Image courtesy of the Skidmore College Dance Department.
The Skidmore Dance department’s Choreography II showcase will premiere this Saturday, November 18, at the Dance Theater, located in Williamson Sports Center, at 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm. This annual event is the culmination of Choreography II, a course required for the performance and choreography track of the dance major. Taught by Erika Pujic, the class is meant to incorporate skills students have learned from their first two years in the major—like individual and group work, choreographic tools, leadership and collaboration—into a space with other students. The 12 upperclassmen began the fall semester by holding open auditions which welcomed any Skidmore student with a background, or even an interest, in dance. From there, the students casted and held rehearsal processes with showings that included feedback from peers and professors alike.
The array of twelve performances feature a total of around 40 dancers on stage this weekend. They include, but are not limited to, a pointe piece by Faith Anderson ’25; a striking modern piece by Seline Kozlu ’24; and a take on jazz by Liv Swink ’24. The personal interests and experiences of each student choreographer are reflections of how they portray art on a stage, resulting in a range of unique styles, genres, and preferences.
This semester is Pujic’s fourth time teaching the Choreography II class within the past few years. She says that “every year is a unique and a different experience,” a result of the personal and artistic self-expressions that come from each new group of students.
When asked about her favorite part of the class she responded, “I love watching the community gel together and having all of the students support each other on and off the stage.”
This opportunity is special because of the involvement and collaboration of students, whether or not they identify as dancers. Students enrolled in technical director Travis Richardson’s Lighting Design course, which is open to any Skidmore student, collaborate with the choreographers in order to design and call lighting cues during the performances. Costume assistants also do a majority of the costuming, from labeling to mending, with oversight by the department's costume shop manager, Megan Richardson. In each of the technical and behind the scene aspects, students are present in every part of making the show possible. Watching students' achievement culminate through the performance is always gratifying.
Tickets for this event are free and available both for students and the public, accessible via this link. Additionally, the department is holding an open dress in the Dance Theater at 8 pm on Friday, November 17.