Friday, February 3 at 7:30PM
Saturday, February 4 at 7:30PM
Sunday, February 5 at 2:30PM

Reflections

The Shenandoah Dance Ensemble presents an evening of original works that mine the rich and varied styles of hip-hop, modern, contemporary and contemporary pointe ballet. Part of Shenandoah University’s Black History Month celebration, the program features two guest choreographers — Earl Mosley and Katherine Lopes Zukeri — whose work celebrates diversity as an essential driver for creativity and highlights Black diaspora dance vocabulary and expression. Mosley is founder and artistic director of Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance. As a teacher, choreographer and mentor, his work is created out of an environment where artists from diverse ethnic, cultural, artistic and socioeconomic backgrounds can cultivate, explore, collaborate and grow together. Zukeri is a D.C. area-based movement artist whose work Crown incorporates her vast experience in hip-hop and urban dance styles. The program also features original works by Shenandoah faculty choreographers, including Shylo Martinez’s world premiere of Ascending Court and Tiffanie Carson’s Tick-Tock, which was created in collaboration with, and features, all fifteen dancers of the class of 2023.

Digital Program

View Digital Program

Shenandoah Conservatory uses digital programs for all performances. In addition to their engaging and accessible design, digital programs are cost effective, environmentally friendly and enable us to create and update our programs more efficiently, which means we can focus our resources on the performances you love! View our digital programs by clicking the button above, scanning the QR code in our venue or texting PROGRAM to (540) 307-2336 at the performance. [Note: Digital programs are best viewed on your mobile or tablet device.]

Lean In & Engage

Glimpses of the Creative Process

Tick-Tock | Choreography by Tiffanie Carson with creative contributions from the artists

Tiffanie Carson’s Tick-Tock features 15 dance seniors as part of their culminating performance as a cohort and is a work created in collaboration with them. The senior dancers are experiencing performing together as a cohort for one last moment on the Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre stage.

Crown | Choreography by Katherine Lopes Zukeri

Katherine Lopes Zukeri’s Crown begins with a heavy burden/responsibility that weighs down the bearer, and the audience sees the bearer on their journey to becoming stronger than the burden.

I See You | Choreography by Earl Mosley

Earl Mosley worked with Shenandoah Conservatory dance students for 5 days during the January residency period. They learned I See You, an 18-minute contemporary work that was restaged on them during the five-day process.

Q: What are students learning or experiencing through this process? What excites you about working on this project/program?

“The students are learning about the cultural foundations of the movements that inform commercial hip-hop choreography, how to express feelings/experiences that aren’t so comfortable, to break down the lyrics in rap music and understand what story is being told, learning to control their movements through fast paced choreography, dancing from a raw emotional center.”

– Katherine Lopes Zukeri, guest choreographer

Q: What are you excited about for audiences to experience?

“I feel that this is the kind of piece that has the potential to bring up some real personal revelation for the audience. I am most excited for the conversations they will have after experiencing it, and where that will lead them. That is why I create, to spark meaningful conversation and exploration in the performers AND the audience.”

– Katherine Lopes Zukeri, guest choreographer

“I’m excited for audiences to see these senior dancers featured together as an ensemble one last time on this stage. It has been my privilege to mentor the senior dancers through their various capstone projects and my honor to choreograph their senior piece.”

– Tiffanie Carson, faculty choreographer

SUGGESTED SHOW RATING: R

This production contains flashing lights and haze, as well as adult language and themes. Contact the Box Office for more information.

ACCESSIBILITY

Infrared hearing system headsets are available in Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre only. Accommodations for disabilities may be arranged by contacting the Box Office at least three days prior to the performance.

Photos by Jeff Taylor