If these Winship walls could talk.
UT Theatre and Dance Community Among Top Picks
Minus 16, Catalyst, 2012 Photo: Jeff Heimsath
For the 20th year, an informal affiliation of local arts critics has recognized the year’s most exceptional achievements in dance, classical music, the visual arts, and theatre. Department of Theatre and Dance productions, students, faculty, alumni and friends are well represented on this year’s list of nominations. Winners will be announced of the Critics’ Table Awards will be announced on June 4.
Performances listed below are produced by The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance unless otherwise noted.
DANCE
Dance Concert
Short Work
Tango Vesre by Alvin Rangel, MFA ‘12
Watch the Gap by Ellen Bartel, MFA ‘12
Choreographer
David Justin, Oblivion’s Ink, Department of Theatre and Dance Associate Professor and Co-Artistic Director of Dance Repertory Theatre
Dancer
Alvin Rangel, Tango Vesre, MFA ‘12
Ensemble
Ellen Bartel (MFA ’12), Mari Akita, and Adam Sultan in Program C: Butoh (Big Range Dance Festival)
Dance Repertory Theatre dancers in Minus 16, Catalyst
DESIGN
Scenic Design
Rowan Doyle, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA ‘12
Michael Raiford, Hairspray/Spring Awakening/God of Carnage (ZACH Theatre), MFA ‘09
Chris H. Yoo, 360 (round dance), MFA candidate
Costume Design
Yao Chen, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA candidate
Proletina Veltchev, Love’s Labour’s Lost, MFA ‘12
Lighting Design
Kate Leahy, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA ‘12
Cheng-Wei Teng, Love’s Labour’s Lost, MFA ‘12
Video Design
Joao Beira, Too & For (Catalyst), Choreographer Yacov Sharir
Jeff Kurihara, Broken Pieces/Just for the Night (New York Stories), MFA candidate
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 2012 Photo: Trent Lesikar
THEATRE
Production, Drama
Direction
Daria Davis, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, MFA candidate
Acting in a Leading Role
Jon Cook, The Aliens (Hyde Park Theatre), BA ‘12
Acting in a Supporting Role
Kim Adams, Ghosts/The Pavilion (Penfold Theatre Co. in partnership with Breaking String), BA ‘09
Kelli Schultz, Next to Normal (ZACH Theatre), BA ‘12
Rommel Sulit, Bacha Bazi (Boy Play)
Ensemble Performance
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
David Mark Cohen New Play Award
360 (round dance), Steven Dietz, Department of Theatre and Dance Professor
Bacha Bazi (Boy Play), Gabriel Jason Dean, MFA ‘12
River City, Diana Grisanti, MFA ‘12
Static, Tom Horan, MFA ‘12
Music Direction
Allen Robertson, Hairspray/Next to Normal (ZACH Theatre), MFA ‘92
Movement
Quetta Carpenter, Love’s Labour’s Lost , Department of Theatre and Dance Lecturer
Tom Truss, Hair (Texas State University-San Marcos), MFA ‘09
Audiences have the opportunity to be enchanted once again by Oblivion’s Ink, the contemporary ballet by Department of Theatre and Dance Associate Professor David Justin. Dance Repertory Theatre, the university’s student dance ensemble, will perform Justin’s choreography at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on May 25.
Oblivion’s Ink, 2012. Photo: Jeff Heimsath
The performance is in conjunction with the National College Dance Festival, an annual event that highlights exemplary choreography and performance created at colleges and universities across the country. The University of Texas at Austin’s dance program is one of 30 schools recognized at this year’s prestigious event. Oblivion’s Ink was premiered in March 2012 as part the department’s critically acclaimed dance concert Catalyst.
In addition to its debut at the Kennedy Center, Oblivion’s Ink will be performed in American Repertory Ensemble’s (ARE) spring concert at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on May 23. Entitled Fast Approaching Swiftly Gone, ARE’s program includes the Tosca String Quartet as well as work by internationally renowned choreographers Alex Ketley and Julia Adam.
David Justin serves as the co-artistic director of Dance Repertory Theatre and the artistic director of American Repertory Ensemble.
Legacy is vital in dance. Passing from one generation of dancer to the next through the sweat and dedication of practice, dance thrives, evolves and sustains in the light of legacy. Shirlee Dodge founded the dance program at The University of Texas at Austin in 1943 and built a legacy formed from two continents, the womb of modern expressionist dance and a lifetime devoted to true creativity.
From an early age Dodge danced her way through life (tap and acrobatics) with her sister in Vaudevillian acts until she discovered a new way to move and express in the performances of Mary Wigman. An acolyte of Rudolf Laban, Wigman is considered by many to be the founder of modern dance in Europe. At the age of 21, Dodge traveled to Europe with her University of Wisconsin Dance classmates. She convinced her parents that she needed to remain in Europe to study with Wigman in Dresden, Germany. She graduated from the Mary Wigman Central Institute in 1939 with three degrees: Professional Theatre Dancer, Pedagogy for Laymen Dancers, and Pedagogy for Professional Dancers. Later, armed with international experience, an artistic pedigree from the leading edge of modern dance and a professional teaching and performing career spanning parts of Europe, New York and the midwest; Dodge was invited by Anna Hiss (Head of The University of Texas at Austin Department for Physical Training for Women) to found a creative dance program for the university in 1943.
Within two years, Dodge was able to bring the dance program to the College of Fine Arts under Dean E. William Doty. Dodge not only taught dance, but choreographed and performed as well. This began the dance education of university students, as well as the Austin community. In a 1946 program letter, she wrote:
“Creative Dance, like any art, is a matter of personal experience. This experience can be the act of the dancer or the act of the spectator. In a dance concert, a true aesthetic fulfillment is that performance throughout which a free and flowing communication is established between the dancer and his audience.
[….] It is impossible to describe dance with words. Dance is a language which must be met in terms of its nature. As sound is to music, as words are to literature…so is movement to dance.” (Shirlee Dodge, Dance Sketches, 1946)
Dodge achieved full professorship at the university in 1965. She and her colleagues B. Iden Payne, Loren Winship, E.P. Conkle, Jim Moll and Fran Hodge, were forces that shaped the department and the standards of excellence that the faculty and students relentlessly pursue to this day.
Taking a snapshot of the dance program today, it is inspiring to see the thread of legacy continue to be spun. The department’s dance faculty share with Dodge the philosophical perspectives of individual creativity, the professional experiences of working internationally, and making the teaching aspect of this art form a central part of the experience. The bachelor of fine arts in dance, which started in 1998, focuses on three fundamental elements of study to support students living life on a dancer’s journey: performance, creativity and pedagogy. All of these were fundamental to the creative life of Shirlee Dodge.
There are many ways to measure success. One is to look at the success of the pupils. While an educator cannot take credit for students’ innate talents, mentors like Dodge do play an undeniable role in nurturing talents to realize their fullest potentials. Possibly one of the greatest successes has been that of alumnus Tommy Tune, winner of nine Tony Awards and the National Medal of Arts, to whom Dodge was an important “haven of sanity.” (Tune, 1998) Tune is a hard act to follow, yet theatre and dance alumni continue to impact the field with great success from New York to Los Angeles; from Maine to Mexico; onstage, behind the scenes and in the studio.
Today’s university dance program is a true partner in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and is considered a model for other programs. The department has evolved greatly since the days of creative dance in P.E. programs. The dance program is developing scholarships, taking students to Europe to perform and study, presenting choreography at the Kennedy Center, and seeking ways to constantly improve the student experience through repertoire, facility improvements, and guest artist interactions. The momentum is compelling. Dance at the university stands to continue as a driving force in the department, the college and the nation.
Contributed by David Justin, Associate Professor of Dance
Photography courtesy of Pam and Edmund McIlhenny
The Shirlee Dodge Theatre and Dance Endowment was recently established by Shirlee’s daughter, Pam McIlhenny and her husband Edmund. This endowment will honor Professor Dodge’s legacy by supporting The University of Texas at Austin dance program and awarding scholarships to the most talented dance students.
To be a part of this meaningful tribute to Shirlee Dodge, you may make a gift online or by check made payable to ‘The University of Texas at Austin’ and mail to:
Michele Baylor, Director of Development
The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Theatre and Dance
1 University Station, D3900
Austin, TX 78712
For additional information, please contact Michele Baylor at 512-475-6291.
With an exciting weekend of dance behind us, here’s another look at what folks are saying about Catalyst.
To kick off the buzz, a feature story on The University of Texas at Austin homepage published on March 19.
An opening night shout-out from @UTAustin started our Friday on a great note. Notice we immediately retweeted it to the adoring fans and followers of @uttad.
The Daily Texan chimed in too!
Our friends at CultureMap Austin shared some more opening night fun with KUT. Thanks to Matt Largey and Michael Graupmann for including us in the weekend’s goings-on!
With three performances left to go, CultureMap Austin took to their Facebook page to spread the word!
The energy from opening night is still alive! Here’s a great review from The Austin Chronicle.
Who else is talking about Catalyst? Let us know on our Facebook or Twitter!
Senior Cooper Neely took unexpected steps to his major in dance. He’s now one of the stars performing lead roles in the program’s spring show, Catalyst.
Catalyst takes the B. Iden Payne stage March 23-25, 2012.
Rozanne Seelen (BFA 1956) is the owner of New York City’s The Drama Book Shop, recently honored with the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre. Rozanne shares that “our mission is to provide not only a place to buy books but also a place where people can gather and get the help they need for their careers”. Rozanne and her staff will celebrate The Drama Book Shop’s 100th anniversary in 2017.
Dance Repertory Theatre represented UT at the American College Dance Festival (ACDFA) South Central conference at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) in Laredo last week. Works by associate professor David Justin and BFA in Dance senior Aly DelCueto were presented for adjudication.
Of the 48 adjudicated dances presented, only three were selected for invitation to the National ACDFA at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC including David Justin’s “Oblivion’s Ink.”
“This work represented some of what is best about our department: The dancers were strong, confident and a joy to watch, David’s choreography brought out their best performance, and Katie Aylward’s swirling blue dresses were stunning. The piece was met with a standing ovation,” said Holly Williams, department professor and dance program head.
See this stunning piece yourself before the dancers travel to the Nation’s Capital. “Oblivion’s Ink” will be performed as part of Catalyst premiering March 23 at UT’s B. Iden Payne Theatre.
Photo: David Justin’s “Oblivion’s Ink” by Jeff Heimsath
Dancers: Amanda Gladu (BA), Kate Kislingbury (BFA), Shirley Luong (BFA), Courtney Mazieka (BFA), Victoria Mora (BFA), Cooper Neely (BFA), Ema Watanabe (BFA)
Costume Design by Katie Aylward, MFA in Design
Jacqueline (Heard) Hinton (BFA 2001) is starring as a ballerina in National Geographic’s mini-series Party Like…, premiering February 9th. Recently, she co-starred on NBC Universal’s Free Agents episode Rebranding, playing opposite Hank Azaria. Last fall, she danced with Clairobscur Dance Company in Uncertain Terrain at the ARC in Pasadena, CA.
The Young! Tanzsommer summer dance festival is the experience of a lifetime for young dancers — an opportunity to perform in Austria at one of the most respected dance gatherings of its kind.
We’re trying to raise $15,000 by Feb. 1 in order to help 15 undergraduate student dancers in The University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Theatre and Dance attend this prestigious festival in 2012.
Take a moment to watch this Tanzsommer video and see the amazing journey that lies in store for our dancers — and the level of talent UT Austin has to share with an international audience.
