Fall 2024 Newsletter
We had a great start to the year here in Kenyon! Read on to learn more about the happenings in the Vassar Dance Department this past semester!
Please contact Helen Ambrose (hambrose@vassar.edu) to be added to the email list.
Save the date!
Reserve all tickets at vassardance.tix.com.
- February 7th: MODfest Performance
- April 4–5th: VRDT Homecoming Reunion. All VRDT Alums are welcome!!
- April 17th, 19th: Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre Spring Concert
- April 26th: Independent Study Choreography Concert
On Faculty
Jessie Levey (she/her) is the founder and director of Barefoot Dance Center in New York’s Hudson Valley where she teaches people of all ages and directs Barefoot Dance Company. She holds an MFA in Dance from the Peck School of the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Jessie is the recipient of the 2023 National Dance Education Organization’s Outstanding Leadership Award. She taught Introduction to Dancemaking at Vassar this fall.
Events
Cunningham Workshop
In October, Mandy Salva led a Cunningham technique workshop for VRDT dancers. Salva joined the Cunningham Dance Company in 2000 where she performed and danced for four years. She will be setting a Cunningham piece on VRDT this coming spring.
DEL Presentation
This past summer two students, Abby Rice ’25 (pictured center) and Sara Schuster ’25, and faculty member Miriam Mahdaviani, were Arnhold Summer Fellows at the Dance Education Lab (DEL) held at the 92nd Street Y. For three weeks, they attended classes focused on how to teach dance. The first week centered on key components for dance teaching while the second week taught how to engage young children with dance by encouraging play and creativity. The third week explored embodied dance history with a focus on modern dance icons—Primus, Limón, and Ailey—and the significance of the 92NY within dance history.
Kaatsbaan Field Trip
Dance Department students travelled to Kaatsbaan Cultural Park to watch two performances. On the first weekend, three dance companies performed including works from Limon Dance Company, Boca Tuya, and Music from the Sole. On the second weekend, students saw Company Wayne McGregor whose choreography explores the relationship between the human body and technology.
New Works
Darrell Grand Moultrie is one of America’s most diverse and sought-after choreographers and master teachers. This fall, he created Destiny Risen (pictured) for VRDT. He is one of the few choreographers working in the Theater, Modern, Ballet, and Commercial Dance genres simultaneously. Darrell has created and staged multiple works for The Juilliard School, BalletX, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ailey 2, Cincinnati Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, and countless other prominent dance companies across the US.
Courses
Dance Pedagogy is a new offering designed to provide students with the information and ability to integrate technical and conceptual content along with pedagogical content in dance. Students gain an understanding of how areas of concentration within dance teaching and learning are organized, represented, and adapted to the diverse interests and abilities of learners, and presented for instruction. The course was developed and taught by Leslie Sachs. Jacob Geiger ’25, is pictured teaching pre-school students.