The final mainstage show of the fall semester features the work of five student choreographers, brought to life by students in the department of theatre and dance. The Senior Choreography Showcase runs Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. in Johnson Theatre.
Sophomore theatre education major Ashlyn Chapiesky is in two dance pieces choreographed by senior dance majors Katelyn Haney and Kylah Gunter. Chapiesky says the process has been an overall positive experience and has helped her connect with her fellow performers.
“We usually rehearse once a week, every week, and we started back in October,” Chapiesky says. “I have made so many friends, I feel like I’ve come out of my box a lot. It’s been hard work and long hours, but we’ve been working really hard and it’s come together really beautifully.”
Unlike Winthrop Dance Theatre, the Senior Choreography Showcase is an opportunity for student work to be spotlighted.
“I think it’s really cool that we get to use our creativity and our imagination and present something to an audience,” Chapiesky says. “It’s really cool that they’re seniors and they’re choreographing already. It’s just amazing.”
Sophomore dance major Gracie Bennett is also in the modern dance piece by Kylah Gunter. According to Chapiesky and Bennett, the piece explores the “masks” that people hide behind to conform to social norms, and what happens when people are allowed to “unmask” their true selves.
“I’m the girl who’s ‘behind the mask’, and I try to take off my mask be who I am and people reject me,” Bennett says. “But people start to realize that they’re all behind the masks too, so they take off their masks and join me.”
Bennett is also in a swing dance piece by faculty member Kelly Ozust. Originally choreographed to accompany the live band at the CVPA scholarship gala, the piece will be performed on the mainstage during the showcase.
Tickets for the Senior Choreography Showcase are $5 for students and $10 for the general public. For more information, visit https://www.winthrop.edu/cvpa/theatredance/current-season.aspx
Graphic: Lizzy Talbert/ The Johnsonian
