Dance Research Symposium

WELCOME

Halee Harpenau - Senior with a major in Recreation Services, Sport and Hospitality Management, and a minor in Dance.

LUCK BE A LADY

Choreographed by Elizabeth Smith

Featuring students from Musical Theatre Dance Class - *Jacob Beck, Raven Bright, *Emily Burke, *Tate Campbell, *Haylee Caskey, *Jacey Clancy, *Makenzie Coomes, Emma Daly, Andrew Dancer, Olivia Doodnauth, Sara Flessner, Emily Ford, *Mia Garrett, *Jordan Haworth, *Josie Jacquinot, *Kassy Lewis, *Lexi McGowen, *Treva Neathery, Katie Nelson, Aubrey Peters, Lindsay Pruett, *Mattie Vacca

Luck Be A Lady is a song from the Musical "Guys and Dolls." In the musical, this song is sung and danced by the gangsters who are known for their secret dice game.” This song was chosen to challenge the dancers with character and musicality”, stated Elizabeth Smith, Dance Instructor and Choreographer.

HOW WILL I KNOW

Choreographed by *Halee Harpenau

Featuring *Halee Harpenau

Halee is a Senior majoring in Recreation Services, Sport and Hospitality Management and minoring in Dance.

ART MOVES: SUNDAY IN THE PARK

Choreographed by Darcie Shultz

Featuring students from Ballet Class: Audrey Powe, *Raven Warren

Audrey Powe is a Senior majoring in Chemistry. Raven is a Junior with a Biology Major and two minors: Dance and Inclusive Education.

"Sunday in the Park, a character piece, was inspired by Georges Seurat's most well-known work, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. Utilizing projection of the artwork, props, and movement influenced by Seurat's pointillism technique - dancers bring the painting to life."

DYNAMITE

Choreographed by Maggie Stephens

Featuring Carissa Marrone

Carissa is a Senior with a major in Nursing.

GIMME

Choreographed by Elizabeth Smith

Featuring students from Advanced Jazz Class - *Mariah Brown, *Emily Burke, *Ellie Carpenter, *Liv Golden, Megan Guthrie, *Jordan Haworth, Jentry Heath, Sukie Hernandez, Trinity Mack, *Raven Warren, Kylie Wimberly

One of our dance instructors and the choreographer of this piece states, “It's Britney! This piece is a fun, upbeat, pop, jazz number. This dance is about confidence and owning the stage.”

INDIAN BEAT

Choreographed by Sai Deep Jangam

Featuring Sai Deep Jangam

Sai Deep is a Graduate Student majoring in Technology.

Sai Deep states “This is special because Indian cinema has received its first Oscar in 2023 for Naatu Naatu song (the 2nd song in my piece) for best choreography, lyrics, and song. That is a big achievement for Indian people and to the film industry as well. Hence, due to the greatest achievement it feels special to me for performing to that song and representing it to the audience”.

Since childhood, Sai Deep has been fond of dance. "Everybody used to give applause for my dance skills and that brought a special happiness to me. I have performed at various events in college and outside the college. I also received an invitation to dance professionally. I rejected that offer, still I have no regrets. I am still doing great things with dance in my life. I am very passionate about dance, and have performed in three events at PSU. This event feels like something special and exciting to do." When speaking of the theme Sai Deep adds "I could say in one word, the moves connect and bring enthusiasm and euphoria with the Indian style of dance. This dance has crazy moves and a very popular dance style as well. I hope everybody enjoys my performance. I accept any kind of reviews or feedback."

BEGIN AGAIN

Choreographed by *Haylee Caskey

Featuring *Haylee Caskey

Haylee is a Freshman with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Dance.

HOPELESS WANDERER

Choreographed by Carissa Marrone

Featuring Ava Arehart, Emma Daly, *Halee Harpenau, Carissa Marrone, *Treva Neathery, Katie Nelson, Aubrey Peters, Lindsay Pruett

HATE ON ME

Choreographed by *Alyssa Strader and *Jordan Haworth

Featuring *Alyssa Strader and *Jordan Haworth

Alyssa is a Senior majoring in Psychology with minors in both Dance and Youth and Adolescence. Jordan is a Junior double majoring in Biology and Modern Languages with a minor in Dance.

Alyssa and Jordan shared,“This dance was a fun way for us to collaborate and celebrate our friendship! We both danced before college and we are so glad that the dance minor brought us closer together.”

KITRI VARIATION FROM DON QUIXOTE

Choreographed by Marius Petipa

Featuring Rosemary Stapleton

Rosemary is a Junior with a major in Art.

Rosemary shared some fun facts about this dance, her costume and what it means to her. “This is Kitri’s wedding variation from Act III of Don Quixote, which was first performed by the Bolshoi Ballet in 1869. Three things to know: I performed this at my first-ever ballet competition after taking a four-year break from ballet, it’s the second-most fun choreography I’ve learned (after rat in The Nutcracker), and my mom and I made my entire costume, by hand, over about two weeks!”

BLUE SUEDE SHOES

Choreographed by *Anna Holman

Featuring *Anna Holman

Anna is a Senior with a major in Exercise Science and a Minor in Dance.

Anna performed Blue Suede Shoes at the Miss Kansas Volunteer Competition this past fall and took home the overall talent award and first runner-up!

MIRROR

Choreographed by Elizabeth Smith

Featuring the PSU Dance Team - Ava Arehart, *Ellie Carpenter, *Haylee Caskey, Kenzie Coester, Emma Daly, Madi Gill, Megan Guthrie, Jentry Heath, *Kassy Lewis, Carissa Marrone, *Treva Neathery, Aubrey Peters, Lindsay Pruett, Madilynn Sanderholm, *Mattie Vacca, Kylie Wimberly

Mirror was performed at the UDA College Nationals. The dancers prepared this piece over Christmas break to compete in Orlando Florida alongside the best teams in the nation. The dance is about identity and struggling to know who you are: a challenge that many college students can relate to.

BLACK AND GOLD

Choreographed by *Stirling Luckey

Featuring *Stirling Luckey and * Mia Garrett

Stirling is a Junior with a major in Communication and a minor in Dance. Mia is a Junior with a major in Marketing and a minor in Dance.

I FEEL LOVE

Choreographed by *Jordan Haworth

Featuring *Jordan Haworth

Jordan, a Junior, has a double major of Biology and Modern Languages with a minor in dance.

Jordan is the PSU feature twirler and is honored to represent this sport in the dance symposium. Jordan states, “The PSU dance minor has helped my dance technique and creativity flourish during my time at Pitt State. The dance minor helps dancers find a way to share their voice through the movement of art, which is something I truly cherish.” This dance is important to Jordan as it shows how her love of baton twirling and dance can be intertwined into one piece. She has been twirling since she was six years old and is so grateful to share her love of twirling on stage! Jordan further adds that this dance shows that there are a variety of ways to get your body up and moving!

BETTER DAYS

Choreographed by *Mattie Vacca and *Liv Golden

Featuring *Mattie Vacca and *Liv Golden

Mattie is a Junior with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in dance. Liv is a Junior with a major in nursing.

BARBIE WORLD

Choreographed by Natalie Burton

Featuring *Anna Holman, Sydney Hulvey, *Makayla Pilcher

Anna is a senior majoring in Exercise Science with a Dance Minor. Sydney is a senior majoring in Biology. Makayla is a junior majoring in Management with minors in both Interior Design and Dance.

READY FOR IT?

Choreographed by *Kassy Lewis

Featuring PSU Dance Club - *Mariah Brown, *Haylee Caskey, Oluchi Olwethu Chukwu, Wei Sheng Fang, Anna Holmes, Yubin Je, *Kassy Lewis, Leyna Ortega, Ada Pahkala, *Cristian Paxtor Oxlaj, Maria Vieira, *Clarissa Worley

“I am really proud of all the Dance Club members performing in this number. Some of these dancers have never performed before, especially in such a large show like the symposium, and they have truly worked together,” Kassy Lewis, choreographer and PSU Dance Club President. This show aligns with the theme move by showing that anyone can be a dancer. It’s a fun, energetic dance number that shows individuals from a wide range of experience to no experience at all are all up on the stage performing in one dance number. Dance truly brings people together through movement.

LET ‘EM GO

Choreographed by Emma Gaul

Featuring Kylie Wimberly

Kylie is a Junior with a major in Nursing.

Kylie describes her dance, “This dance is about trying to overcome obstacles that life throws at you. Letting go of things or people that no longer serve you anymore."

ILLICIT AFFAIRS

Choreographed by *Liv Golden

Featuring *Liv Golden

Liv is a Junior with a major in Nursing.

DELTA

Choreographed by Elizabeth Smith

Featuring students from the Contemporary Dance Class

We all have weight that we carry. Some things are so heavy that they prevent us from moving forward with our goals. This piece explores themes of weight, struggle, and longing for relief.

LIMBO

Choreographed by Ashley Counterman

Featuring *Cristian Paxtor

This dance is a Latin-jazz style of dance. The choreographer, Ashley Counterman, was inspired by Dancing with the Stars. Therefore, this dance includes some ballroom and jazz elements in the routine. “This solo is special to me because I am able to share my favorite style of dance, along with my Latin-culture”, stated Cristian.

Cristian also states, “I have been Latin-dancing since I was 12 years old and started studio training at 16 years-old. I was on my high school dance team as well as collegiate cheer and dance teams at Neosho County Community College. I am currently minoring in dance, and I am involved with the Dance Club. Dance is my way of escaping from outside obstacles in life. I am junior at PSU and majoring in Spanish Education with a minor in ESOL and Dance. I am excited to start my career and end my time at PSU in May 2025.”

This dance aligns with the theme of "Move!" because it entices the listener to MOVE. It invites the audience to dance and feel the rhythm of Latin music. Enjoy!

MOVE TO THE MUSIC

Choreographed by Elizabeth Smith

Featuring students from Hip Hop Class - Dorothy Carnahan, Jungkyu Choi, *Jacey Clancy, Anna Coberley, Oscar Crespo, Wei Sheng Fang, Yubin Je, *Stirling Luckey, Emma Maxwell, Shannon McBride, Saimi Patrikainen, Elina Saunamaki, *Clarissa Worley

Our hip-hop class is performing this piece to encourage everyone to have fun and dance! Dance is for everyone. This will be the first time that some of these students are performing on a stage for an audience. This mix includes songs that encourage people to get up and move!

SHOW ME HOW YOU BURLESQUE

Choreographed by Melissa Deanne

Featuring *Kassy Lewis

Kassy is a Senior majoring in nursing with minors in both dance and psychology.

Kassy states, “This is really a fun number for me to perform because it was a solo that I competed back when I was 12 or 13. Now that I am older and have grown it’s really fun to see how this number has grown as well! My dance journey at Pittsburg State has really moved me as a dancer. Being on dance team and also being a dance minor has really pushed me to continue dancing and being the best that I can be. This dance aligns with the theme because it’s a fun energetic dance number about moving your body and being confident in yourself.”

LOVE IN THE DARK

Choreographed by *Ellie Carpenter

Featuring *Ellie Carpenter

Ellie is a Freshman with a major in Recreation Services, Sport and Hospitality Management and a minor in Dance.

SAY SOMETHING

Choreographed by *Mattie Vacca and *Haylee Caskey

Featuring *Mattie Vacca and *Haylee Caskey

GOLIATH

Choreographed by Elizabeth Smith

Featuring select students from Advanced Jazz, Contemporary and Musical Theatre Dance Classes - *Emily Burke, Aubrey Peters, *Tate Campbell, *Jacey Clancy, *Makenzie Coomes, *Mia Garrett, *Jordan Haworth, *Josie Jacquinot, *Lexi McGowen, Katie Nelson, Riley Bright, *Ellie Carpenter, Anna Holman, *Anna Holmes, Kiki Hung, *Lexi Brodrick, *Mariah Brown, *Liv Golden, Megan Guthrie, Jentry Heath, Kylie Wimberly, *Raven Warren

This piece is about power and control. As the music in this piece controls the dancers, it evokes an imbalance in power and strength

LET IT BE

Choreographed by Elizabeth Smith

Featuring Elizabeth Smith, Dance Professor

This dance is choreographed and performed by one of our talented and creative instructors, Elizabeth Smith.

MAMMA MIA

Choreographed by Elizabeth Smith

Featuring students from a variety of our dance classes

Inspired by the musical, this number is a fun tribute to ABBA and Mamma Mia! Enjoy this closing number!