March 23 - 25, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.
March 25, 2023 | 2:00 p.m.
BB Jones Theatre
Artistic Directors
Monica Campbell & Melissa Younker
Stage Manager
Samijo Kougioulis
Lighting Designer
William Peterson
Rehearsal Director
Melissa Younker
Rehearsal Assistant
Lexie Pitcher
Photographer
August Miller
Costume Manager: Amy Whipple
Costume Supervisor: Carla Summers
Assistant Supervisor: Anna-Marie McDaniel
Assistant: Janessa Law
Choreography: Sarah Donohue
with generous contributions by Alyssa Arnold, Samantha Bickerstaff, and CDE
Original Music Composition & Performance: Nate Anderson
Costumes: Sarah Donohue with UVU Costume Shop
Choreography & Performance:
Quinn Coates, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day,
Ciera Erekson, Melanie Grob, Sarah Hutchinson,
Hope King, Alli Kirk, Zachary Marshall,
Heather Morley, Savannah Petersen, Ethan Pitcher,
Lexie Pitcher, and Richelle Rindlisbacher
Attune is dedicated to my son Everett, who always reminds me where movement begins.
Choreography: Yoshito Sakuraba
Music: Dream 3 & The Young Mariner by Max Richter
Text: The Tempest Act III Scene II by William Shakespeare read by Joseph Fiennes & The Hours read by Nicole Kidman
Costumes: Yoshito Sakuraba with UVU Costume Shop
Performance:
Quinn Coates, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day,
Ciera Erekson, Melanie Grob, Sarah Hutchinson,
Hope King, Alli Kirk, Zachary Marshall,
Heather Morley, Savannah Petersen, Ethan Pitcher,
Lexie Pitcher, and Richelle Rindlisbacher
Choreography: Danial Shapiro and Joanie Smith
Staged by: Laura Selle Virtucio and Joanie Smith
Rehearsal Directors: Daniel Charon and Melissa Younker
Original Music Composition: Scott Killian
Original Lighting Design: Roma Flowers
Costumes: Melissa Younker
Performance:
Darcie Day, Ciera Erekson, Hope King,
Heather Morley, Ethan Pitcher, and Lexie Pitcher
For those we have loved and lost but not forgotten.
(Commissioned in 2021 by Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company & UVU Department of Dance.)
10-Minute INTERMISSION
Direction & Choreography: Melissa Younker
Original Music Composition: Michael Wall
Text: If Time is Real written and read by Darcie Day
Lyrics: Michael Wall, Melissa Younker, and CDE Dance Artists
Costumes: Melissa Younker with UVU Costume Shop
Choreography & Performance:
Quinn Coates, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day,
Ciera Erekson, Melanie Grob, Sarah Hutchinson,
Hope King, Alli Kirk, Zachary Marshall,
Heather Morley, Savannah Petersen, Ethan Pitcher,
Lexie Pitcher, and Richelle Rindlisbacher
Choreography: Holly Perkins
Music: Says written and performed by Nils Frahm, courtesy of Erased Tapes
Original Lighting Design: Alli Kirk
Costumes: Holly Perkins with UVU Costume Shop
Choreography & Performance:
Quinn Coates, Kamryn Daughters, Darcie Day,
Ciera Erekson, Melanie Grob, Sarah Hutchinson,
Hope King, Alli Kirk, Zachary Marshall,
Heather Morley, Savannah Petersen, Ethan Pitcher,
Lexie Pitcher, and Richelle Rindlisbacher
This piece works to shed light on the reality of the effect of negative societal and administration standards, and to bring awareness to habitual patterns of conformity that occur in society in order to achieve success.
Sarah Donohue is Associate Chair and Associate Professor of Dance at Utah Valley University and is on faculty with Integrated Movement Studies. Sarah holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Utah and is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst. Sarah danced professionally with Repertory Dance Theatre and has taught and choreographed nationally and internationally, including South Korea, Italy, Montana Dance Arts, De Sales University, Rutgers University, The University of Utah, and The University of Oregon. She is the recipient of the 2019 UVU Presidential Fellowship, Grants for Engaged Learning, the UVU Faculty Excellence Award, and High Impact Practices grants. Sarah’s research explores play and the physicality humor through a Laban/Bartenieff lens. Sarah has presented at the International Society for Humor Studies conference in Ireland, the National Dance Education Organization’s Annual conference, and the Bill Evans Somatic Dance Workshop. Sarah’s choreography was selected and performed at the American College Dance Association’s National Festival at the Kennedy Center.
Holly Perkins grew up in Lehi, Utah and began her training at In Motion Dance Studio at the age of seven. Her passion for dance was sparked and she began teaching Modern and Jazz at In Motion Dance Studio when she was 15, teaching there for many years after. She has been recognized for her work in many choreography festivals including the Utah Shakespeare Festival, where she received the 1st Place Award for her work for 5 consecutive years. She was also featured as a guest artist with Repertory Dance Theater at the Regalia 2021 and is currently teaching Modern/Contemporary Fusion at Nate Anderson Productions under the direction of esteemed musician, Nate Anderson. Holly graduated in May 2022 from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance, along with an Associates in Science in University Studies.
Yoshito Sakuraba is the founding artistic director of Abarukas and an award-winning choreographer. Originally from Japan, Yoshito began his career in New York City and has expanded to presenting work in Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Israel, Mexico, and nationally across the U.S. including Joyce Theater, BAM Fisher, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jacob's Pillow, Kaatsbaan, and McCallum Theater (Palm Desert Choreography Festival). He has received the Best Choreography Award at FINI Dance Festival in Italy, the Audience Award at Masdanza International Contemporary Dance Festival in Spain, and he's a winner of NW Dance Project's Pretty Creatives and Whim W'Him's Shindig. In addition to his company repertory, he’s been commissioned by numerous companies including Bayerisches Staatsballett (Munich), DAF (Rome), Lamondance (Vancouver), NW Dance Project, Whim W'Him, Louisville Ballet, Ballet Arkansas, Ballet Des Moines II, Litvak Dance, Levy Dance, Pony Box Dance Theater, Modas Dance, Kit Modus, Nimbus Dance, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, and Graham II. He seeks to inspire young artists in their artistic expression and has been invited to create works and teach at institutions such as Joffrey Ballet School, Alvin Ailey/Fordham University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Peabody at Johns Hopkins University, Marymount Manhattan College, Barnard College, DLNY, MOVE l NYC and Steps on Broadway Conservatory. Most recently he was commissioned by the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts in Michigan.
Joanie Smith founded Shapiro & Smith Dance in New York with husband, Danial Shapiro. They developed a collaborative method through which they created their work. Danial Shapiro died in the fall of 2006 and now Smith serves as sole Choreographer and continues to develop that collaborative process in new ways with the members of Shapiro & Smith Dance. Shapiro & Smith’s choreography has been commissioned by companies as diverse as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Alvin Ailey II, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Phoenix Dance Company of Leeds, UK; and the PACT Dance Company of Pretoria, South Africa. The company has done extensive U.S. and international touring and has been presented in New York City at numerous venues including The Joyce Theater, DTW and Symphony Space. Over 600 dancers in professional and university dance companies have performed, To Have and To Hold, aka, “Bench”. Joanie was a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Dance to Helsinki, Finland and holds the Barbara Barker Endowed Chair in Dance and the John Black Johnston Professorship at the University of Minnesota. She has an M.A. from UCLA and toured the world in Murray Louis and Alwin Nikolais’ companies before founding Shapiro & Smith Dance. From Joanie: “I’m deeply inspired by the spirit and excellence of all the dance artists and thank them for their physical bravery and willingness to bring their beautiful emotional selves to ‘Bench’.”
Melissa Younker is an artist with a multifaceted dedication to dance; performing as a movement artist, teaching extensively within a multitude of communities, choreographing, designing costumes, and collaborating in a range of mediums. She is driven by curiosity: engaging in processes that are intimate, sentimental, and unrestrained. Melissa is a founding member of Heartland Collective, a multi-disciplinary collective with collaborations in dance, visual arts, music, and performance. Additionally, she is an independent maker and collaborator with project-based movement groups And Artists and Brolly Arts. Melissa is Co-Artistic Director of Contemporary Dance Ensemble and Adjunct Instructor for Utah Valley University’s Department of Dance. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, with honors, from California State University, Long Beach. From 2014-2020, Melissa was a full-time dance artist with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. In 2018, Melissa traveled to Mongolia and South Korea as a cultural ambassador, participating in DanceMotion USA℠, a cross-cultural exchange program of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs administered by BAM ® (Brooklyn Academy of Music). Melissa has worked with choreographers Ann Carlson, Daniel Charon, Molly Heller, Raja Feather Kelly, Joanna Kotze, Andrea Miller, Doug Varone, Netta Yerushalmy, Yin Yue, among others. Melissa’s work as an artist is always an exchange of ideas - a sharing of wonder.
More information on UVU Department of Dance.
QUINN COATES
Quinn Coates is a dance artist from Gilbert, Arizona where she trained at Tempe Dance Academy in her youth. After taking a break from dance and spending time out of the country, she realized dance was a necessity that was missing from her life. She is now a Junior in the Modern Dance program at UVU, and this is her first year performing with CDE. She has performed in works choreographed by Martha Nichols, Andy Pellick, and Suzi Taylor.
KAMRYN DAUGHTERS
Kamryn Daughters grew up in California and began her dance training at the age of three. She is currently a senior at UVU and is pursuing her BFA in Modern dance. She is also a second-year member of Contemporary Dance Ensemble. While attending UVU, Kamryn has been working with Shift Dance Company and is a founding member of the company. Recently, she got the opportunity to be a guest dancer with Repertory Dance Theatre and performed works choreographed by Martha Graham and Shane Urton. Over the summer, Kamryn performed alongside Collin Raye at the Usana 30th anniversary convention.
DARCIE DAY
Darcie Day is a Utah native contemporary dancer with a deep love for all things movement, expression and kinesthetics. Within the realm of studying modern dance, she has grown passionate about choreography creation, finding play in the work, and uniting body with mind and spirit. She is also a firm believer that within every soul lies a dancer and is an advocate for people dancing in whatever way moves their spirit most. Darcie has had the opportunity to perform as a guest artist with modern/contemporary companies including SALT Contemporary Dance, Heartland Dance Collective, and Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company.
CIERA EREKSON
Ciera Erekson, a dance artist/teacher from Utah, grew up training in many different styles ranging from Hip Hop to Ballet. Ciera is now approaching her final year at UVU, rolling into her junior year and pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She is in the midst of her 2nd season with CDE where she has received wonderful opportunities to perform works by Martha Graham with Repertory Dance Theatre, Shapiro & Smith with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and WHYTEBERG. Ciera is passionate about inspiring others through movement-based storytelling and is eager to launch her career in the dance industry.
MELANIE GROB
Melanie Grob is a dance artist from St. George, Utah. She has been dancing for 16 years, but after a car accident that should have paralyzed her, Melanie’s passion for dance has since exploded. She was awarded the Regional Dance Sterling Scholarship, and state championships as captain of her drill team for 2 consecutive years. In 2022, Melanie performed in the UVU Senior Capstone show working with choreographers Stephanie Cole, Holly Perkins, Karlee Secakuku, and Hannah White. She is now a sophomore at UVU and is delighted to be a part of CDE!
SARAH HUTCHINSON
Sarah Hutchinson grew up in Washington where she trained in ballet and contemporary dance. As a dancer, Sarah is interested in finding the rich textures and qualities of movement that the body can express through the limits of movement. She is currently a senior at Utah Valley University pursuing a BFA in Dance. Prior to joining CDE Sarah performed with Synergy Dance Company for two years. She has performed works by Jesse Obremski, Ihsan Rustem, and Olivier Wevers. Along with performing Sarah was chosen to choreograph works for Synergy Dance Company and for the Movers + Maker workshop.
HOPE KING
Hope King is a dance artist from Benjamin, Utah and began her training at the age of 5. After graduating high school, she was looking for more experience and decided to move to the Dominican Republic for a short time. After dance being absent in her life, she decided to come back to it and is now a sophomore in the Modern Dance program at UVU. She has performed in works choreographed by Katy Spreadbury, Jaci Royal, Kirsten Russell, and was a guest artist with Ririe Woodbury performing “To Have and To Hold” by Shapiro and Smith Dance.
ALLI KIRK
Alli Kirk is a senior at UVU, acquiring a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance. During her time in the Department of Dance at UVU, she has performed in Synergy Dance Company's "Awaken" and the Senior Capstone Performances "Daydreams", "Boxed Out", and "Dawn and Dusk" working with faculty, guest, and student choreographers. Alli is currently creating an original work that will premiere in the Senior Capstone show this Spring. This is Alli's first year on CDE, and she has had an enriching experience full of collaboration, artistry, and hard work.
ZACHARY MARSHALL
Zachary Marshall is a dance artist from Riverton, Utah. He is a sophomore pursuing his BFA in modern dance. Zach is in his first season with CDE and is excited to work with talented artists. Zach loves working with and designing wardrobes on and off the stage. While Zach started dancing later in life compared to most, he has never let his creativity and passion for dancing suffer. He finds much of his expression and artistry rooted in his creative nature, always wanting to create and express himself differently since he was young.
HEATHER MORLEY
Heather Morley is a dance artist from Highland, UT and in her second season with CDE. She danced professionally with Mos.A.I.C Dance Company for 2 seasons and is a sophomore in the Modern Dance Program at UVU. Heather grew up in the competitive world of dance and trained with choreographers such as Liz Imperio, Comfort Fedoke, and Jonathan Sison. While at UVU, Heather has had the opportunity to be a guest artist performing choreography by Martha Graham with Repertory Dance Theatre and Danial Shapiro and Joanie Smith with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. In total, Heather likes to dance.
SAVANNAH PETERSEN
Savannah Petersen began her competitive dance training at age eight and has trained in various styles. She attended The Pointe Academy in Highland, Utah, for her dance training and is pursuing a BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Modern/Contemporary at UVU. Savannah has been awarded the Sterling Scholar in Dance and Performing Arts Modern Scholarship at UVU, among other scholarships. Savannah has performed with Synergy and CDE over the past four years. She performed works by Andy Noble, Courtney Mazeika, WHYTEBERG, and other accomplished choreographers. Savannah is a founding member of Shift Dance Company and recently finished their second season.
ETHAN PITCHER
Ethan Pitcher, a Utah native, discovered his passion for dance in high school, which led him to pursue this passion by joining UVU’s dance program and the competitive hip-hop company MosA.I.C. Following his beloved two-year mission in Ukraine, he returned to his dancing passion. While on CDE he has worked with artists like Brian Gerke, Courtney Mazeika, Shapiro & Smith Dance, WHYTEBERG, and Melissa Younker. He is grateful for the opportunities that CDE has provided, like working with amazing creators/professionals, performing To Have and To Hold alongside dancers from Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and meeting his now wife, Lexie.
LEXIE PITCHER
Lexie Pitcher, a dance artist, is a Senior in the Modern Dance Program. This is her 3rd year and final season with CDE. While on CDE, Lexie has enjoyed performing works by Laura Brick, Courtney Mazeika, Mike Esperanza, Brian Gerke, LAJAMARTIN, and WYTEBERG. This season on CDE, Lexie was selected and recognized as the rehearsal assistant. She has been an apprentice with Divinity Dance Company since 2019. One of Lexie’s proudest moments was dancing as a guest artist with Ririe Woodbury Dance Company. Lexie will be forever grateful for CDE and the opportunity to dance with her husband Ethan every day.
RICHELLE RINDLISBACHER
Richelle Rindlisbacher is a dance artist from Highland, Utah and started her dance training in her youth. This is her first year joining CDE and previously performed with Synergy in 2017, 2020, and in 2021 where she had the privilege to present her own work on stage. Richelle had the opportunity to perform in UVU’s Dance Departments Senior Capstones “Boxed In Boxed Out” and “Daydreams” working with Rachel Miller, Holly Perkins, and Cayla Teahan. She has worked with esteemed artists like Justin Bass, Laura Brick, Bret Easterling, and Jesse Obremski.
Nate Anderson loves performing. He enjoyed playing for Universal Studios Japan for a year, and has toured across the United States, Australia, Mexico, Cayman Islands, South Korea, Honduras, Belize, and Japan. He drums on everything he can get his hands on with his junk drumming band, Trash Panda Drum Group. He has won multiple Downbeat awards, is a published composer, and has recorded for Hal Leonard. Nate enjoys being the director of music for the UVU Department of Dance. Nate also started his own production company providing entertainment for events and is passionate about the educational branch of that company where he strives to create opportunities for and inspire the rising generation. Nate has a master's degree from the reputable Indiana University where he studied with Steve Houghton and Michael Spiro and has degrees from Utah valley University and the Juilliard sister program at Snow College.
Scott Killian has composed works for such major American companies as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance-Chicago, Nikolais/Louis Dance, and the José Limón Dance Company. Killian has created numerous works with Cherylyn Lavagnino, as well as with Danny Shapiro and Joanie Smith, Johannes Wieland, ZviDance, and others. As a composer/sound designer for theatre, Killian has served as Resident Composer for the Berkshire Theatre Festival since 1997 and his work has been seen at theatrical venues including Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theatre Workshop, Public Theater, Women’s Project, The Acting Company, Rattlestick Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre of Washington D.C., Shakespeare & Co., Seattle Rep, Baltimore’s Center Stage, Theatre Calgary and the Vancouver Playhouse. Music for film includes Witnessing, a documentary film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and aired on MSNBC, the film Undetectable: the Changing Face of AIDS (premiered on PBS and the NOW Film Festival/NYC) and Swan Lake, Minnesota an award-winning video adaptation of the classic ballet produced by the A&E network.
With diverse influences ranging from Miles Davis, Tom Waits, Glenn Gould, and Brad Mehldau to Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Radiohead, and Steve Reich, Michael Wall has established a reputation as one of the most innovative and impactful voices in the world of music and dance. An in-demand composer, Michael writes approximately 200 new commissions a year for leading international dance organizations, music licensing, and collaborative projects including the Grammy-nominated album "Spirit Song" by Kenny Barron. Michael also organized, performed, recorded, mixed, and mastered the recording "Music for Changing Parts" by Phillip Glass with the Salt Lake Electronic Ensemble, which was released on Glass's record label Orange Mountain Music. In dance, Michael has collaborated with Flockworks, Pilobolus, Shen Wei, Charles Anderson, The Jose Limon Company, Jesse Zarrit, David Dorfman, Jennifer Nugent, Bebe Miller and many more. Michael has been distributing music since 1999, and has amassed a library of 53 albums with over 500 tracks of music. He is currently developing online educational resources to teach composing for dance, accompanying dance classes, and teaching music for dance to dance educators. This is an industry first and will be available through his website www.soundformovement.com
Our mission is to produce and present artistic excellence, which would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We thank them and express our deep gratitude to all patrons, supporters, and friends of The Noorda.
The arts possess the unparalleled power to inspire, educate, liberate, and transform. They elevate moments, mark milestones, soften edges, and generate profound meaning. Experience the beauty and wonder of the arts with us this season at The Noorda and begin at once to live!
Courtney R. Davis, J.D., M.A.
Dean, School of the Arts
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.
Artwork by Shane Walking Eagle (Sisseton Dakota).
