Grand Valley State University Department of Music, Theatre and Dance students kicked off the semester with an end-of-summer outdoor performance in Grand Rapids. The Summer Dance Festival was hosted by Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB), giving West Michigan dancers the opportunity to showcase their talents to their local community.

“It was so nice to be around people who wanted to celebrate dance because that is what we all love,” said Eliana Weinert, a GVSU dance major who choreographed a number for the GVSU dance program to perform at the festival. “There was such a wide variety of who (was) performing, like hip-hop groups and ballet groups.”

GRB is Michigan’s only classical ballet company, and frequently collaborates with the local dance community. The Summer Dance Festival took place Aug. 23-24.

Read more about Lacie Hoffman’s coverage of the summertime festival here.

Grand Rapids Woodstock Fest supports family in Gaza

Woodstock Fest, a benefit concert held in Grand Rapids on Oct. 5, supported the ElMassry-Sahmound family’s survival in Gaza, as well as local artists and musicians. The festival, which was held at Heritage Hill, was co-organized by Grand Valley State University Professor James Champion, and is held annually in an effort to garner exposure and donations to specific causes.

This year, Woodstock Fest partnered with Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids, a political organization that organizes in the Grand Rapids area for the liberation of Palestine. Partnering with Woodstock allowed the organization to help raise donations for the ElMassry-Sahmound family, which is trying to escape devastation in Gaza and relocate to Egypt. The money sent to the family in need will be used for supplies including food, water and sanitary items until they are able to evacuate from Gaza.

The festival featured 14 local artists, including GVSU student Anthony Erlandson. Performers played a variety of musical genres including folk, hyper pop, punk and more.

Read more of Lacie Hoffman’s story on Woodstock Fest here.

GV improv group promises laughter for just two dollars

“Improv Type Stuff” was a fitting name for the monthly performance of Subject to Change, Grand Valley State University’s improv club. The show, which had an only two dollar cover charge, was held Friday, Nov. 8, at the Kirkhof Center.

Like many improv shows, Subject to Change decides on a variety of “games” that they will play during a show. The scenes that play out have certain rules or gimmicks that the group’s participants, and the audience, are expected to interact with. Beyond the game rules, everything is completely improvised and set up to invoke audience suggestions, participation and laughter.

“What goes into it is not what the games will look like, it’s what games we’re going to play,” said Jacob Jahshan, Subject to Change’s Promotions Officer. “Because it is still improv, we don’t know what the (audience) suggestions are going to be. That’s the fun of it.”

Read more of Lee Marentette’s coverage on the GVSU improv group here.

GV students get thrifty by shopping second hand

Thrifting is a more sustainable and affordable option for obtaining clothing pieces, which is why so many college students acquire their wardrobe second hand. Many Grand Valley State University students have found thrift shopping to be a fun way to put together outfits that aren’t cheaply made or associated with fast fashion apparel and accessories.

GVSU student Lauren Elias explained that she doesn’t buy clothing from high-end stores anymore due to the cost. Elias shops at the Goodwill Outlets in Grandville and Muskegon. These outlets are often called “the bins” because they feature large, blue bins filled with stacks of clothes that customers can peruse and purchase by the pound. While further away from GVSU than some local Goodwill locations, many students make the trek to the bins for better deals.

“I just can’t pay 20 bucks for a shirt that I could get for three or four dollars at Goodwill,” Elias said.

Read more of Sofia Ellis’ coverage on the thrifting habits of GVSU students here.

GV alumna performs in Academy Award-winning “Anora”

On Sunday, March 2, the Academy Awards took place in Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, and the feature film “Anora” swept the floor. The 2024 film, which showcased a forbidden romance between an escort from Brooklyn and a Russian oligarch, won five of the six awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture. Celebrating among the cast and crew as a supporting actress was Grand Valley State University alumna, Lindsey Normington.

Normington graduated from GVSU in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Theatre. She spent her time as a student involved in a number of campus theatre productions and projects. One of these programs was ReACT!, a peer education theatre group that provided support to sexual assault survivors and prevention programs at the University.

Read more of Jada Dobbins’ coverage on Normington’s Hollywood role here.

GV alumna’s film screening advocates for birth justice

On Thursday, March 20, Grand Valley State University’s Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies welcomed alumna Amanda Rostic back to campus for a showing of her documentary film “Delivering While Black.”

Through the screening, Rostic, who graduated from the University with a Master of Public Health degree, brought attention to racial disparities in maternal and infant birthing outcomes. Specifically, the film focuses on the inequalities Black women have faced within the healthcare system in Grand Rapids. The event ended with a group Q&A and panel discussion, where community members were able to engage in conversation with the film’s cast. The panel also included healthcare specialists, who shared their personal experiences within the healthcare and delivery system.

“I hope my film creates spaces where people from different backgrounds can come together and learn,” Rostic said. “I hope students and faculty feel encouraged and inspired to use their voices and influence to change the world around them in positive and meaningful ways.”

Read more about Jada Dobbins’ coverage of the film documentary here.

Although the Midwestern dance scene is significantly smaller than that of New York or Los Angeles, the community is familiar and encouraging. Each time a new group steps on stage, they are welcomed with loud cheers.

“(The Midwestern dance community) is tight-knit,” said Claire DiFranco, the creator and host of The Main Event. “Everyone knows everyone. It’s so nice to see everyone come together.” 

DiFranco created The Main Event in 2021 as an opportunity for the community to support and showcase local dance talent. She said that while it can be hard for students to find ways to keep performing after graduation, The Main Event provides them with a place to shine.

“It’s not a competition (or about) whose better,” DiFranco said. “I want it to be big (and) inviting. I want everyone to be part of it.” 

DiFranco added that she created the event as a way to bring different dance styles together. At the showcase, hip-hop dancers cheered on their contemporary peers and K-pop dance friends. The venue’s old, wooden stage bolstered everything from bare feet to sneakers, tap shoes and heels.

“I wanted it to be about bringing all forms of art together,” DiFranco said. “I’m hoping that (after this year) The Main Event will have an even larger following, and I can bring more artists together (in the future).”

GVSU’s hip-hop dance team Move 2 The Beat has performed in several of The Main Event’s showcases, and this gathering was no exception. Each year, the event’s enthusiastic crowd and positive energy motivate the group to drive almost three hours.

“Getting to watch everybody (is) inspiring,” said Jenae Bennett, vice president of Move 2 the Beat. “The energy between everybody is pretty awesome.”

The group performed to a mixtape of four songs, each choreographed by a small selection of students within the club. This gave every member in the performance a chance to showcase unique, artistic movement. On stage, the group’s mutual trust and friendship was apparent, as members moved and interacted with ease. Dancers shared in their expression and training with fluid familiarity as they, quite literally, moved to the beat. 

Move 2 the Beat provides students with a passion for dance the opportunity to move together, despite their differing majors and experience levels. 

Lily Zevalkink, Move 2 the Beat’s secretary, said the group’s close community compelled her to join.

“I joined my freshman year to make friends and because I love dancing,” Zevalkink said.

Bennett echoed her teammate’s words, saying Move 2 the Beat’s community is what keeps her performing.

“(Dance) is one of my passions, but also this community (Move 2 the Beat),” Bennett said. “Going into it, we’re all really shy, but then we get out of our shells. It’s nice to grow in that confidence together.”

494 Fashion Magazine, a student organization at Grand Valley State University, is looking ahead to the upcoming school year with intentions to release the group’s first traditional publication.

Previously having hosted many photoshoots and artistic projects, the group spotlights film and video, photography and writing from students interested in displaying their artistic talents and expanding their repertoires. With an emphasis on fashion, the club provides a platform for creative expression through aesthetics and styling, as well as the opportunity to refine skills such as sewing and pattern-making.

Sophia Gafa, a film and video production major at GVSU, founded the 494 Fashion Magazine Club in November 2023. Gafa expressed the club was created for students to have fun and express themselves, on top of creating content for their portfolios.

To read more about GVSU’s first fashion magazine, click here.

Acclaimed author highlights Chinese American heritage at poetry reading

On Oct. 24, Grand Valley State University’s Department of Writing encouraged students to spend their evening at the Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids for a poetry night with acclaimed poet Paisley Rekdal. The event was part of the University’s Arts Celebration program, which is organized by the Department of Visual & Media Arts (VMA), and provided a culturally educational experience for students.

The yearly programming includes free arts, literature and performance events for GVSU and the local community. Every year, the celebration features a poetry reading. This year, Rekdal read from her newest book, “West: A Translation,” and educated those in attendance about the struggles that Chinese Americans faced during the Chinese Exclusion Act. Rekdal also accompanied her reading with videos and historical essays for viewers to follow along.

One side of Rekdal’s family is of Chinese heritage, and she grew up on the West Coast. She added that the Chinese Exclusion Act affected a lot of Chinese American families, including her own, and wants to educate and inspire others through her books and poetry.

To read more about Rekdal’s visit to Grand Rapids, click here.

Local band warms up the Arboretum during fall festival performance

Grand Valley State University’s Campus Activity Board (CAB) hosted a local band, the Phabies, on Oct. 24 in the University’s Arboretum as part of GVSU’s Fall Festival. Reette Thorns, a GVSU student who won CAB’s Got Talent Show in May 2024, served as the concert’s opening act.

Students, sitting on blankets, gathered with friends around the Arboretum, sipping hot cider that was provided during the show. CAB decided to host the event at the Arboretum, as the location had previously served as placement for previous fall events, such as last year’s Haunted Aboretum. To keep the excitement at the Arboretum and maintain community on campus, CAB invited the Phabies and Thorns to perform.

“I just think (the Arboretum is) such a beautiful space on campus that I’m not sure a ton of people either knew about or utilize,” said Dana Krol, a first-year graduate assistant for CAB. “We thought (that) if we could use this (the Arboretum) for an event with the fall colors, the leaves changing, it could be great.”

To read more about GVSU’s Fall Festival concert, click here.

Student Reading Series provides GV writers with encouraging community

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Grand Valley State University’s Department of Writing hosted a meeting of the monthly Student Reading Series (SRS). The meeting, which was hosted by GVSU students Hannah Applebee and Angelina Firmalan, aims to provide a welcoming space for student writers to share their work in an informal setting.

The theme of this month’s meeting was “cozy,” and was emphasized by tea, snacks and a sweater contest that followed the readings. When students first arrived, they were encouraged to mingle with their peers before settling into armchairs around a fireplace to read their original, written works.

One of the student writers in attendance was Kassidi Mott, a junior at GVSU. This was her first time attending SRS, and she shared a short fiction piece that the audience said they loved.

To read more about the monthly Student Reading Series, click here.

Perseverance takes center stage in dance capstone showcase, “Strength in Motion”

Janelle Weiberg stands at the front of a room with mirrors and ballet barres, explaining a movement to the dancers that stand behind her. Weiberg’s choreographic work titled “Tensile Strength” showcases explorative, contemporary dance forms that portray different interpretations of anxiety. Her cast of six dancers glide through the space, manipulating the use of pedestrian qualities and the natural weight of the body. As her last rehearsal comes to a close, Weiberg faces her cast, going through last-minute notes for the dress rehearsals and performances ahead.

Weiberg is one of five seniors completing their capstone this semester, “Strength in Motion,” through Grand Valley State University’s dance program. The showcase is a collection of 10 entirely student-composed works ranging in movement style, theme, emotion and performance. Each senior’s group piece, as well as a self-choreographed solo, will take center stage during the performance. The showcase will take place on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. This event will have free admission and will take place in the Haas Center for Performing Arts in Studio 1600.

“I am extremely proud of the work I have put out, and being a part of each stage of the creative process,” Weiberg said. “The most rewarding moment of this process has been watching my group dance evolve and become an experience audience members can be immersed in.”

To read more about the GVSU dance program’s capstone showcase, click here.

The Department of Music, Theatre and Dance (MTD) invited Clancy to share her artistic experience with students and teach them her unique style of ballet, contemporary and modern dance. In addition to teaching dance students, Clancy created choreography and hosted auditions for a musical and vocal number that will be used at the dance program’s upcoming fall showcase.

Chloe Schram, a GVSU dance major, said that working with Clancy provided unique insight into the multi-performative world of music and dance. 

“(Clancy) is skilled in several different areas,” Schram said. “The piece that we’re doing, it’s her music. She’s singing in it, so she’s a musician and dancer. I don’t believe that I’ve ever done that, learning a piece from a choreographer and then dancing to their music (singing).”

On her website, Clancy describes her solo performances as having been defined as haunting, both in their movement and vocally. Her genre is broad and has helped to expand her profession across live stages, films and teaching opportunities.     

Schram said that Clancy’s piece for GVSU dancers reflects her different and unique style, introducing a movement that many of the dancers hadn’t encountered before.

“(Clancy’s piece) incorporates a lot of contemporary, but it’s kind of somber (and) a little eerie,” Schram said.

Haley Rosendale, another GVSU dance major, said that Clancy is one of the sweetest and calmest choreographers who has taught at GVSU. 

“Her piece is very pretty and slow,” Rosendale said. “The music is really beautiful.”

Rosendale added that there are many different styles within ballet and described Clancy’s piece as neoclassical, which showcases more abstract movement than classical ballet traditionally does.

“(Clancy) kind of combines contemporary and ballet,” Rosendale said. “You’re very flowy and moving your whole body through everything.” 

Both Rosendale and Schram said that Clancy’s mix of ballet and contemporary style took some getting used to, as it was a new creative process to learn and explore.

“It’s challenging in a positive way to really take on the movement and the vibe of the piece,” Schram said. “(We) really have to be in our movement and not speed anything up because it is a slower piece.” 

MTD invites guest teachers like Clancy to provide students with a broader range of education and dance experiences. Rosendale said it is very helpful for dance students to have the opportunity to work with guest choreographers and dancers, as it helps guide them into the professional world of dance and performance after graduation.

“Any guest artists we have (at GVSU) share their past experiences and their professional time,” Rosendale said. “Getting to hear their stories, tips and different styles (is) honestly very impactful on all of us because we strive to go into the professional world once we graduate.”

Performing at the Cook-DeWitt Center Auditorium on April 1, ENS 242 students invited friends, family and members of the GVSU community to attend their concert. The event aimed to help audience members develop a deeper understanding of the environment through music. Students hoped their performances would motivate the audience to take action against climate change.

With winning artwork from March’s Climate Change Art Competition hung in the lobby, the concert featured a variety of original poetry and musical compositions with accompanying visual components.

Partnering with GVSU’s music program, the ENS 242 class asked students and anyone who wanted to participate to share their talents and knowledge of climate change and justice, equity and positive social and ecological change. 

“I believe very strongly that the solutions to climate change will require people to have creativity and imagination far beyond what we are doing now,” said Rebecca Williams, Ph.D., assistant professor in GVSU’s School of Interdisciplinary Studies. “We wanted our students to have that experience of having to think differently about a really big problem.”

Williams worked alongside fellow Interdisciplinary Studies Professor Steve Nathaniel, Ph.D., to organize the event. The goal of the concert, Nathaniel said, was to spark a conversation and deepen the audience’s curiosity about the long-lasting effects of climate change through the students’ personal interpretations of the issue.

“We want our students to be deeply engaged with these ideas of imagining climate change,” Nathaniel said. “Not simply learning it (climate change) from a factual standpoint, but being able to interpret it as we see it around us in our culture.”

Kat Vann, an environmental and sustainability studies major at GVSU, composed a song on her guitar that she performed at the concert called “I’m Worried for My Friend.” With this piece, Vann said she aimed to personify the earth, comparing its struggles with the human need to recharge in a rapid-paced economy where many are overworked.

“Hopefully, they (the audience) were able to relate and feel empathy for the planet,” Vann said. 

Furthermore, Vann said environmental art is often ignored in terms of community outreach, even though it can be impactful. With the Climate Change Awareness Concert, Vann said students were able to spread awareness about their cause, motivate others and learn about the benefits of working in a diverse group that shares a common goal.

“Our main issue in protecting the planet is simply the fact that people don’t fully know what is going on,” Vann said. “Through each art piece, audience members received various pieces of information while also reaching into their emotions to leave a lasting impact.”

Williams said she hoped the emotional pull of the concert would be a powerful call-to-action for people. At the event, materials were provided that suggested practical ways for individuals to start immediately making a difference in the environment. 

Additionally, many of those in attendance, Williams said, were moved by the heaviness and severity of the concert’s topic. 

“People in the audience were in tears,” Williams said. “It was surprising to me, but (it was) also very moving (to see) that this is a thing (climate change) a lot of people are really struggling with.”

During his visit to campus, Baker taught several modern dance classes to GVSU dance program students. Additionally, Baker worked alongside GVSU Assistant Professor of Dance Edgar L. Page to develop a separate choreographed piece for Page’s pursuit of a Master of Fine Arts in Dance (MFA) degree.

Rooted in the awareness of the African-American experience and culture, DCDC ranks in the top 20 African-American arts organizations in the country. GVSU’s dance program invited Baker to expose students to his dance approach at a technical, choreographic and personal level. 

Alaina Hogan, a dance and mathematics major at GVSU, said she appreciated the challenge of dancing in a piece with such a meaningful and powerful message. Hogan said with Baker’s recent visit, GVSU’s dance program demonstrated the program’s goal of introducing students to a variety of styles in order to make them well-rounded dancers. 

Some students felt Baker’s instructional approach helped guide students in their artistic exploration.

“Baker brought a sense of character, integrity and clarity,” Hogan said. “You have to know what it feels like to move with certain emotions (and) how to make it look authentic.” 

Baker’s modern class focused on the Horton technique, which combines elements of Indigenous dance and movement studies. The Horton technique relies on strength and flexibility through consistent motion, including flat backs, “lateral Ts” and hinges.

When not instructing students, Page and Baker worked to create a piece that incorporated Page’s research on the Griot, a caste of performers and storytellers from Africanist tradition. Having previously danced together professionally, Baker and Page have remained in touch and look for chances to work together.  When working on his MFA thesis, Page said he jumped at the opportunity to bring Baker and his “unique library of information” to campus to help with his piece.  

Furthermore, Page said Baker brought valuable insight in what it takes for students to make dance their profession. Dancers were encouraged to ask Baker questions on how to go from studying dance as a student to getting paid in the highly-competitive dance field after their time at GVSU. Additionally, students were able to get a glimpse of the high-level demand required to achieve a professional dance career. 

“Baker understands the work needed to be a dancer of the highest caliber,” Page said. “He has been sharing so many amazing anecdotes and gems of knowledge from his journey from student to professional dancer to rehearsal director.”

Page said it is paramount for GVSU’s dance program to continue bringing guest choreographers like Baker to campus because they all bring “lived experiences” they can share with students. Hogan echoed a similar sentiment. Hogan said she loved the opportunity to learn from someone who brought considerable experience and knowledge.  

“They (guest choreographers) offer us (dance students) connections to the world and real-time, real-world knowledge that we get to soak up like sponges,” Hogan said. “We learn techniques that we may not have been introduced to otherwise, thus we are more prepared for stepping into the real world and have more of a basis to succeed.”

The event was the second screening of a journalism-based film for students, as part of GVSU’s Journalism, Broadcasting and Digital Media (JBM) program’s “JBM Goes to the Movies” film series. With the promise of free popcorn and the opportunity to talk with one of the journalists portrayed in the film, many students seized the opportunity to learn more about their prospective field. The “Spotlight” screening was a sharp contrast to the first film shown on Feb. 21, “Almost Famous,” which encapsulates the light-hearted world of music journalism.

Matthew Carroll, one of the Spotlight reporters portrayed in the film and a current journalism professor at Northeastern University, spoke to the audience after the screening via Zoom. Carroll expanded on the details and accuracy of the film, answering questions about the movie, the journalism industry and investigative reporting. Carroll’s story and insight provided attendees with a glimpse into the often chaotic world of being an investigative journalist. 

One of the students in attendance, Sitlali Padron, a JBM student at GVSU, said the opportunity to talk with Carroll was encouraging. Padron said it was especially inspiring hearing Carroll talk about his personal challenges with balancing his personal and professional life.

“Meeting someone who has written a big story – you look up to them,” Padron said. “It’s like (talking to) a celebrity. It’s amazing to have a conversation with somebody who’s had years of experience (because) you learn things that you otherwise wouldn’t learn in the classroom.”

Padron said it is import to have events specifically geared toward JBM majors. Padron said events like the JBM film screenings create opportunities for networking and communication with fellow JBM students. 

“(Spending time with) people passionate about the same thing as you is really exciting,” Padron said. “Making connections is really good (because) networking is essential to work in journalism.”

Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, associate professor in GVSU’s JBM program, helped start and facilitate the film series alongside Eric Harvey, Ph.D., associate professor in the JBM program. Lowenstein said the film series was designed to show students examples of professionals who are doing the same kind of work that they are accomplishing in the classroom now.

“When students are thinking about what they want to do (with their degree) they can say, ‘Oh, yeah, maybe I can be a music critic because I saw that movie,’” Lowenstein said. “It’s (the JBM film series) a different way of being together with faculty and students in a fun and social way.” 

Lowenstein also said events like this provide learning opportunities for himself and the other professors. 

“Hearing from colleagues I respect and admire, and some of the questions (students) might have that I might not have thought of, I learned from that,” Lowenstein said.

JBM faculty plans to continue the film series next year, with monthly screenings of journalism films already planned for the upcoming fall semester.

GVSU brings dancers to the conference every year to take a variety of classes from a diverse array of teachers and present GVSU pieces in showcases. The conference provided students with a variety of classes that specialized in expanding their movements, styles and performances. With the goal of supporting and establishing dance at the collegiate level, ACDA instructors presented dancers with the opportunity to receive professional feedback on their choreography and technique. 

There were three performance opportunities for participating universities at the ACDA conference: two choreographed pieces for an adjudicated concert and one for an informal concert. GVSU dance faculty selected three pieces to bring to the conference. Two pieces were set by senior dance majors and one faculty piece that was set in the fall 2023 semester.

Julian McKenzie, a senior dance major at GVSU, had his senior capstone project chosen by GVSU dance professors to be presented at the ACDA conference for formal review. His group piece, choreographed by McKenzie, titled “CLUTTEREDind” conveyed the “physiological and psychological implications of overthinking.” McKenzie said watching the variety of performances at the conference, including his own choreography, gave him a new perspective as a dancer and choreographer.

“I think it’s important to realize that dance is art and not everyone is always going to understand art,” McKenzie said. “My goal was to make something that was different and thought-provoking, which I think we accomplished.” 

The conference not only provided dancers an opportunity to network with their peers and create opportunities after college, but it also gave them a space to have fun together. McKenzie said the social aspect of the conference was the highlight of the weekend for him. 

“Being able to travel to a different area and share the piece with an entire new audience was very exciting,” McKenzie said. “I think it was a great bonding experience for all of us, and (it was) something that we can take away and think about for the rest of our lives.”

Emma Buschle, a dance and advertising and public relations major at GVSU, was selected to bring her self-choreographed, senior capstone dance solo. The piece, titled “The Ordinary Instant,” was performed in ACDA’s informal concert. Like McKenzie, Buschle said the bonding experience was one of the most important and memorable takeaways from the conference. Buschle also described the weekend as both exhausting and inspiring.

Hannah Seidel, associate professor of dance at GVSU, had a piece, “As If Compelled,” performed by GVSU dance majors in the event’s adjudicated concert. The piece was originally performed in the 2023 Fall Dance Concert. Seidel praised the dancers for their hard work and enthusiasm over the weekend, and described their performances as “some of the strongest” she has ever seen for the selected pieces.

Seidel said the dancers gained valuable dance experience and connected with dancers from different colleges through ACDA. 

“Dancers are exposed to many different artistic visions,” Seidel said. “They also have chances to interact with peers from the Midwest with whom they will be entering the professional world (with) after graduation.” 

For dancers like McKenzie and Buschle who are graduating this year, the conference provided them with opportunities and encouragement for dance after GVSU.

“I have new ideas from the classes I took, and I want to try new styles of dance once I’m outside of West Michigan,” Buschle said. “I’m excited after graduation to jump into new classes and lean on the connections I’ve made.”

The festival spotlighted post-modern and contemporary dance from emerging and professional artists. Performances, classes and lectures, allowed dancers, including multiple Grand Valley State University students, staff and alumni, to network with one another.

The event was curated by Rachel Miller, adjunct professor of dance at GVSU, who has been with the event for many years. Alongside Miller, several other GVSU dance professors were involved with the festival this year. Hannah Seidel, associate professor of dance at GVSU, taught dancers contemporary movement forms, and Carolyn Rabbers, adjunct professor of ballet at GVSU, brought her company, CPR Dance: Inhale Movement, for a performance on the festival’s opening night. 

Rabbers said RAD Fest gave her the opportunity to catch up with dance colleagues and friends from different states. Rabbers also praised the platform that RAD Fest provides to dancers and educators, specifically those within the GVSU community.

“It (RAD Fest) always feels like the best reunion to celebrate and catch up on life and art,” Rabbers said. “(It’s) an inspiring weekend with so much passion and love for dance and movement, (and) it is always special to see the GVSU Laker presence in the larger professional dance world.”

With internship opportunities and the chance to grow in their dance skills, GVSU dancers were encouraged to attend the event. Rabbers said there are many GVSU alumni who perform, participate and serve at RAD Fest every year. One GVSU dance program alum, Grace Kitching, not only performed at the event, she also served as the curatorial assistant intern under Miller.

As the curatorial assistant intern, Kitching helped support the festival’s traveling artists and assisted in organizing events throughout the weekend. Additionally, Kitching attended several masterclasses and performed with the Detroit Dance Collective (DDC).

Whether it was taking classes, watching performances or performing herself, Kitching said RAD Fest offered inspiration attendees, and invited dancers of all ages, genders and experience levels. 

“(It’s) comforting to know that everyone is accepted and welcome at RAD,” Kitching said. “Dance is my favorite thing in the world. Every time I watch dance, there is at least one aspect that inspires me.”

Kitching emphasized the importance of networking during college, and keeping in touch with mentors and colleagues after graduation. Kitching said her relationship with Miller led to the opportunity of working under her as an intern at RAD Fest.

“The (GVSU) dance department staff is incredibly supportive (by) offering networking opportunities to students,” Kitching said. “GV connected me with many companies, artists and events out in the working world. I feel that I can turn to any of them for advice and support.” 

Both Rabbers and Kitching said events like RAD Fest are important for fostering community within dance. 

“Through gathering in celebration and movement, we share in our woes, concerns, explorations, research, passion and love,” Rabbers said. “This powerful sharing is unique each year, making RAD Fest an amazing festival to consecutively return to.”

The collaborative performance titled “Utopia: A Music and Dance Ambient Experience” brought instrumental music and synchronized movement to the Garden Pavilion. The 82-minute musical piece was performed twice with four showings of the dance performance, allowing visitors to stop in and enjoy the performance at their leisure. The fusion of music, dance and the visual art of the space immersed performers and viewers in the atmosphere of the piece.  

The four large portraits in “Utopia” were created specifically for Frederik Meijer Gardens by Plensa in 2020. With a different portrait on each wall stretching from floor to ceiling, the glowing white-marble faces display meditative expressions that symbolize humanity’s beauty. The white marble used to carve the faces was chosen for its subtle reactions to light and shadow.

The Garden Pavilion that houses the exhibit is flooded with natural light from the room’s skylight, which GVSU Director of New Music Ensemble Bill Ryan said was a major inspiration for the performance. Ryan said he spent considerable time in this space alongside Hannah Seidel, associate professor of dance at GVSU, in preparation for their collaboration. Ryan said his composition was largely inspired by the natural light, walled textures and the pavilion’s mingling visitors.     

“I decided to create a composition that is an extension of the sculpture (“Utopia”),” Ryan said. “(It is) almost as if (the composition is) an audio version of the sculpture.” 

Ryan said the performance’s composition was designed to provide the audience with a sense of relaxation through ambient and meditative instrumentals. Ryan described the composition as a “slowly shifting landscape of sound,” brought to life by the seven students in the ensemble. The instruments featured in the composition included a flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, cello, keyboard and vibraphone.

Alongside the musicians were 12 students in GVSU’s dance program who performed four variations of choreography ranging from 15 to 17 minutes in length. Seidel described the piece as modern contemporary mixed with a sustained presence. She said the choreography was intended to reflect the space and music surrounding them.

Seidel said she was drawn to the texture of the room, specifically the rough marble surrounding the smooth faces jutting out from the walls. When creating the choreography for this piece, Seidel said she wanted to include these textures within the dancers’ movements, and also incorporate the emotional pull of the message behind Plensa’s exhibit. 

“I honed in on working with the ideas of comfort for this (performance) largely because of the presence of the natural light and the large scale of sculptures in that space,” Seidel said. “Comfort (was important) because there’s a beautiful humanity in the sculptures that I’m trying to bring out in the dancers as well.”

Additionally, Seidel said the meditative and vibrant rehearsal space allowed the dancers to explore movement through their own emotions and ideas. She said the choreography was a combination of her own movement and a “collaboration with the dancers.”

“They were very much involved in creating some of the movement,” Seidel said.

Seidel also said the choreography was particularly unique because it was performed differently across the four performance variations, creating a challenge for the dancers and a unique experience for the guests. Alaina Hogan, a GVSU student and dancer in the performance, said each set included four possible sections, leaving the dancers guessing as to which would come next. 

“There is a level of spontaneity such that we never know exactly what is going to happen until it does,” Hogan said. “There is no set musicality. We stay together by watching each other and feeling each other’s energy.”

Though they performed alongside each other in the final piece, the GVSU New Music Ensemble and Dance Company had separate rehearsal sessions. Despite not having shared rehearsals, Hogan said she felt adequately prepared because she had become familiar with the composition in the weeks leading up to the performance. 

On the day of the performance, the dancers and musicians arrived at the Garden Pavilions a few hours early to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings. Before performing, the dancers led with two performance rituals: a chant to build energy and a quick breathing exercise to calm nerves.

During the performance, the large room echoed the musical composition, enveloping the dancers and audience in sound. Hogan said this created a uniquely immersive experience that allowed the audience to join their “world” as active observers instead of passive viewers.

“While dancing, I feel the interpersonal connection between myself and the other dancers, which is reminiscent of the sculpture in the space that we are all connected (to),” said Hogan. “The reason why the audience is drawn to the piece is due to how it makes people feel rather than what it looks like.” 

Hogan praised Seidel’s choreography and Ryan’s musical composition. She cited the harmonic synchronicity between the musicians and dancers as the reason for the performance’s success.

“Dancing to the composition is an ethereal experience,” said Hogan. “I feel like I am transported to another dimension.”