Dance Research Symposium

BODY LOVE

Choreographed by Madison Thies and Jenna Herrstrom
Jenna Herrstrom

Jenna started dancing when she was five and began competing at the age of 11. Her freshman year of high school she found her second family at Infinity Dance Academy. “My instructors, Alyshia Needham, Harley Roberts, Madison Thies, and Chiann Miller provided me so much support and guidance throughout the years. Not only did they teach me dance, but also life skills I will always take with me. By my side through my dance journey is Skylar Weers. She was always my safe place and biggest supporter. I’m lucky to have her with me to this day.” Jenna explains the meaning behind this dance is learning to love your body and the things that make you who you are. “Thank you so much to Madison Thies for creating such an amazing piece and concept for me. I love performing it and being able to share a message to those watching.”

OTHER SIDE

Choreographed by *Mattie Vacca and *Liv Golden
*Mattie Vacca and *Liv Golden

Mattie and Liv are both freshmen and Mattie is majoring in Elementary Education Unified and Liv is a Nursing major.
Mattie and Liv grew up dancing and were members of the 2022-2023 Pitt State Dance Team. They state, “This dance symbolizes our support for each other over the past year. We are forever grateful for dance bringing us together.”

SPIRALING

Choreographed by Elizabeth Hayes
*Rylea Harris, *Jordan Haworth, Anna Holmes, *Kassy Lewis, Hayley Monday, *Alyssa Strader, Paige Wilbert, *Clarissa Worley

Elizabeth Hayes, the choreographer of this dance, explains that the dance is representative of the downward spiral that one can get stuck in while in the midst of a mental disorder. We cannot stop ourselves from spiraling and getting more and more stuck in our own harmful thoughts. Though the self-isolation seems to only effect ourselves, once we are out of the spiral, we see how harmful we really were to everyone around us. This dance takes courage and vulnerability for all of the dancers. Dance is an amazing art form that allows us to communicate in ways that words can’t.

PAQUITA VARIATION

Choreographed by Marius Petipa
Yung-Rou, Ko (Zoe Ke)

Zoe, a Medical Informatics Innovative Application major, is an exchange student from Taiwan. She has been studying ballet for over ten years and has earned 6th place in the Taiwan Grand Prix in 2015. However, she did not keep dancing since high school, and this is her first performance since then. She is honored to have this opportunity to dance at PSU. Paquita is made by French composer, Édouard Deldevez, and Paris Opéra Ballet Master, Joseph Mazilier. It was first presented at the Salle Le Peletier by the Paris Opera Ballet on April 1, 1846 and Paquita had been retained till 1851. The story takes place in Spain during the presence of Napoleon’s army. Zoe states, “Actually, I performed Paquita in my second year of middle school and I liked this performance a lot. Eight years later, I decided to interpret the same variation from a different perspective, and I would like to share this variation with you.” She further explains, “I am so honored to have this opportunity to show the variety of emotions by dancing! I would like to especially thank Dr. Jewett and Professor Yana Feldman for their help during the process! Thank you, Yana, for the choreography and the beautiful tutu and thank you Dr. Jewett for your advice on lighting, music, and dancing skills!”

ABBEY ROAD MEDLEY

Choreographed by *Halee and Jeana Harpenau
*Halee and Jeana Harpenau

Halee is a junior with a major in Recreation Services, Sport and Hospitality Management.
Halee started dancing at the age of two, doing “Mommy and Me” classes, following the footsteps (literally) of her mother, Jeana, who had grown up dancing for 18 years and teaching tap dance for 14 years. Halee has continued tap dancing for 18 years and now teaches and choreographs just like her mom.
Halee states, “Out of all of the years we’ve danced and taught together, we have never performed together. This year, the Dance Symposium happens to fall on my dad’s birthday. My dad, Mark, has always been a huge fan of the Beatles and has influenced our family to become Beatles lovers too. This dance that my mom and I choreographed is for him. Happy Birthday Papa Mark!”

MERRY GO ROUND OF LIFE

Choreographed by *Jordan Haworth
*Jordan Haworth

Jordan is a sophomore majoring in Biology and Spanish and minoring in Dance. She is the feature twirler at PSU and has been twirling since she was six years old and has been dancing since she was 13. She received the placement of 3rd with this routine, Merry Go Round of Life, at baton twirling nationals in 2022. This piece was created to show the love and appreciation for classical pieces while collaborating other arts into it as well, such as baton twirling. Jordan states, “This dance means a lot to me because it gives me a chance to show that baton twirling is not a dying sport or art, and neither is classical music. I find peace within myself while I am baton twirling and dancing because I am allowed to portray my feelings through movements as well as show how much love I have for these sports.”

DIANA VARIATION FROM DIANA AND ACTEON

Choreographed by Agrippina Vaganova
Yana Feldman, Instructor of PSU Dance

Yana settled on this classical variation about the Roman goddess of the hunt, Diana (Greek goddess: Artemis). Of all the different stories that ballet can tell, the Diana Variation is an epitome of courage and strength. “As an instructor of dance (ballet) in our local community, Dance is part of my every day life. But the most important skill I teach is probably courage, a kind of inner strength and empowerment to feel that you CAN succeed. Interestingly, I have found that college students and adult students also struggle with courage in themselves whether it be succeeding in dance or other ventures. Both fear of failure and fear of success can paralyze us from taking the actions we dream to take. I love the theme we chose this year: it takes a lot of courage to put yourself forward, but it also takes community and collaboration to make it happen!”

WHERE ARE WE REALLY

Choreographed by Elizabeth Hayes
Annika Anzjon, *Emily Burke, *Kassi Burns, Kenzie Coester, *Kaytie Frisch, Megan Guthrie, *Jordan Haworth, Jenna Herrstrom, Anna Holmes, Hayley Monday, *Kassy Lewis, Treva Neathery, Dani Torgler, *Mattie Vacca, Skylar Weers, Paige Wilbert.

Everyone is dependent on technology. This piece is an observation on the overconsumption of media and technology in today’s society; a tool and a barrier.

WILD HEARTS

Choreographed by Christi Leonard
*Lexi Brodrick

Lexi is a freshman majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Dance. Lexi has been dancing for 16 years and seven of those have included competition dance.

PAQUITA VARIATION-GROUP DANCE

Staged by Yana Feldman and Choreographed by Marius Petipa
Ballet/Contemporary Class: Zoe Ke Ko, *Nayeli Ramirez, Olivia Sanders, Debbie Thomas, Aichatou Agbere

THÉRÈSE

Choreographed by *Emily Burke
*Emily Burke

Emily is a freshman majoring in Early Childhood Unified: Birth -Kindergarten.
She has been dancing for about seven years and aside from dance, some other things that she hopes to do in the future are to become a preschool teacher and restore Victorian era homes. Emily explains that this dance is a representation of the over-sexualization of women’s bodies and the role that society plays in enforcing the stigma around them. “I have seen firsthand how from the second that many women are born, they are taught that their bodies are sexual things and that they should be ashamed of them. My hope for the future is that women are able to feel comfortable in their own skin and not feel ashamed of the bodies that they were born into.” Emily says, “Dance has impacted my life in so many positive, incredible ways. Not only has dance introduced me to many of my best friends, but it has instilled confidence, creativity, and vulnerability into me in a way that I don’t think anything else ever could.”

SUN

Choreographed by Hayley Monday
Hayley Monday

Hayley is a senior majoring in Interior Design with a minor in Construction Technology. Hayley has been dancing since she was 6 years old and has been a part of the dance program at PSU for the past 4 years and has choreographed solos and duets for the dance symposium throughout her time at PSU. The routine “Sun” has been the most challenging and bittersweet choreography she has ever done as this dance is a dedication piece to Hayley’s best friend, her Nana. “Sun” reflects the beginning and end of everyday we experience in our lives. Hayley states, “Every day is a new opportunity to make decisions for yourself. Sometimes our choices are harder than others to make and sometimes by the end of the day, I myself question if I made the right choice. As I transition into life after college, I constantly question what the next chapter of my life will look like, asking myself “am I prepared for the real world?” However, if there is one thing that my Nana taught me growing up was that everyday is a fresh start, you’ll make mistakes the day before but when you wake up in the morning it’s the start of a new day, the world is at your feet.”

LET’S MAKE IT UP AS WE GO

Improvisation by Elizabeth Hayes
Elizabeth Hayes, Graduate Assistant for Dance and the Audience

“I have always been fascinated with creative processes. I love creating in new ways and working with others. Performances are so finished and the audience doesn’t get to see the process. Well, until now. Use the QR code to let me know how I should dance today!” This dance is to collaborate with the audience and to involve them in the choreographic process. “Dance and choreography are integral parts of my life. Dance is not my hobby or job, it is my lifestyle,” Elizabeth states.

JACKPOT

Choreographed by Elizabeth Hayes
Advanced Jazz, Musical Theatre, Tap, Hip Hop and Contemporary Dance Classes
Featured Dancers: Kenzie Coester, Treva Neathery, Dani Torgler, *Mattie Vacca

Elizabeth Hayes grew up in Pittsburg, KS involved in dance and theater. She graduated from K-State with a major in Art and minors in Dance and Mass Communication. She co-directed her first dance show at K-State while also working at a local dance studio and teaching camps for UDA. Upon graduating, Elizabeth became the Director of the Y Academy of Dance and has won dance competition titles for highest scoring routines as well as awards for choreography. She is the Assistant Coach for the PSU Crimson and Gold Dance Team, the Head Coach for the St. Mary’s Colgan Dance Team and will be choreographing for Pittsburg Community Theater in the summer. She has done freelance choreography for K-State Dance Minor and has presented dance classes and choreography at the American College Dance Association. “I absolutely love the atmosphere and students at Pittsburg State University. Teaching dance here has been such a blessing and I am so inspired by our students.”
This casino-meets-Lady-Gaga dance is an upbeat dance that allows both the dancers and the audience members to have fun as we close out the show! This dance includes many dancers that have never performed on a stage before! We are so proud of their courage to dance at this performance.