Dance Ensemble Students (Image provided)
SUNY Geneseo's Department of Theatre and Dance proudly presents the Geneseo Dance Ensemble in Journeys Unfolding, dedicated to Myrtle Merritt, and features works by student choreographers with 31 performers. The concert, artistically directed and produced by professor of dance studies Jonette Lancos, will be presented in the Alice Austin Theatre on November 14, 15, and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and November 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12, available at the Student Association Ticket Office, or online.
All dances are mentored by the dance studies faculty Lancos, Alissa Bachand, and Deborah French, with adjudicator Melanie Aceto, and choreographed by dance minors and dance concentration students in the dance studies program. Shannon Altman '25 presents her work, "The Purgatory," a piece about an embodiment of the mental, emotional, and physical state one finds themselves in when they are not feeling completely low or high. Angel Bryant '25 offers her work, "As the Night Falls," which portrays the story of strangers who cross paths on a spontaneous night out. Shannon Ervay '25 presents her work, "Cognitive Dissonance," which depicts the feeling of the mind and body in disarray. Madalyn Johnson '25 shows her work, "Threads Unseen," about finding your group of friends and going through different life challenges together. Olivia Okoniewski '25 shows her work, "Heal," which resembles the challenges one faces in overcoming addiction and how rediscovering oneself in this intense journey can be challenging yet rewarding. Stephanie Warner '25 presents her work, "Mind Games," which depicts her struggle with anxiety.
The Dance Composition 331 class will perform a new work. They present their final projects using choreographic theory and the elements and principles of design, as exhibited in the images of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings, titled "Artistry in Motion." Fourteen students in the Dance Kinesiology 230 class will perform "Ball Dance." The class develops inventive ways to expand these into a creative dance by taking the technique and theory of physioball conditioning beyond exercise.
Lancos directs Journeys Unfolding with senior student assistants Altman, Johnson, Okoniewski, and Warner. Theatre faculty and chair Johnnie Ferrell will mentor student lighting designers. Costumes are coordinated by Lisa Miskell, costume shop supervisor, in collaboration with the costume shop crew.
Journeys Unfolding is supported by generous donations through The Geneseo Foundation from supporters and local businesses. Please join us for the 56th year of the Geneseo Dance Ensemble and the 112th dance concert in an evening of diverse, dynamic, original dance works.