Senior Alyssa Willmarth is among participants in the Geneseo Dance Ensemble's performances this weekend.
GENESEO, N.Y.—Celebrating its 96th concert performance, SUNY Geneseo’s Department of Theatre and Dance will feature new works by Dance Studies faculty and guest choreographers in its performance, “48Live: New Vistas,” on Feb. 25-28 in the Alice Austin Theatre.
Directed and produced by assistant professor Mark Broomfield ’94, the Geneseo Dance Ensemble promises, “an evening of diverse, dynamic original dance works” for its 48th year.
The program will feature guest artist Norwood Pennewell ’79. Pennewell has been a member of Garth Fagan Dance since 1978 and is not only a performer now, but also the rehearsal director and assistant to Garth Fagan. Pennewell created “Rising,” a work that looks into the emerging initiate. Through his excellent performances in Garth Fagan Dance, Pennewell has achieved such accolades as the 1988 New York Performance “Bessie” Award. Pennewell has also been featured in “Great Performances,” “The Tonight Show,” and in Duke Ellington’s "Queenie Pie."
Guest artist Mariposa Fernández will present “First Flame,” a work which serves to blend poetry and the live music done by adjunct faculty Glenn McClure. The staged vignettes reveal the thoughts of those students who wrote them, allowing the students to express their diverse life experiences.
In addition to directing and producing the performance, Broomfield will be presenting “Jam, Jive and Everything,” which not only rejoices in the spirit of the Jazz Age but also arouses the mood, music and artistry of the Harlem Renaissance—all to the alluring swing of Sidney Bechet.
Jonette Lancos, professor of dance studies and artistic director of Geneseo Dance Ensemble, will present her original choreography “Beyond the Horizon,” a ballet that looks toward a place of peaceful recognition and acceptance of the cultural and religious beliefs of diverse people, performed to three selections of music by Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble: “Mountains are Far Away,” “Mohini” and “Distant Green Valley.”
Adjunct faculty Deborah Scodese French ‘85 will present “Aegean Odyssey.” The modern dance piece was inspired by her travels through Turkey, as she commemorates Turkey’s sea, land and people through “Aegean Odyssey.”
Student assistants Katarina Bojanowski ’16 and Alyssa Willmarth ’16 are helping Broomfield with “48Live: New Vistas,” along with stage manager Christopher Quigley. Theater faculty and technical director Johnnie Ferrell and Steven Stubblefield, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, have mentored the student lighting designers. Additionally, Bonita Stubblefield has designed and coordinated the costumes.
Generous donors have supported the production and the Dance Studies Program through The Geneseo Foundation.
News release written by College Communications intern Alexandra Ciarcia.
Media Contact:
David Irwin
Media Relations Director
(585) 245-5529
Irwin@geneseo.edu