The Muhlenberg College Department of Theatre & Dance presents

Master Choreographers F e at u r i n g

The Joffrey Ballet’s Viva Vivaldi Choreographed by Gerald Arpino Staged by Trinette Singleton

A n d O r i g i n a l D a n c e W o r k s C r e at e d b y

Charlotte Corrie Franz Boye-Christensen Cowart

Heidi Cruz-Austin

Dorrell Jeffrey Shelley Martin Peterson Oliver Artistic Director

Karen Dearborn





Costume Designer Lighting Designer

Constance Case

Production Manager

Meredith Stapleton

Susan Hamburger

Stage Manager

Becca Grady

February 7-9, 2013

– Act 1 –

– Act 2 –

Between X and Y

Viva Vivaldi

Choreography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heidi Cruz-Austin

Second Movement

Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Silizium” and “Ladies,” by Apparat

Choreography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald Arpino As staged by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trinette Singleton

Dancers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Ancona, Jaclyn Birkner, Marissa Bottino, Erica Braun, Julia Gastrinakis, Danielle Gumbert, Tyler Holoboski, Courtney Hunsberger, Kelsey Hutchison, Tommy McCarthy, Zoe Papaeracleous, Nick Picknally, Melissa Ryan Reitberg, Kate Roe, Kristen Santos, Meredith Stapleton, Sean Vanin

In Transit Choreography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Boye-Christensen Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Piano Concerto no. 23 in A Major, K. 488: II. Adagio, by W.A. Mozart Dancers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Ancona, Sarah Braviak, Jillian Casella, Gwynne Jones, Jenna Neckritz, Carly Reed, Caitlin Sauter, Meredith Stapleton

I’ve Got It Together Choreography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corrie Franz Cowart

Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Concerto no. 7 in D Major, by Antonio Vivaldi Arranged by Rodrigo Riera Dancers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erica Braun, Adora Goldovsky, Shayna Golub, Danielle Gumbert, Melissa Ryan Reitberg, Kate Roe, Graceanne Ruggiero, Shaena Singer, JoJo Tsacoyeanes Understudy: Meredith McAllister The performance of Viva Vivaldi, an Arpino Ballet, is presented with permission of The Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey Foundation and has been produced in accordance with the Foundation service standards established and provided by the Foundation.

Passage Choreography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dorrell Martin

with the dancers

Rehearsal Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AlexJo Natale

Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corrie Franz Cowart

Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Felbomlasztott Mentökocsi,” by Venetian Snares “Passage (Acoustic Version),” by Knowledge of Bugs

Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “The Swan,” from Carnival of the Animals, by Camille Saint-Saëns “Probability Cloud,” by Bill Frisell Dancers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexa Astarita, Laura Barbalato, Samantha Chu, Meredith Clemons, Kimberly Dodson, Rae Fishman, Dana Kessler, Alison Lambert, Chelsea Montgomery-Duban, Nina Pongratz, Meredith Stapleton, Sari Weinerman

Dancers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allison Berger, Jaclyn Birkner, Sarah Braviak, Jillian Casella, Meredith Clemons, Whitney DellaTorre, Jessica Denzler, Danielle Gumbert, Nikki Horwitz, Kelsey Hutchison, Angeline Kolpon, Cheyenne Lapes, Brittany Van Natta, Ashley Wofford

Cascades

Side By Side Choreography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeffrey Peterson

Choreography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelley Oliver

Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “First Circle,” by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays performed by The Pat Metheny Group

Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Inspiration Calls To Me,” by David Leonhardt Piano: David Leonhardt Bass: Matthew Parish Drums: Paul Wells

with the dancers

Dancers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Barbalato, Jaclyn Birkner, Sarah Braviak, Jillian Casella, Tyler Holoboski, Courtney Hunsberger, Gwynne Jones, Alison Lambert, Amanda Moretz, Jenna Neckritz, Nick Picknally, Kristen Santos, Caitlin Sauter, Chelsea Torrance, Brittany Van Natta, Sari Weinerman Understudies: Kate Brenner, Emily Lombardo 2

Master choreographers

February 2013

Dancers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Barlow, Teresa Dickens, Meghan Donahoe, Wendy Epstein, Tyler Holoboski, Cheyenne Lapes, Shannon Malia, Tommy McCarthy, Emily Phillips, Kristen Santos, Kylie Sickler, Amanda Todaro, Chelsea Torrance, Ashley Wofford Understudy: Jenny Sharpe February 2013

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P r o d u c t i o n S ta f f General Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Bien Department Technical Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Damon Gelb Technical Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul E. Theisen, Jr. Costume Shop Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Caroline La Porta Assistant Technical Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Covell Assistant Stage Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katie Mitchell, Will Raynor Light Board Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Caracappa Sound Board Operator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryan Dougherty Gel Changers/Stage Crew . . . . . . . . . . . Noah Dach, Dan McKenna, Claire Waggoner Wardrobe Crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordan Catagnus, Lacey Davies Staff Stitchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Evans Gartley, Alexis Gurst Work Study Stitchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seana Benz, Rebecca Bitondo, Zoë Briggs, Ian Curtis, Elizabeth Earle, Alyssa Haning, Dayna Kline, Elizabeth Spilsbury, Nicolette Strobing, Abby Tapper, Sarah Wanger Student Electricians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ben Burwell, Matt Caraway, Hannah Cascio, Katy Casty, David Forbes, Karlina Juelch, Matthew Lebron, Jared Loeb, Patrick Moren, Brian Pacelli, John Rotenberger, Riva Rubenoff, Molly Serpi, Claire Waggoner, Samantha Walsh Box Office Managers . . . . . . . . . . Gianna Beleno, Amelia Coccaro, Christine DeLuca, Kimberly Dodson, Hannah Gross, Jenna Hochman, James Patefield, Kristen Wendt Box Office Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Avery Deutsch, Christian Dessler, Jacqueline Schweighardt, Meghan Sullivan, House Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Molly Eisen Marketing Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Snyder Presidential Assistant for Marketing & Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Casey Moser Poster Design and Playbill Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelsey Hutchison Marketing and Publicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . Briana Boche, Natalie Coy, Kelsey Hutchison, Rachel Kaufman, Jillian Mauro Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew Wright, Fig Tree Photography 4

Master choreographers

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The Joffrey Ballet

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Master choreographers

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Based in Chicago, Illinois, The Joffrey Ballet has been hailed as “America’s Company of Firsts.” The Joffrey Ballet’s long list of “firsts” includes being the first dance company to perform at the White House at Jacqueline Kennedy’s invitation, the first to appear on television, the first American company to visit Russia, the first classical dance company to go multi-media, the first to commission a rock ’n’ roll ballet, the first and only dance company to appear on the cover of Time magazine, and the first company to have had a major motion picture based on it, Robert Altman’s The Company. The Joffrey Ballet’s inclusive perspective on dance

reflects the diversity of America with its company, audiences, and repertoire, which includes major story ballets, reconstructions of masterpieces and contemporary works. Founded by visionary teacher Robert Joffrey in 1956, guided by celebrated choreographer Gerald Arpino from 1988 until 2007, The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under internationally renowned artistic director Ashley C. Wheater and executive director Christopher Clinton Conway. The Joffrey Ballet has become one of the most revered and recognizable arts organizations in America and one of the top dance companies in the world.

Gerald Arpino Gerald Arpino (1923-2008) co-founded The Joffrey Ballet with Robert Joffrey in 1956 and served as associate director for many years. Upon Joffrey’s death in 1988, Arpino succeeded him as artistic director. In 1995, he moved The Joffrey Ballet to Chicago. A leading dancer with the company in its early years, Arpino choreographed his first work for The Joffrey in 1961. Shortly thereafter, he became The Joffrey’s resident choreographer and to date has created more than one-third of the company’s repertoire. His amazingly diverse work ranges from social commentary to February 2013

pure dance gems. His ballets are in the repertoires of companies around the world. Arpino served on numerous boards and councils including the national advisory council of the ITI/USA International Ballet Competition and the board of the Dance Notation Bureau. He was a member of the Arts Advisory Committee of the New York International Festival of the Arts. He served as an advisor to the Artists Committee for The Kennedy Center Honors. He was a recipient of the 1974 Dance Magazine award and the Vaslav Nijinsky Medal. He was honored twice by the Chicago Tribune as one of the “Chicagoans of the Year” for his important contribution to the arts in Chicago and the world.

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Charlotte BoyeChristensen, a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, received her formal training at London Contemporary Dance School and at the Laban Centre in London (where she won the 1992 Choreography Award) and completed her Master of Fine Arts degree at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. Charlotte has been commissioned to create new works for: Ballet West, The Milwaukee Ballet, Singapore Dance Theatre, The Arts Fissions Dance Company, Ballet de Camaguey in Cuba, New Danish Dance Theatre, Tisch School of the Arts’ Second Avenue Dance Company in NYC, London Contemporary Dance School’s Edge Dance Company, Compañía de Danza Contemporánea Ccu, and Verb Ballets in Cleveland. In 2002 she joined RirieWoodbury Dance Company, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, to assist in the artistic direction of the company. She became the artistic director in 2008 and has created 24 new works on the company. In May of 2013, she is leaving her current position

at RW to establish her own company, CBCNOW Dance Theater. As a soloist, she has performed at the International Choreographic platform in Almada, Portugal; the Marato de l’Espectacle in Barcelona, Spain; the Metropolitan Museum of Photography in Tokyo, Japan; Lasalle-Sia, College of the Arts, Singapore; the Bellas Artes International Choreography Competition in Mexico City; and more. She has choreographed at the Universities of Texas–Austin, Sam Houston, Princeton, Rutgers, Utah, Southern Mississippi, Southern Utah University, The National School for Contemporary Dance in Denmark, The Kuopio and Oulu Conservatories in Finland, Arnheim Academy and EDDC in the Netherlands, The Royal Danish Ballet School, University of the Americas in Mexico, and the Bellas Artes International Choreography Competition in Mexico City. Charlotte has been invited to participate in “The Yard” Dance Colony in Massachusetts and The International Course for Professional Choreographers and Composers in England, and to teach and choreograph at the International Dance Competition in Seoul. She has staged her work at the Kaleidoskop

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Master choreographers

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Theatre, the New Opera house, “Den Nye Scene” in Copenhagen, and the Alliance Francaise in Singapore. She has worked with Utah Symphony on Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale and Renard, directed the stage workshop at the famed Bauhaus Institute in Germany, and more. She is the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship and grants from the Theatre and Arts Councils in Denmark, Germany, Mexico, and Singapore among others, as well as a recipient of the Choo-San Goh Award for Choreographic Excellence. Charlotte would like to thank the dancers for their wonderful commitment to the work and Karen Dearborn for facilitating this residency.

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Master choreographers

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Corrie Franz Cowart is an assistant professor at Muhlenberg College, teaching modern dance, ballet, dance composition, and dance on camera. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from Cornish College of the Arts and an MFA in dance and choreography from the University of Oregon. She is a certified DanceAbility instructor and a Laban Movement Analyst. Cowart has performed with the Pat Graney Dance Company, Mary Miller Dance Company, LABCO Dance, Minh Tran and Dancers, the Dance Theatre of Oregon, and the Pittsburgh Opera. She is also the co-artistic director of Co-Art Dance and has performed both nationally and internationally with Impact Productions’ Dayuma and The Masterpiece. Cowart has created numerous dances made specifically for video, some of which have been shown at the San Souci Festival of Dance on Camera in Boulder, Colo., the Dance on Camera Festival at DeSales February 2013

University, and the Moving Image Dance on Camera Festival in Philadelphia, among others. Heidi Cruz-Austin began her dance training at the age of four at The Dolly Haltzman Dance Academy in Allentown. She went on to study at the School of American Ballet and The Pennsylvania Ballet. Ms. CruzAustin received an apprenticeship with Pennsylvania Ballet in 1994 and joined the Company as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 1995. She has danced numerous featured roles for various choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Ben Stevenson, Alvin Ailey, Margo Sappington, Christopher d’Amboise, and Matthew Neenan. She has also had featured roles in many George Balanchine ballets, including The Nutcracker, Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Choleric in The Four Temperaments, and leading roles in Serenade, Who Cares?, Western Symphony, Scotch Symphony, and Divertimento #15. In addition to dancing with Pennsylvania Ballet, Ms. Cruz-Austin has danced with the Philadelphia-based company Ballet X and has performed as a guest artist throughout the United States and Europe. She has taught ballet at Bryn Mawr College and is currently a ballet adjunct professor at Muhlenberg College. As a choreographer, Ms. Cruz-Austin was a winner in the 2003 Ballet Builders showcase in New York City, in which she showcased her work. She has been commissioned to create works for Franklin and Marshall College, Bryn Mawr College, and Repertory Dance Theatre. She was a recipient of the 2004-2005 New Edge Residency at The Community Education

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Center of Philadelphia. She had her work performed annually in Shut Up & Dance for several years. Ms. Cruz-Austin received a 2008 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for her choreography. She is currently the co-artistic director of DanceSpora dance company. Dorrell Martin is founder of the jazz and contemporary dance program, LEON Dance Arts NY, which is associated with LEON Contemporary Dance Company/NY, of which Mr. Martin is the artistic director. He was also the creator and director of the jazz and contemporary program at The Joffrey Ballet School. He is former artistic director/co-founder of Houston Metropolitan Dance Company in Houston, Texas. Mr. Martin has a solid training and performance background. He was a soloist for the national and international touring company of A Few Good Men Dancin’ and has danced in shows such as Aida, West Side Story, The Lion King, and Swing. Mr. Martin has also performed with many professional companies, including Arch Dance, Locke Contemporary Dance, Houston Grand Opera, Metropolitan Opera, and Richard Rivera’s PHYSUAL as well as in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, just to name a few. He has performed in venues such as Jacob’s Pillow Dance, Joyce SoHo, Blaktino at BAAD in the Bronx, Riverside Theatre, and American Dance Festival with some of New York’s emerging choreographers. Mr. Martin appeared on the talk show The View with singer Emma Bunton. He has performed with such recording artists as Jennifer Lopez, Pink, 12

Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, and Debra Cox. Mr. Martin is honored to be one of the choreographers for a second year of Master Choreographers. Shelley Oliver is a Canadianborn tap dancer, choreographer, and educator. She has appeared internationally with some of the legends of the tap world. She is the artistic director of The Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers currently touring with the David Leonhardt Jazz Group throughout the northeast. She is a founding member of Manhattan Tap and served as a co-artistic director and choreographer with the company. Ms. Oliver has toured in concert halls in Europe, China, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States. She has performed with Savion Glover, Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slide, Buster Brown, Jimmy Slide, and Chuck Green. Her television appearances include Tap Dance in America with Gregory Hines and Star Search. She has conducted lecture demonstrations for Lincoln Center, New York City Public Schools and universities throughout the United States. On faculty at Muhlenberg College, she directs The Muhlenberg Jazz Tap Ensemble, providing community outreach in the Allentown area. Ms. Oliver has produced a series of “Tap Music For Tap Dancers” CDs that have become a standard pedagogical tool in the tap dance world. Ms. Oliver toured as guest artist with the River City Brass Band in Pittsburgh, and with Le Sextet Clic-Clac-Cloc, in Geneva, Switzerland. She is the recipient of the 2009 Outstanding Dance Educator award for the Lehigh Valley Dance Consortium.

Master choreographers

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Jeffrey Peterson serves as an assistant professor of dance at Muhlenberg, teaching modern, jazz, and partnering techniques. He holds an MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and a BFA in dance from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Following primary roles performing colorguard with The Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and Every-Body Winter Guard, Mr. Peterson began his professional dance career in Minneapolis with JAZZDANCE by Danny Buraczeski in 2000. Since then, he has worked with Clare Byrne, Edisa Weeks, Mathew Janczewski, and Sarah Carlson. He also performed in Stephan Koplowitz’s Grand Step Project, as well as a production of The Pearl Fishers for The Minnesota Opera, with choreography by John Malashock. His choreographic work for Jeffrey Peterson Dance, called “poetic precision” by the Minneapolis StarTribune and “moving and heartracingly joyous” by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, has been commissioned by Dance New Amsterdam’s In the Company of Men, Movement Research at Judson Church, and Rhythmically Speaking. His work has also appeared in the DanceNOW/NYC festival at Joe’s Pub and Joyce SOHO; The Minnesota Fringe Festival at The Southern and Lab Theaters; Kinetic Kitchen at the Varsity Theater and Patrick’s Cabaret; as well as at Intermedia Arts, Bedlam Theatre, and the Bryant Lake Bowl. Mr. Peterson has previously taught and/or staged choreography at Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University, Minnesota State University–Mankato, Old Dominion University, St. Mary’s University–Winona, and St. Olaf College, as well as for Zenon Dance School, The Minneapolis Children’s February 2013

Theatre Company, and Minnesota’s Perpich Center for Arts Education. Mr. Peterson’s creative work includes colorguard and visual consultation for the Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps, sound design, and ongoing choreographic projects with Jeffrey Peterson Dance. Jeffrey would like to thank his cast for their brilliant, heartfelt work on this piece. Trinette Singleton was a principal dancer with The Joffrey Ballet for 15 years. She was thrust into national prominence in 1967, appearing in the multi-media ballet Astarte, created on her by her mentor, Robert Joffrey. She was the first American dancer to appear on the cover of the national news magazine — Time. Singleton toured throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, performing in ballets by notable choreographers such as Joffrey, Arpino, Ashton, Balanchine, DeMille, Jooss, Tharp, and Tudor. Following her performing years, she was administrative assistant to Robert Joffrey and ballet mistress for the company. In 2010, she won the Outstanding Choreographer Award for the Youth America Grand Prix semifinals. In 2011, she was given the LVAIC Award for Distinguished Service in Dance. Currently, Trinette is co-artistic director of Repertory Dance Theatre and on the faculty at DeSales University, in the Lehigh Valley. She is on the board of directors for The Gerald Arpino and Robert Joffrey Foundation. She is also on the Advisory Board for Cecchetti USA and an Honorary Member of Cecchetti International–Classical Ballet. Trinette holds her Licentiate, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance, London, England, and her Doctor of Fine Arts, Honoris Causa, DeSales University.

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Artist & Manager Profiles Constance Case (Costume Designer) has designed costumes for the Muhlenberg Mainstage theatre productions of The Beggar’s Opera, Pentecost, Brigadoon, Dido and Aeneas, The Country Wife, The Mikado, and Top Girls among many others. She has also designed the Summer Music Theatre productions of Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, Into the Woods, South Pacific, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. She has previously designed dance costumes for Shelley Oliver, Karen Dearborn, Charles O. Anderson, Zane Booker, Clare Byrne, Tiffany Mills, and many other talented choreographers. Ms. Case earned her MFA from Wayne State University in Detroit, where she worked for the Harmonie Park Playhouse, The Hillberry Theatre, the Museum of African American History, and Michigan Opera Theatre. Her work has also been seen at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the National Archives, Wolftrap, and the Woolly Mammoth. www.constancecase.com Karen Dearborn (Artistic Director and Director of the Dance Program) has choreographed over 70 works in concert, theatre, and musical theatre,

including national tours of the Tony Award-winning National Theatre of the Deaf and several Equity theatres. Recently, she has provided choreography for the Mainstage theatre productions of The Pajama Game, The Other Shore, Oklahoma!, Urinetown, Cabaret, On the Town, and West Side Story, and Summer Music Theatre productions of Music Man, The Mikado, The Sound of Music, The Who’s Tommy, Fiddler on the Roof, Carousel, Annie Get Your Gun, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Guys and Dolls, and Oliver!. She also regularly choreographs dance works for Master Choreographers. Dearborn is the founding director of Muhlenberg’s dance program. Her scholarly research has been published in The Journal of Dance Education, and she contributed an essay to the book Performing Magic on the Western Stage. She serves on the executive board of the American College Dance Festival Association. Becca Grady (Stage Manager) has served as an associate stage manager for 44 Plays for 44 Presidents at Muhlenberg. She also served as the stage manager for the MTA Fundraiser Cabaret, The Enchantment

Theatre Company’s workshop of The Firebird and their production of Harold and the Purple Crayon in Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre’s 2012 season. Becca assistant stage managed Master Choreographers ’12 and New Voices ’11: “Transcranium.” Susan Hamburger (Lighting Designer) is thrilled to be returning to Muhlenberg for her 17th season. Susan is the lighting designer for the Bessie Award-winning dance company Urban Bush Women. She has worked extensively in live theatre with such notable artists as Craig Harris, Lucinda Childs, Shirin Neshat, Philip Glass, and Mark Rucker, and numerous dance companies including Bessie Award winner Nora Chipaumire, Troika Ranch, Blondell Cummings, Urban Tap, Ellis Wood, Alice Farley, Christopher Caines, and Cherylyn Lavagnino, among others. She has also designed Hamletmachine, A Child’s Christmas in Wales, Little Shop of Horrors, Suddenly Last Summer, The Great Highway, West Side Story, The Cryptogram, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Waiting for Godot, and Mame, as well as many other original plays and performance pieces. Susan is an adjunct professor at New York University and The Juilliard School and is a member of USA 829, IES, ACT-UAW. She has been published in Majestic Modern Living, Real

Simple Magazine, The New York Times and the Rosco Lighting Tutorial website. www.susanhamburger.com AlexJo Natale (Rehearsal Director for Passage) is a recent graduate of Muhlenberg College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and psychology. At Muhlenberg, she was the president of the Muhlenberg Dance Association and a member of two performance ensembles: Six Meters Improvisation Ensemble and Shelley Oliver’s Jazz Tap Ensemble. AlexJo has performed in numerous pieces in Muhlenberg’s annual Master Choreographers concerts, working with choreographers Charles O. Anderson, Shelley Oliver, Nicole Wolcott, Dorrell Martin, and Sydney Skybetter. She was an avid student choreographer, showing her choreography in the American College Dance Festival’s Northeast Conference and NY Live Arts. AlexJo most recently choreographed for Muhlenberg College’s Summer Music Theatre production of H.M.S Pinafore. She currently teaches for Gateway to the Arts, is a special events assistant for Tiffany Mills Dance Company, and is an arts administrator for Léon Dance Arts NY. Meredith Stapleton (Production Manager) see bio on page 27.

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February 2013

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- Da n c e r P r o f i l e s Emily Ancona (Between X and Y, In Transit) is a senior double major in English and dance. She choreographed “Hold Me Still” for Moving Stories ’12 in addition to “Not I” and “The Pass” for the fall informal dance concerts ’10 and ’11. This past fall, Emily presented “Hold Me Still” at the College Partnership Program at Dance New Amsterdam in NYC. Performance credits include Master Choreographers ’10, ’11, Moving Stories ’11, ’12, and informal dance concerts. This past December, Emily performed in the Bang Group’s Nut/Cracked at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Emily danced with Dance Theater of Pennsylvania for several years and also studied at the Rock School of Ballet and Princeton Ballet School. In 2011, Emily studied Alwin Nikolais’s Crucible for the Centennial Celebration of his life and works at Hunter College. On campus, she works for the Writing Center and is the vice president of the Muhlenberg Dance Association. This past summer, Emily interned at Dance Magazine. Last spring, she studied dance abroad at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy, where she danced, choreographed, and performed throughout Italy. Alexa Astarita (I’ve Got It Together) is a junior pursuing a double major in dance and media & communication. She has appeared in Master Choreographers ’12, Moving Stories ’12, and Dance Emerge ’12, as well as performing in and choreographing for several informal dance concerts. Alexa has been a member of DanceWorks & Co. (Montclair, N.J.) since 2005, with whom she performed at the 2012 London Summer Olympics in a trio she cochoreographed titled “One & Only.” Alexa is a member of the hip hop dance team MINT*. Laura Barbalato (I’ve Got It Together, Side By Side) is a sophomore biology and dance double major excited to be making her Master Choreographers debut. Laura last appeared in Moving Stories ’12, for which she danced in pieces choreographed by Meredith Stapleton 16

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and Nina Moshman. Her first Mainstage appearance was in Dance Emerge ’12. She has also appeared in the 2011 fall and 2012 spring informal dance concerts. Laura is a member of the MINT* hip hop dance team and a campus tour guide. Danielle Barlow (Cascades) is making her Master Choreographers debut. She is a double major in theatre and business. Danielle’s other credits include directing for the New Voices Directors’ Festival ’11, dancing in Moving Stories ’11 as an understudy for “ANEW,” and playing Carissa in La Dispute ’11, in addition to assistant director and assistant stage manager positions. In this Mainstage season, she will be directing Iphigenia and Other Daughters. Danielle is president of the Muhlenberg Theatre Association, a member of Copasetic Rhythms tap group, and a member of the Black Student Association. Allison Berger (Passage) is thrilled to be back on the Empie stage. She has performed in Master Choreographers ’12, Moving Stories ’10, ’11, ’12, Dance Emerge ’12, and informal dance concerts. Allison’s choreography has appeared in Moving Stories ’12 (“Perpetuum”), 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, and multiple informal dance concerts. She is a junior majoring in anthropology and dance, the 2014 class representative for the Muhlenberg Dance Association, and a member of Six Meters improvisation ensemble. Jaclyn Birkner (Between X and Y, Side By Side, Passage) is a junior pursuing a dance and business double major with a concentration in arts administration. Jaclyn last appeared in Moving Stories ’12, for which she choreographed “Beyond.” Her previous performance experience includes Master Choreographers ’12, Moving Stories ’10, ’11, Dance Emerge ’11, ’12, informal dance concerts, and the American College Dance Festival ’12. She is a sister of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, a peer tutor, a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa

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National Leadership Society, a member of the MINT* hip hop dance team, and the treasurer of the Muhlenberg Dance Association. Marissa Bottino (Between X and Y) is pursuing a double major in dance and English. Marissa has appeared in Master Choreographers in a re-staging of Petipa’s Paquita (2010) and Heidi Cruz-Austin’s works, “Way to the Willows” (2011) and “Maidens in Tow” (2012). She has most recently appeared in Moving Stories ’12 in works choreographed by Kelsey Hutchison, Jenna Neckritz, and Meredith Stapleton. Marissa’s other performance experience includes Moving Stories ’11, Dance Emerge ’11, ’12, and several informal dance concerts. She also choreographed a work for the 2010 fall informal dance concert. Marissa is secretary of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society, a lead writing tutor in the Writing Center, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society.

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Master choreographers

February 2013

Erica Braun (Between X and Y, Viva Vivaldi) is a freshman who is excited to make her Muhlenberg debut with Master Choreographers. Erica has studied a large range of dance genres at In the Spotlight, Tremaine Performance Company, Ballet Academy East, and Broadway Dance Center. She is eager to use her dance knowledge and integrate it with her academic interest in biology. On campus, she is involved in Dress Upon a Star, Colleges Against Cancer, Class Council, and S.I.N. In addition, Erica is a member of the community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and is the 2016 class representative for the Muhlenberg Dance Association. Sarah Braviak (In Transit, Side By Side, Passage) is a sophomore pursuing a double major in dance and psychology. She is a member of DanceMax Moving Company, a teacher for the Muhlenberg Community Dance Center, and a member of the board for the Muhlenberg Dance Association. Sarah has performed in Master Choreographers ’12, Moving Stories ’11, ’12, Dance Emerge ’12, and the 2011 fall informal dance concert. February 2013

Kate Brenner (Side By Side) is a senior majoring in media & communication. Her performance credits include Master Choreographers ’10, ’12, Moving Stories ’10, ’11, Dance Emerge ’11, and several informal dance concerts. Kate is a proud sister of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Jillian Casella (In Transit, Side By Side, Passage) is excited to be performing in her fourth and final Master Choreographers. She is a senior finishing up her double major in dance and media & communication. Jillian has also performed in the student-choreographed shows Moving Stories and Dance Emerge ’09-’12, as well as numerous informal dance concerts. She is a dance instructor for the Muhlenberg Community Dance Center, where she teaches intermediate and advanced jazz to young dancers. She is also the secretary of Muhlenherg’s hip hop dance team, MINT*. Samantha Chu (I’ve Got It Together) is ecstatic to make her Master Choreographers debut. She is a sophomore pursuing a double major in dance and mathematics along with earning her certification in math secondary education. Samantha previously performed in the 2011 fall informal dance concert and the 2012 spring informal dance concert. Most recently, she choreographed her first piece for the 2012 fall informal dance concert. Meredith Clemons (I’ve Got It Together, Passage) is making her Master Choreographers debut. She recently appeared in Moving Stories ’12 in Allison Berger’s piece “Perpetuum.” Meredith began her dance training at the Decker School of Ballet in Oneonta, N.Y. She is a freshman pursuing a dual major in neuroscience and dance. Whitney DellaTorre (Passage) is a freshman making her Master Choreographers debut. This is her first time dancing on the Empie stage. Whitney last appeared in the informal dance concert this past December. She is more than honored to be part of Dorrell Martin’s cast.

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Jessica Denzler (Passage) is excited to be making her Master Choreographers debut. She is a sophomore pursuing a double major in environmental science and dance. Jessica recently appeared in Moving Stories ’12 in the pieces “Get Real” and “Let Go and Get Going.” Other performance experience includes the informal dance concerts of fall 2011 and spring 2012. Jessica is a member of the Perkulators jazz dance team. Teresa Dickens (Cascades) is excited to make her second appearance in Master Choreographers. She appeared in Shelley Oliver’s piece for Master Choreographers ’12. She also participated in both the 2011 fall and 2012 spring informal dance concerts. Teresa is a double major in dance and business with a concentration in marketing. On campus, she is on the hip hop dance team MINT* and a member of the Muhlenberg Jazz Tap Ensemble. Kimberly Dodson (I’ve Got It Together) is thrilled to be in her third and final Master Choreographers. She will be graduating this spring with a major in theatre and a double minor in dance and sociology. Kimberly was last seen in this fall’s Mainstage theatre production of On The Town as Ivy Smith. Other dance performances include Dance Emerge ’10 and Master Choreographers ’10, ’11. Past theatre productions include Bat Boy the Musical, The Other Shore, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, The Tempest, and Three Sisters. In the fall of 2011, Kimberly studied West African dance and theatre in Ghana at the University of Ghana, Legon. She is also a proud member of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority. Meghan Donahoe (Cascades) is excited to perform in Shelley Oliver’s piece for Master Choreographers for a third time. She is pursuing a psychology major and a certification in elementary education. Meghan last appeared in Moving Stories ’12. Other performance experience includes Master Choreographers ’11, ’12, Moving Stories ’10, ’11, Dance Emerge ’11, ’12, and the informal dance concerts. Meghan is a tutor for the Academic Resource Center and a February 2013

sister of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. Wendy Epstein (Cascades) is excited to be performing once again in Master Choreographers. She is pursuing a double major in dance and psychology. Wendy is a member of Muhlenberg’s hip hop dance team MINT* and a sister of Alpha Chi Omega. Rae Fishman (I’ve Got It Together) is excited to make her Master Choreographers debut. She is pursuing psychology and elementary education in addition to dance. Rae has appeared in several informal dance concerts and dances with the Perkulators jazz dance team, for which she is the treasurer. She is a campus tour guide and a campus delegate, teaches at a local Hebrew School, and is a sister of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. Julia Gastrinakis (Between X and Y) is thrilled to make her debut in Master Choreographers. She is pursuing a double major in dance and Spanish. Julia last appeared in Moving Stories ’12 in “Linkage” and performed in two pieces for the 2011 fall informal dance concert. This past summer, Julia studied at The Joffrey Ballet School in New York City for the third time and also enjoyed teaching dance in her hometown. Adora Goldovsky (Viva Vivaldi) had a great experience performing in George Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie last year and is excited for her second performance on the Muhlenberg stage. She enjoys studying in a joint 3 + 3 Doctorate Physical Therapy Program with Muhlenberg College and Thomas Jefferson University while pursuing her passion for ballet. Adora’s favorite role was performing Snow Queen in The Nutcracker with South Jersey Ballet Theater in 2008, ’09, and ’10. Shayna Golub (Viva Vivaldi) is excited to make her Master Choreographers debut. Shayna is part of the class of 2016. She last appeared in Annie Williams’s piece for the 2012 fall informal dance concert. Shayna also appeared in the Mainstage theatre production

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of On the Town this past fall. She is currently pursuing a major in dance and is searching for a second major. Danielle Gumbert (Between X and Y, Viva Vivaldi, Passage) is excited to participate in her second Master Choreographers performance. She is a double major in French and dance while pursuing secondary education certification. Danielle last appeared as a dancer in Moving Stories ‘12. Other Muhlenberg performance experience includes Dance Emerge ’12, Master Choreographers ’12 and Moving Stories ’11. Taking dance composition this semester, Danielle plans to choreograph for an informal dance concert in the future. Tyler Holoboski (Between X and Y, Side By Side, Cascades) is a freshman pursuing a double major in mathematics and dance. He previously performed in Moving Stories ’12, in Nina Pongratz’s piece “Let Go and Get Going.” On campus, Tyler is involved with Copasetic Rhythms tap team. He can always be spotted dancing whether in rehearsal or in the dining hall. Nikki Horwitz (Passage) is excited to make her Master Choreographers debut. She is hoping to pursue a double major in dance and physical therapy. Nikki’s last appearance was in the 2012 fall informal dance concert. She is the co-chair-in-training for Colleges Against Cancer, part of the Step Team and Fuziion dance team, and a member of various other clubs on campus.

Courtney Hunsberger (Between X and Y, Side By Side) is looking forward to this year’s Master Choreographers. She is a sophomore double major in mathematics and dance, pursuing a secondary education certification. Courtney previously performed in Moving Stories ’11, Master Choreographers ’12, and Dance Emerge ’12, as well as a number of informal dance concerts, for one of which she was a choreographer. She is the treasurer of the Education Society and a tutor for the Academic Resource Center. Kelsey Hutchison (Between X and Y, Passage) is a senior double major in English and dance. This past December, Kelsey performed in The Bang Group’s Nut/Cracked at SteelStacks in Bethlehem in addition to dancing and choreographing for Muhlenberg’s Candlelight Carols. Other performance credits include Master Choreographers ’11, ’12, Moving Stories ’11, Dance Emerge ’11, and numerous informal dance concerts. Kelsey choreographed “Linkage” and “Beneath the Tides” for Moving Stories ’12 and ’11, and “Constellations” for Dance Emerge ’12, as well as pieces for past informal dance concerts. She studied technique and choreography with David Parsons Dance Company in New York City in the summer of 2011. Last summer, Kelsey interned for The Kennedy Center’s Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell program. On campus, she is the dance marketing coordinator for the Theatre & Dance Department, a dance tutor, the marketing chair for the Perkulators jazz dance team, and the public

relations coordinator for the Muhlenberg Dance Association. Kelsey teaches ballet for the Muhlenberg Community Dance Center (MCDC) and has set a contemporary ballet on the MCDC Performance Company. Kelsey is a member of both Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society and Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership society. Gwynne Jones (In Transit, Side By Side) is a sophomore pursuing a double major in biology and dance. She has previously performed in Moving Stories ’11 and the 2011 and 2012 informal dance concerts. Gwynne is also a dance office assistant for the Theatre & Dance Department. Dana Kessler (I’ve Got It Together) is excited to make her Master Choreographers debut. She is a senior dance major. Dana was last seen in Dance Emerge ’12 in “Within Reach” and was an understudy for the restaging of Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie for last season’s Master Choreographers. Other performance experience includes Moving Stories ’11, Dance Emerge ’11 and numerous informal dance concerts. Dana is a member of the Perkulators jazz dance team and a campus tour guide. Angeline Kolpon (Passage) is excited to be in her third production of Master Choreographers. She is pursuing a major in accounting with a double minor in dance and French. Angeline last appeared in Moving Stories ’12. She also choreographed “No Time” for the 2010 informal dance

Cheyenne Lapes (Passage, Cascades) is excited to be performing for the third time in Master Choreographers. She has appeared in numerous student-choreographed concerts including Moving Stories ’10, ’11, and Dance Emerge ’10, ’11, in addition to performing in student choreographed pieces at the American College Dance Festival ’11, ’12. Cheyenne also had the opportunity in 2011 to perform at Lehigh University with Nicholas Leichter’s company in its performance of The Whiz. She is pursuing a major in dance and is the captain of Muhlenberg’s hip hop dance team MINT*. Emily Lombardo (Side By Side) is very excited to participate in her first Mainstage production here at Muhlenberg. She previously performed in the 2012 fall informal

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Alison Lambert (I’ve Got It Together, Side By Side) is a junior pursuing a business major and a dance minor. She last appeared in Moving Stories ’12 in Meredith Stapleton’s piece “Fistory” and Nina Pongratz’s piece “Let Go and Get Going.” She also performed in Master Choreographers ’12, Moving Stories ’11, Dance Emerge ’11, ’12, and the 2010 fall informal dance concert.

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concert. Other performance experiences include Moving Stories ’09-’11 and Dance Emerge ’10. Angeline is currently a learning assistant and a tutor for financial accounting, as well as a member of the hip hop dance team MINT*.

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dance concert. This has been an amazing experience for her and she is looking forward to the rest of her time here. Shannon Malia (Cascades) is a senior who is thrilled to be a part of this Mainstage production. She is a double major in dance and business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurial studies. Shannon’s past performance experience at Muhlenberg includes Master Choreographers ’11, Jeremy Arnold’s tap pieces in Moving Stories ’10, ’11, and past informal dance concerts. Last spring, Shannon studied abroad in Florence, Italy. She is a peer tutor for the Academic Resource Center, a dancer with the Muhlenberg Jazz Tap Ensemble under the direction of Shelley Oliver, and president of Copasetic Rhythms tap team. Meredith McAllister (Viva Vivaldi) is a freshman excited to be involved in her first Muhlenberg Mainstage. Meredith was last seen performing in the 2012 fall informal dance concert. Tommy McCarthy (Between X and Y, Cascades) is making his Master Choreographers debut. He is pursuing a double major in dance and chemistry. Tommy’s performance credits include Muhlenberg’s productions of On the Town and Moving Stories ’12. Chelsea Montgomery-Duban (I’ve Got It Together) is thrilled to be making her Master Choreographers debut. She most recently appeared on the Mainstage in On the Town and in this fall’s Moving Stories concert. Other performance credits include Dance Emerge ’12 and the 2012 season of Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre, as Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray. Chelsea has also appeared as The Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Cosette in Les Misérables, and Lilli in Carnival, as well as other roles in her hometown of Malibu, Calif. Amanda Moretz (Side By Side) last appeared in the recent Mainstage production of On the Town in the principal dance ensemble. 24

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Other performance credits include Master Choreographers ’12 in Dorrell Martin’s piece “Against the Wall” and Dance Emerge ’12. Her Mainstage theatre credits also include The Tempest and The Pajama Game. Amanda choreographed “Get Real” for Moving Stories ’12, “Heartstrings” for Dance Emerge ’12, and “Unconventionally Conventional” for the 2011 informal dance concert. She is a dance and psychology double major, a Baker Scholar for the Arts, a Muhlenberg Scholar, and a sister of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. Jenna Neckritz (In Transit, Side By Side) performed in previous Master Choreographers concerts ’11 and ’12 in pieces choreographed by Corrie Franz Cowart, Nicholas Leichter, and Dorrell Martin, as well as in the studentchoreographed concerts Moving Stories ’11, ’12, Dance Emerge ’11, and informal dance concerts. Jenna choreographed for Moving Stories ’12, Dance Emerge ’12, and the 2011 spring and fall informal dance concerts. A dance and neuroscience double major, Jenna is also a member of the dance improvisation group Six Meters and a member of the Muhlenberg College Emergency Medical Services. Zoe Papaeracleous (Between X and Y) is thrilled to make her Master Choreographers debut. She is pursuing a double major in sociology and dance. Zoe last appeared in Moving Stories in Kelsey Hutchison’s piece “Linkage.” She also was an understudy for Heidi CruzAustin’s piece in Master Choreographers last year. She has performed in numerous informal dance concerts in addition to choreographing for the 2012 spring and fall informal dance concerts. Zoe is excited to be a new member of Six Meters this spring. Emily Phillips (Cascades) is excited to be performing in Master Choreographers for her third year. Emily was recently featured on So You Think You Can Dance, where she advanced to the Vegas Week callback. Emily is a junior double major in theatre and business. Other Muhlenberg credits include On the Town (assistant choreographer and dance captain), Merrily We Roll Along, The Pajama

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Game, Moving Stories, Dance Emerge, Master Choreographers, and the informal dance concerts. Nick Picknally (Between X and Y, Side By Side) is a theatre and dance double major. He appeared in Heidi Cruz-Austin’s “Way to the Willows” in Master Choreographers ’11, and “The Grey Zone” and “Constellations” in Dance Emerge ’12. Other Mainstage productions include On the Town and The Pajama Game. He has also been seen in Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre’s productions of The Music Man and Hairspray. On campus, he is a member of the DiscipleMakers Christian Fellowship, the Muhlenberg Theatre Association/Dance Association Liaison, and a brother of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Last fall, he studied at Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. Nina Pongratz (I’ve Got It Together) is a senior earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and media & communication at Muhlenberg. Performance credits include Moving Stories ’11 and the informal dance concerts, in addition to performing in The Bang Group’s Nut/Cracked at SteelStacks in Bethlehem this past December. Choreographic credits include 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, As Thousands Cheer, and multiple works for Moving Stories and the informal dance concerts. She received a research grant for dramaturgical research and assistant choreographed Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre’s production of Hairspray. Nina has studied at Massachusetts Ballet Theatre, Walnut Hill, and is a licensed Zumba instructor. She studied and performed with the David Parsons Dance Company summer intensive and choreography workshop in New York City in 2011. Nina is a head resident advisor and the philanthropy marketing assistant for the Muhlenberg Fund. Carly Reed (In Transit) is a senior pursuing a double major in dance and psychology. Carly last appeared in Moving Stories ’12. Other performance experience includes Master Choreographers ’11, Dance Emerge ’11, ’12, 26

and several informal dance concerts. Last fall, Carly studied abroad in London. She is a member of Psi Chi and Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies. Melissa Ryan Reitberg (Between X and Y, Viva Vivaldi) appeared in the 2012 Capezio catalog and is currently on the Capezio website as a model. She made her Mainstage debut as a freshman in Master Choreographers ’11, and in Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre as Cinderella in Enchantment Theatre Company’s Cinderella. She performed with the Perkulators jazz dance team and in past Moving Stories and informal dance concerts as a dancer and choreographer. She received a 2012 MULE Award in the Creative Arts for her choreography of the dance piece “Comfort Yields Capacity.” Melissa has appeared as Wendy with Showstoppers Dance Company in Peter Pan and in a music video with Trustkill Records. She is studying dance, finance, and pre-law. Melissa works as a ballet tutor and is a sister of Phi Mu sorority. Kate Roe (Between X and Y, Viva Vivaldi) is excited to return to Master Choreographers. Last year she performed in Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie. Other performances include “Linkage” for Moving Stories ’12, and the 2011 informal dance concert. She choreographed “Accumulation” for the 2012 spring informal dance concert. Kate is a sophomore dance and English double major, a member of the Perkulators jazz dance team, a peer tutor, and a sister of Delta Zeta sorority. Graceanne Ruggiero (Viva Vivaldi) is thrilled to be making her debut on the Muhlenberg stage. She is pursuing a major in environmental science but plans to continue her involvement in Muhlenberg’s dance program as well. In addition to dance, Graceanne plays flute in the Chamber Orchestra and clarinet in the Wind Ensemble. Kristen Santos (Between X and Y, Side By Side, Cascades) is thrilled but sad to be performing in her final Master Choreographers.

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She is grateful to have been cast in Master Choreographers for these four years, in which she has worked with Meredith Rainey, Nicholas Leichter, Corrie Franz Cowart, Sydney Skybetter, Jeffrey Peterson, Shelley Oliver, and Heidi Cruz-Austin. Other performance credits include Moving Stories and Dance Emerge. She has attended the American College Dance Festival in ’10, ’11, and ’12. Kristen is a proud sister of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, a peer tutor, and a part of the Senior Class Campaign Committee. Caitlin Sauter (In Transit, Side By Side) is thrilled to be performing in her third and final Master Choreographers. She is pursuing a dance and psychology double major, is a peer tutor for the Academic Resource Center, and is secretary of the Muhlenberg Dance Association. Caitlin has performed in Moving Stories ’10, ’11, ’12, Dance Emerge ’11, ’12, and numerous informal dance concerts. Caitlin choreographed her first piece for the informal dance concert this past fall. She has recently studied with Sean Curran, Elizabeth Coker Giron, Risa Steinberg, Natalie Desch, and Dan Wagoner. Jenny Sharpe (Cascades) is excited to a part of the Master Choreographers process. She is an accounting major with a double minor in business administration and dance. Jenny last appeared in the 2012 spring informal dance concert in Zoe Papaeracleous’s piece “Acquiescence.” She is a member of the student-run tap group Copasetic Rhythms and a sister of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. Kylie Sickler (Cascades) is thrilled to be making her Master Choreographers debut. She last appeared in “Last Man Standing” for the 2012 spring informal dance concert. Kylie is a sophomore pursuing a double major in dance and elementary education. She is a member of Muhlenberg’s Jazz Tap Ensemble and the Copasetic Rhythms tap team. Kylie is a sister of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, a member of the Class of 2015 Council, and a Muhlenberg football cheerleader. February 2013

Shaena Singer (Viva Vivaldi) is thrilled to make her Master Choreographers debut. She is pursuing a double major in biology/pre-med and dance. Shaena appeared in the informal dance concert in December. This past summer, Shaena danced in Cuba for the filming of The Cuba Dance Project, a documentary. She is a member of the Dana Scholar Class of 2016 and serves on the Spirit Committee for Colleges Against Cancer. Meredith Stapleton (Between X and Y, In Transit, I’ve Got It Together) last appeared in Moving Stories ’12 as both a performer and choreographer. Other performance credits include Master Choreographers ’10, ’11, Moving Stories ’09, ’10, ’11, Dance Emerge ’10, ’11, and several informal dance concerts. In spring 2012, Meredith studied dance at Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy. She is a senior dance major, a women’s studies minor, president of the Muhlenberg Dance Association, a dance office assistant, a campus tour guide, and a member of Six Meters dance improvisation ensemble. Amanda Todaro (Cascades) is excited to once again be a part of Master Choreographers. She is pursuing a major in accounting with a double minor in dance and business. Amanda has performed in the 2012 spring informal dance concert and is a member of the tap team Copasetic Rhythms. She is a peer tutor in accounting for the Academic Resource Center. Chelsea Torrance (Side By Side, Cascades) is a senior major in psychology with a double minor in dance and Spanish. She is excited to be a part of this year’s production of Master Choreographers. Chelsea made her Mainstage debut in Moving Stories ’10 and has performed in Master Choreographers ’11, Moving Stories ’11, ’12, and various informal dance concerts. On campus, Chelsea is a member of the Muhlenberg Jazz Tap Ensemble under the direction of Shelley Oliver, the Perkulators jazz dance team, and Copasetic Rhythms tap team. Chelsea studied abroad in the spring of 2012 in Salamanca, Spain. She is a sister of the Delta Zeta sorority.

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JoJo Tsacoyeanes (Viva Vivaldi) is excited to make her Master Choreographers debut as a freshman. She made her Mainstage debut this fall in Moving Stories ’12 in addition to dancing in the 2012 fall informal dance concert. JoJo plans to pursue dance and elementary education. She enjoys participating in Art Day and the America Reads programs. Sean Vanin (Between X and Y) is happy to be performing in his final production of Master Choreographers. He has danced in Master Choreographers ’10, ’11, Moving Stories ’09, ’11, and Dance Emerge ’10. Sean choreographed “Travels” for the 2011 fall informal dance concert and “Self-Mediation” for Moving Stories ’12. He danced multiple times with Repertory Dance Theatre and performed in the Muhlenberg performance of Alwin Nikolais’s Crucible in New York. Sean spent last spring studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and is looking forward to studying physical therapy in the future.

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Brittany Van Natta (Side By Side, Passage) is excited to be performing in her second Master Choreographers. She is an accounting and dance double major with a concentration in business-marketing. Brittany is president of the Class of 2014, community service coordinator for the Muhlenberg Dance Association, resident liaison, peer tutor, social networking chair in the Community Engagement Office, and co-captain/ choreographer for Muhlenberg’s hip hop dance team MINT*.

Sari Weinerman (I’ve Got It Together, Side By Side) most recently appeared as Hildy in the Mainstage theatre production of On the Town. On the Muhlenberg stage, she has also appeared in Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre productions of H.M.S. Pinafore and The Music Man, the Mainstage theatre productions of The Tempest and The Pajama Game, and several dance concerts: Master Choreographers ’12, Moving Stories ’11, Dance Emerge ’12 and the 2009 fall informal concert. Sari is a senior theatre and dance double major, a member of The Girls Next Door a cappella group, and a Dana Scholar. Ashley Wofford (Passage, Cascades), a native New Yorker, attended LaGuardia High School of Music & Arts and the Performing Arts. During her four years at the performing arts high school, she was able to join the Young Dancemakers Company, where she toured New York City. Ashley also performed in Mary Seidman’s Off-Broadway production Mama at LaMama. After graduating from the “fame school,” she continued her academic and artistic career at Muhlenberg College, where she is pursuing a dance major with a double minor in mathematics and sustainability studies. As a junior, Ashley has been active on campus, working as a resident advisor and treasurer of the Black Student Association. Ashley also participated in this year’s Sedehi Diversity Project. Ashley has performed in Master Choreographers ’11, ’12 and Moving Stories ’10.

Our students travel from over 40 school districts and 10 counties across the eastern Pennsylvania region to enjoy an arts inspired education. Impressive faculty. Exceptional performances. Outstanding academics. majors in • dance • theater • instrumental music • vocal music • figure skating • visual art Auditions held in February 2013 for next school year

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Da n ce Ev e n ts at M u h l e n b e r g MOVING STORIES (Baker Stage in November) features choreography by Muhlenberg dancers on the Dorothy H. Baker Theatre stage. Choreographers selected for this concert have taken courses in Dance Composition and previously presented choreography in informal venues. Students submit written and oral proposals judged by a panel of faculty and, once selected, receive feedback from faculty throughout the creative process. MASTER CHOREOGRAPHERS (Empie Stage in February) presents guest artist and faculty choreography in our most formal venue. This project is designed to expose students to the rigors of working with professional artists. DANCE EMERGE (Dance Studio Theatre in April) is another opportunity for experienced student choreographers to have their works performed. The Dance Studio Theatre provides an intimate venue for these original dance works. INFORMAL DANCE CONCERTS (Dance Studio Theatre in December and May) are designed as a forum for emerging choreographers who may or may not have studied Dance Composition. TOURING ENSEMBLES provide performance opportunities for students within a specific dance genre under the direction of dance faculty. These performances are offered as educational outreach programs for children in the Lehigh Valley. AMERICAN COLLEGE DANCE FESTIVAL is attended every year by students and faculty. Last year, Muhlenberg College hosted the Northeast Regional Conference in March. The Regional Conference features three days of performances, workshops, and master classes taught by instructors from around the country. It provides a unique opportunity for students and faculty to have their dance works adjudicated by a panel of nationally recognized dance professionals in an open and constructive forum.

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the Muhlenberg Dance progr am THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM Muhlenberg College offers a Bachelor of Arts with a major in dance that is designed to provide a solid background in the history, theory, and literature of performance. The program offers extensive opportunity to audition, perform, and choreograph in multiple concert, theatre, studio, and touring projects. Class size is limited, and the work is intense and demanding. In the liberal arts tradition, each student is encouraged to individualize his or her education to fulfill personal, creative, and intellectual goals. Technique courses through advanced levels are taught in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap. THE FACULTY The dance faculty have developed a multi-faceted approach to education that combines exciting creative experience with rigorous professional standards. Students are challenged as artists in the studio and classroom, working closely with distinguished faculty and nationally recognized guest artists to achieve a conceptual understanding and practical working knowledge of the arts and the profession. THE CONCERTS The Department of Theatre and Dance presents the annual professional faculty and artist choreographed concert, Master Choreographers, in the Empie Theatre in the Baker Center for the Arts. Multiple student choreographed productions are produced each year in the Dorothy H. Baker Theatre and the Dance Studio Theatre in the Trexler Pavilion. ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE As a result of the generous gift of the Dexter F. and Dorothy H. Baker Foundation, Muhlenberg invites nationally-renowned artists to teach, direct, choreograph, and perform with dance, theatre, and music students each year. The department presents additional concerts and residencies of major artists as an integral part of the students’ education. THE COMMUNITY The dance program also serves the larger Lehigh Valley Community through its Jazztap classes, Pilates Center, and The Muhlenberg Community Dance Center for children, teens, and adults. In addition, the Muhlenberg Jazztap Ensemble, Dance Max Moving Company, and the student improvisation group, Six Meters, tour area schools each year.

Master choreographers

Join us for another season of spectacular, affordable musical theatre productions for the whole family!

Crazy for You June 12 - 30

Jesus Christ Superstar July 10 - 28 Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2013 Children’s Show, running June 19 - July 27!

www.muhlenberg.edu/theatre&dance 32

Tickets go on sale May 1st!

February 2013

www.muhlenberg.edu/smt

484.664.3333

Muhlenberg Dance Program Director of the Dance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Karen Dearborn Assistants to Ms. Dearborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jaclyn Birkner, Sarah Braviak, Gwynne Jones, Meredith Stapleton Marketing Associate for Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelsey Hutchison

Muhlenberg Theatre Association - Executive Board -

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Barlow Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riva Rubenoff Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carrie Jablansky Executive Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christine O’Connell (fall), Jessielyn Kreitzer (spring) Historian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Patefield (fall), Emily Baldasarra (spring)

- Advisory Board -

Fundraising Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lana Gallo Publicity Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samantha Turret (fall), Hannah Cook (spring) Studio Productions Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . Molly Eisen (fall), Alex Donnelly (spring) Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaity Doran Red Door Play Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allison Lloyd (fall), Jeffrey Robb (spring) Performance Ensemble Coordinator . . . . . . Alex McKhann (fall), Matt Dicken (spring) Student Master Carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clay Westman (fall), Aly Trombitas (spring) Student Master Electrician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew Caraway Social Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Spiotta Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachel Lang Concessions Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adrian Graham-Chesnavage Community Outreach Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hannah Miller (fall) MTA/MDA Liaison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Picknally

Muhlenberg Dance Association - Executive Board -

President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meredith Stapleton Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Ancona Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caitlin Sauter Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jaclyn Birkner Public Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelsey Hutchison Community Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brittany Van Natta MTA/MDA Liaison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Picknally Class Representative 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Moretz Class Representative 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allison Berger Class Representative 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Braviak Class Representative 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erica Braun Muhlenberg Theatre Association & Muhlenberg Dance Association are supported by funds provided by Student Government and the Department of Theatre and Dance.

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Muhlenberg College Theatre & Dance Department Theatre Faculty James Peck – Department Chair; Associate Professor: Directing, Performance Studies, Theatre History Charles Richter – Director of Theatre; Professor: Directing, Theatre History, Theory Curtis Dretsch – Director of Design and Technical Theatre; Professor: Scenic, Costume, and Lighting Design Timothy Averill – Professor: Scenography Constance Case – Lecturer: Costume Design, Stage Makeup, Stagecraft Holly Cate – Assistant Professor: Acting Michael Chin – PT Lecturer: Acting, Stage Combat Karen Connell – PT Lecturer: Speech Troy Dwyer – Associate Professor: Acting, Voice & Speech Mark McKenna – PT Lecturer: Acting Matthew Moore – PT Lecturer: Theatre History & Theory Francine Roussel – Associate Professor: Acting Beth Schachter – Director of Women’s Studies; Associate Professor: Acting, Directing, History & Theory Larry Singer – Visiting Assistant Professor: Directing, Acting Biliana Stoytcheva-Horissian – Visiting Lecturer: Acting

Dance Faculty Karen Dearborn – Director of Dance; Professor: Ballet, Composition, Dance History Pattie Bostick – PT Lecturer: Jazz, Ballet Lisa Bottitta-Busfield – PT Lecturer: Modern, Dance Education Corrie Franz Cowart – Assistant Professor: Modern, Ballroom, Composition, Dance on Camera Susan Creitz – PT Lecturer: Improvisation, Movement for Actors and Dancers 36

Heidi Cruz-Austin – ­­PT Lecturer: Ballet Gayanne Grossman – Dance Clinic Director; PT Lecturer: Anatomy and Kinesiology for Dancers Madeline Hoak – PT Lecturer: Aerial Acrobatics Ellen Troy Mulcahy – PT Lecturer: Pilates, Ballet Shelley Oliver – Director of the Muhlenberg Tap Ensemble; Lecturer: Tap Jeffrey Peterson – Assistant Professor: Modern, Jazz Tara Repsher – Director of the Muhlenberg Community Dance Center youth classes; PT Lecturer: Ballet, Jazz Sammy Reyes – Guest Artist: Hip Hop Magira Ross – Lecturer: African Dance Teresa VanDenend Sorge – Lecturer: Modern, Dance Education, Dance & Society Jessica Warchal-King – PT Lecturer: Ballet Lynn Wiener – PT Lecturer: Ballet, Jazz, Horton Technique

Dance Musicians Paul Fejko Rebekah Ruth

Kathryn Krull Natalia Varlashova

Professional Staff Jessica Bien – General Manager Damon Gelb – Technical Director Caroline La Porta – Costume Shop Manager Scott Snyder – Marketing and Development Manager Paul E. Theisen, Jr. – Theatre Technician Eric Covell – Assistant Technical Director Alexis Gurst – Staff Stitcher Tracy C. Kline – Department Secretary Casey Moser – Presidential Assistant for Marketing & Development Theatre & Dance Department Offices: Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance 484-664-3335 Box office: 484-664-3333

Master choreographers

February 2013

The Muhlenberg College experience offers a direct learning partnership among faculty and students in the classroom, laboratory and performance studio. Muhlenberg offers students opportunities to foster the most important goal of the liberal arts education—education of the whole person. In Theatre and Dance, faculty and staff have developed a multi-faceted approach to education that combines exciting creative experience with rigorous professional standards. The production program reinforces the belief that as academic disciplines, theatre and dance must be intellectual and practical. Serious training and intense interaction between faculty and students provide a collaborative rather than competitive atmosphere in the department. Students are challenged as artists in the studio and classroom, working closely with distinguished faculty and nationally recognized guest artists to achieve a conceptual understanding and a practical working knowledge of the arts and the profession. Stage experience is considered one of the most important elements in the training process for actors and dancers, directors and choreographers, production stage managers, designers and technicians. Students provide considerable talent and leadership in the staging of both Mainstage and studio projects. Performing Arts graduates of Muhlenberg College are prepared to study at the graduate level, pursue lives as professional artists, and contribute creative leadership in many other careers. The blend of academic work in the liberal arts with a professional level of training in theatre and dance has prepared them to work as actors, directors, designers, stage managers, choreographers, dancers, dance educators, production assistants, and arts administrators on Broadway, in film and television, and in major regional and educational theatres across the nation. Muhlenberg’s Theatre & Dance Department is ranked as the leading undergraduate performance program in the United States, according to The Princeton Review 2012. The 2010 edition of The Fiske Guide to Colleges ranks Muhlenberg among the top 20 small college programs in the nation in both theatre and dance—one of only eight schools in the country to appear on both lists. Muhlenberg College is one of only 30 schools from across the nation selected to perform at the most recent National American College Dance Festival.

For more information, visit our website at www.muhlenberg.edu/theatre&dance