Rider Dances 2021: Negotiating Balance - Rider University School of Fine and Performing Arts Presents Premiere: Friday, March 26
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Rider University
School of Fine and Performing Arts
Presents
Rider Dances 2021: Negotiating Balance
Premiere: Friday, March 26
https://www.youtube.com/channel
/UCVGyT12Ml6HkAurY1hsnagQWe could never do it without our amazing
Production Team
Director’s Note
March 26th, 2021 Buck Linton Technical Director, Covie Compliance Master
Todd Loyd Lighting Design and Google Driver
Tyrone Palmer Scene Shop Foreman
In my work I often refer to "waves of motion" inside the body, Robin Shane Costume Design/ Mask Maker Extraordinaire
and balance, then, is a constant negotiation. Yoshi Tanokura Projection and Set Design
The waves of 2020 turned into a storm.
And incredible students …
We had a just closed a concert celebrating the energy
Sidney Martinez Production Stage Manager
that unites our dance community, when we
Ryan Alger Assistant Stage Manager/Costumes
were tossed into a cyclone that was incessantly changing directions.
Christa Campisi Assistant Stage Manager
Arianna Johns Assistant Stage Manager
Rider Dances 2021: Negotiating Balance is a testament to the
Bella Puso Social Media and PR
creativity and spunk of our entire production/creative team,
Danielle D'Abundo Social Media and PR
and
Josiah Jacoby Crew/Covie-Clean Support
the resiliency and energy of an amazing group of students.
Sophie Smith Brody Crew/Covie-Clean Support
Casey Curcio Crew/Covie-Clean Support
Not only did they ride the waves,
Giuliana Demarinis Crew/Covie-Clean Support
they also grew exponentially,
Abigale Rajpaul Program
forging new processes and pathways in making and presenting dance.
Steven Gagliano Fly Op
Christine Ruggieri Fly Op
We hope you enjoy the very first, virtual Rider Dances, our response to
negotiating balance through a most tempestuous year.
Special Thanks
Kim Chandler Vaccaro Ivan Fuller, Producer, and Chair of the SFPA
Theatre and Dance Department;
Victoria Grisanzio, Rider '21, Filmmaker, and Consultant who
contributes tirelessly to the Dance Program, and
Robin Shane, Designer, for tireless matching of masks to the idea.Program Music: Boy 1904 by: Jonsi and Alex Somers
Choreography: Laney Engelhard
Editing/Assistant: Niall Lessard *
Act I Cara Buchanan * Iris Courchaine * Anna Fredeen * Morgan Nash *
RELIGHT Aniky Salima * Hannah Wade * Victoria Williams
Choreography: Kim Chandler-Vaccaro, Editor: Alexa Goldblum
Music: Je Raate Mor based on the poetry of Tagore Act IV
Vocals: Somdatta Pal, Piano: Eli Yamin SOUL TRAIN
Lighting Design: Todd Loyd, Costumes/Masks: Robin Shane Choreography: John Barrella
Tanisha Anand * Alexa Barreiros * Kylee Czepiel * Danielle D’Abundo * Music: We Got Our Own Train by Heavy D, Groove Is In The Heart
Julia DeCumber * Jewels Essis * Alexa Goldblum * Josiah Jacoby * by Dee-Lite, Koke by Tribe, Entrow by Graham Central Station
Somdatta Pal * Victoria Williams Melody Almodovar * Tiffany Britton * Alexa Goldblum * Josiah Jacoby *
Melissa Juarez * Victoria Jean Kreutzer * Cassie Krick * Michelle Lukach
Act II * Alayna Rubach
FRAGILE CREATIONS
Choreography: Jennifer Gladney, Editing: Tiffani Britton https://thehumanexperience
Projection Design: Yoshi Tanokura, Music: Thomas Newman Choreography: Gabriella Boes
Lighting Design: Todd Loyd, Costumes/Masks: Robin Shane Editor: Rebecca Gialanella, Projection Design: Yoshi Tanokura
Tiffani Britton * Cara Buchanan * Iris Courchaine * Danielle D’Abundo Music: In This Shirt by The Irrepressibles
* Christina Ficarra * Felicia Garro * Emma Landis * Morgan Nash * Lighting Design: Todd Loyd, Costumes/Masks: Robin Shane
Hannah Wade Christina Ficarra * Anna Fredeen *Melissa Juarez * Victoria Jean
Kreutzer * Emma Landis * Kayla M. Pluto * Marissa Stellato * Emily
Act III Tubbs
ODE TO ELLA
Choreography: Justin Dominic Act V
Music: In a Sentimental Mood, Ella Fitzgerald, KALEIDOSCOPE
Clinical Archives Mix Choreography: Merli V. Guerra
Alexa Barreiros * Kaniah “Keke Browne * Cassie Krick * Michelle Lukach Music: Magic Pony by YNKE
* Amanda Pescatore * Alayna Rubach * Emily Tubbs * Koy Withers Lighting Design: Todd Loyd, Costumes/Masks: Robin Shane
Melody Almodovar * Tanisha Anand * Kaniah “Keke” Browne *
Jewels Essis * Somdatta Pal * Amanda Pescatore * Aniky Salima *
Marissa Stellato * Koy WithersThank you to the Designers and Choreographers passion for teaching as a guest artist and lecturer at high schools and universities.
In 2018, he joined Dance Heginbotham and returned as a dancer with the Met
JOHN "Comix" BARRELLA, Choreographer, is a hip hop/street dance Opera Ballet. Justin is most proud to create and produce his first film,
educator, choreographer, and consultant & company director of The Redef Unapologetic Me: BLACK | GAY | MAN.
Movement,: Artists of Street Dance based in New Jersey since 2007. The main
LANEY ENGELHARD, Choreographer, is as Adjunct professor at Rider
company and affiliated "crews" create pieces that center around hip hop and
University. She danced with American Repertory Ballet under the direction of
street styles such as B-boy, Locking, Popping, and choreograph to Hip Hop,
Graham Lustig for seven seasons and followed Lustig to Lustig Dance Theatre
Funk, Rock, Soul, Blues among other styles of music. Their choreography has
for three more seasons. Engelhard has been a guest artist with Hubbard Street
been showcased in artistic & competitive festivals and featured on Tedx,
Dance Company II, performed in Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, and
ThemNY Filipino festival, half time shows for the New York Knicks, and Battle
danced with Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance in Asheville, NC. Englehard has set
of the Boroughs. Currently, John has developed a curriculum and program that
work for Rider Dances for the past 14 years.
trains teachers in hip hop terminology and technique, applying it to class
structure. This program, Essentials for Dance Education has been implemented in JENNIFER GLADNEY, Choreographer, summa cum laude Rider ‘06 is an
classrooms around the world and has offered countless teachers a look into his Adjunct Professor at Rider where she earned a double major in Elementary
personal method of instruction. Education and Dance and a minor in Early Childhood Education. Gladney has
been in the faculty at the Princeton Ballet School since 2005 and was a
GABRIELLA A. BOES, Choreographer, is based in New Jersey. She graduated
company dancer with the American Repertory Ballet. Gladney is now on the
from Rider University in 2020 with a BA in Dance Performance. In 2019, she
faculty of Martin Center for Dance, and Mercer County Community College,
worked with Dr. Kim Chandler-Vaccaro and co-choreographed Moons & Tides
where she directs the annual dance concert. She has been part of Rider Dances
for the Rider University Dance and Sustainability Project. In the months that
since its inception in 2005 and was the first senior honors student to
followed, Gabriella presented work with Dr. Kim at the 2020 National Dance
choreograph, Cross Phases, for this event.
Education Organization Conference, in Miami, FL. Gabriella’s goal is to
provoke emotion and give her audience a fresh perspective, while using MERLI V. GUERRA, Choreographer, is a professional dancer and award-
movement that doesn’t just look appealing but feels good for her dancers. winning interdisciplinary artist with a background in ballet, modern, and
classical Odissi Indian dance. She is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of
JUSTIN DOMINIC, Choreographer, is a professional dancer, educator,
Luminarium Dance Company - an award-winning contemporary company in
choreographer, and filmmaker. He has trained at the Arts High School, Ailey
Boston, MA and a satellite company in Princeton, NJ. She has also performed
School, American Ballet Theatre, and Joffrey Ballet School. Justin received a
lead roles with acclaimed companies on tours to Indian (2007, 2012) and Japan
BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and went on to
(2009). Guerra is a freelance choreographer, filmmaker, writer, and designer
perform and tour with several contemporary dance companies - Missa Brevis
whose works have been presented by 80+ events across the U.S., as well as
with the Limon Dance Company, Hard Nut with the Mark Morris Dance
Argentina, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. She is
Group, Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Nai Ni Chen Dance Company, LaneCoArts,
currently a part-time Lecturer and MFA in Dance candidate, at Rutgers
and Keigwin + Co. In addition, Justin has performed work by George
University.
Balanchine, Lar Lubovitch, Janis Brenner, and many more. After finishing his
MFA at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Justin continues to fulfill hisBUCK LINTON, Technical Director, has overseen the construction and ROBIN I. SHANE, Costume Designer, has been the resident costume designer at
installation of every production within the Department of Theatre and Dance Rider for the past 5 seasons. Favorite designs include Catch Me If You Can, Ubu
since the fall of 2012. Through his 70+ productions at Rider, he has mentored Roi, All Shook Up, The Praying Mantis, Machinal, Lucky Stiff, Merrily We Roll
students in crafts and skills related to construction, rigging, budget, Along, Metamorphoses (KCACTF Honorable Mention) and The Full Monty. Recent
management, and planning all aspects of scenic production. Recent Rider productions include God of Carnage at the Montgomery Theatre, The Captive
productions include Bright Star, The Dance and Sustainability Project, Will with the Philadelphia Artist’s Collective, and Yes! And’s Silliest Story Ever Told at
Rogers Follies, Theory of Relativity, Heathers: The Musical, White Christmas, She Plays & Players in Philadelphia. Robin is also the current Resident Designer at
Kills Monsters, among many more. Buck has also produced dozens of Passage and had previously served as the Resident Designer for EgoPo
productions at the Westminster Choir College including il Trionfo, Die Productions in Philadelphia. Other favorite productions include Xanadu,
Zauberflöte, Pelleas et Melisande, Dialogues des Carmelites, Il re Pastore, La Dreamgirls and The Rocky Horror Show (Revision Theater) and Brundibar;
Clemenza di Tito, and Oreste. Other professional works include Sunjata Comedy on the Bridge and But The Giraffe (The New Victory Theater/Yale Rep/
Lamalenya and The Odyssey Experience with the Experiential Theatre CO., Berkeley Rep.) Other credits include Jean Cocteau Rep, Soho Rep, The Mint,
Damn Yankees with the Forestburgh Playhouse, and Die Fledermaus, Rigoletto, Chicago Opera Theater, The Juilliard School, New York University and The
and Turandot with Opera New Jersey. Harrisburg Opera, as well as the large and small screen. Robin serves on the Board
of Yes! And Collaborative Arts in Philadelphia. She earned her MFA from New
TODD LOYD, LIGHTING DESIGNER, is the Lighting Director for Rider York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
University's Department of Theatre and Dance. He designs the lighting for
every performance that the Department produces in addition to mentoring the YOSHI TANOKURA, Set and Production Designer, is in his second year at
students that assist in designing, hanging, focusing, and programming the Rider. His credits at Rider include Bright Star and Hair. Yoshi’s professional
lighting for each show. At Rider he designed over 30 productions including design credits include Moon Over Buffalo at the People’s Light and Theatre,
plays, musicals, dance concerts, cabarets and operas. Some of the highlights Clever Little Secret by Joe DiPietro at the Westside Theatre in NYC, Exonerated
include The Will Rogers Follies, Sophocles, Oklahoma!, The Dance and with the Delaware Theatre Company, and Peter and the Starcatcher at the
Sustainability Project, Heathers, the Musical, The Theory of Relativity, Disgraced, Adrienne Arsht Center. He has also received the Carbonell Award for the Best
Once on This Island, White Christmas, She Kills Monsters, and A Chorus Line. Scenic Design in 2015. Yoshi is a member of the United Scenic Artists, Local
Other selected professional projects include Rock of Ages and Baskerville: A 829.
Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Forestburgh Playhouse), Journey to Oz (Children’s'
Theater of Charlotte and Experiential Theater Company)., and The Gun Show KIM CHANDLER-VACCARO, Artistic Director, Choreographer, Associate
(Passage Theatre.) Professor of Dance, has taught at the American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton
Ballet School since 1989 where she was also an educational consultant. In 2005
SIDNEY MARTINEZ, Production Stage Manager, is a sophomore technical she wrote the music and choreographed Mi Fuego for the inaugural Rider
theatre and sociology major. Her Rider credits include Rider New Works (Stage Dances, which has been followed by original dances every year. Chandler
Manager), Girls Like That (Assistant Stage Manager), and Bright Star (Assistant Vaccaro wrote the BA in Dance Performance for Rider, the Dance Minor
Stage Manager). She has also received The Kennedy Center’s Certificate of degree, a minor degree in Movement Science and BA in Dance Science. She is
Merit: Excellence as a Stage Management Team for her work on the production the co-author of Jazz Dance Today with Lorraine Person Kreigel, the editor of
of Bright Star. Dance In My Life, and a contributing author to Jazz Dance: Roots and Branches.
Her research centers on Critical-Mindbody-Thinking (CMBT) methodologiesthat intersect thought and action, and perception and feeling. She developed the VICTORIA JEAN KREUTZER, '21 is a Dance Performance and Psychology
movement system and authored CoMBo: Conditioning for Mind-body to foster major. She performed on Rider’s Dance Team, as well as choreographed,
self-actualization and optimal personal potential in her students. performed, and held the Secretary Board position for Rider Dance Ensemble. In
2020, she showcased her own choreography, Like Clockwork, in Rider's Dance
Congratulations to the Seniors Day performance. Victoria joined Luminarium’s Satellite Company in 2019 for
Global Water Dances: South Performance. She was also featured in Merli V.
DANIELLE D’ABUNDO, '21 is a double major in Elementary Education Guerra’s 8.7 Million minus 1 and Like Mercury in the Palm of My Hand .
and Dance Studies, with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She received Victoria is working with John Barrella/The Redef Movement. She performed in
the Governor’s Award in Arts Education for dance before coming to Rider and Rider Dances for the past 3 years and was the Production Stage Manager for
is a recipient of a Rider University Dean Scholarship. Danielle performed in 2020 Senior Capstone performance.
Rider Dances: Light and Motion, was involved in numerous dance clubs, and is
the current Vice President of the Rider Dance Troupe. MICHELLE LUKACH, '21 is a Dance Performance major with a minor in
Event planning. She is a recipient of the Rider Institutional Grant and Transfer
JEWELS ESSIS, '21 is a BA in Dance Performance major with a minor in Award. Michelle is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society,
Psychology. She has been dancing since the age of five and has always found the participant in the Rider Dance Ensemble, and former Communications Intern
stage to be home. As an undergraduate student, she is taking two graduate at Dance New Jersey. She was recently featured as the featured artist on
courses in counseling which has enriched her knowledge. Jewels will be YouTube in the Raritan Valley Artists Series #4
attending the Masters in Counseling/Dance Movement Therapy Program at
Rider beginning fall 2021. She is excited to learn more, and then teach MORGAN NASH, '21 is a Dance Performance major and Earth &
individuals who are struggling with mental and physical illnesses that dance can Environmental Science/Marine Biology double minor. Morgan is a recipient of
be a form of healing for the body, the mind, and the soul. the Rider University Dance Merit Scholarship. She is a member of the National
Honor Society of Dance Arts, and the student group, Rider Dance Ensemble.
CHRISTINIA FICARRA, '21 is an Arts and Entertainment Industries She participated in the Princeton Ballet School Conservatory program and as a
Management and Dance Performance double major. She was instrumental in current Trainee with American Repertory Ballet will be performing in Swan
the 2019 Dance and Sustainability Project as both an administrator and dancer, Lake under the direction of Ethan Stiefel.
is a recipient of the Mildred S. Hawkins Fine Arts Endowed Scholarship.
Christina is also an active participant and former Vice President of the Rider SOMDATTA PAL, '21 has been trained in Bharatnatyam, an classical
Dance Ensemble. Indian dance form, since the age of 4. She is also a vocalist with a rich
tableau of music genres including the music of Rabindranath Tagore,
ALEXA GOLDBLUM, 21 is a Sports Media and Dance Performance double India’s polymath Nobel Laureate, which she has rendered to audiences at
major. She is a recipient of the Provost Scholarship. Alexa is working towards Princeton University and audiences at the Indian Council of Cultural in
Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Association’s Honor Society and London, Berlin, Budapest, and The Hague. Somdatta has three curated
Order of Omega Honor Society. She is also an active member of the Rider performances titled Sea Thy Melody, Tagore Meets Gospel, and Sangam with
Dance Team and is currently working as a member of the Redef Movement Grammy nominee Ron Korb. Her journey will continue at Rider University
Dance Company in NJ. where she is finishing a degree in Liberal Arts/Dance and will enter the
Dance Movement Therapy program in Fall 2021.You can also read
