are now dancing professionally, attending graduate programs, and teaching in both private and academic settings. 

The mission of the School of the Arts at Utah Valley University is to produce artists of the highest caliber who use their talents to make a positive difference and encourage productive change in the world. The UVU Ballroom Dance Company promotes access and appreciation for ballroom dancing through its training, performances, and educational initiatives. Company members are offered a serious, comprehensive, and intensive training in the dynamic field of ballroom dance, including studio instruction, engaging lectures, and real-world experiences. Company members take technique classes in International and American Styles of Ballroom Dance, including Latin, Standard Ballroom, Smooth, and Rhythm. Other areas of study include choreography, ballroom history, ballroom styles, and teaching methods. The ultimate goal of the program is to help students develop the skill, ingenuity, and creativity needed to enter the field of ballroom dance and successfully pursue long-term rewarding careers. Don’t miss this year's UVU Ballroom Dance Company Concert November 19-20th and April 29, 30th. For more info, contact Ballroom Tour Team director Tara Boyd [email protected].

 

Repertory Ballet Ensemble

Repertory Ballet Ensemble is the resident performing company for the ballet program at Utah Valley University. The ensemble was founded in 2007 by Jacqueline Colledge and is currently under the direction of Jamie A. Johnson and Christa St. John. Since its inception, the ensemble has developed a notable reputation for presenting classical and contemporary choreography with equal virtuosity. Members of RBE are pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a Ballet Emphasis. Past company dancers are now dancing professionally, attending graduate programs, and teaching in a variety of settings. The primary goal of the Ensemble is to promote access and appreciation for ballet in the Intermountain Region through training, performances, and educational initiatives.

Repertory Ballet Ensemble in Concert, February 10-12, 2022, Jones Dance Theatre.

For more info, contact Artistic Directors Jamie Johnson [email protected] or Christa St. John [email protected].

 

Synergy Dance Company

Synergy Dance Company explores the creative, technical, and performance realms of dance by producing innovative concerts of guest artist, faculty, and student choreography. The company members are dynamic performers as well as imaginative choreographers who present dance as a wonderfully diverse and lively performance art. Synergy company members begin developing their choreography in August and delve into all aspects of producing a concert. Costumes, lighting, staging, and publicity are shared responsibilities that culminate in Synergy’s diverse concerts every December. Don’t miss this year’s concert December 2-4th at the Noorda Center. For more info, contact Artistic Directors Katie Taylor [email protected] or Kelsie Thomas [email protected].

 

Contemporary Dance Ensemble (CDE)

CDE is a pre-professional level modern dance company and upper division course. CDE’s mission is to provide real world experiences as students develop and enrich their artistry and prepare for careers in dance. Company members’ work with a variety of nationally and internationally acclaimed choreographers and have opportunities to perform regionally, nationally and internationally. CDE has been honored at the American College Dance Association dance conference by being selected to perform in numerous Gala concerts as well as the National Festival.

Don't miss CDE's Spring concert, "From the Ashes" March 24-26th at the Noorda Center. For more info, contact Artistic Directors Monica Campbell [email protected] or Melissa Younker [email protected].

 

 
 

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.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DANCE

Chair, Associate Professor
MONICA CAMPBELL

Administrative Assistant
LAURAL HILL

 

Associate Chair
Sarah Donohue

Modern/Contemporary
Dr. Lyndsey Vader

Ballet
Nichole Ortega

 

Ballroom
Chris Witt

Dance Ed
Amy Markgraf