Events & Performances
Students in the Fine and Performing Arts programs at Iona University have a plethora of opportunities to share their work throughout the academic year.
Please explore a selection of past events and performances below.
Iona University Theatre Ensemble
Fall 2022
"Master Harold"...and the boys by Athol Fugard
South Africa, 1950's, St George's Park Tea Room, Port Elizabeth. During a rainy afternoon, employees Sam and Willie practice their steps for the ballroom dancing championship.
Hally arrives from school to the tearoom. These two men have been unlikely best friends to Hally since Hally was a young boy. But it is apartheid era South Africa, and he is Master Harold, and they are the boys.
This award-winning play explores the nature of friendship, and the ways people are capable of hurting even those they love.
Iona University Theatre Ensemble
Spring 2022
"Veronica's Room" by Ira Levin
A young man and woman find themselves as guests lured to the crumbling Brabissant mansion by its dissolute caretakers. Struck by the young woman's strong resemblance to the owner’s long deceased daughter, Veronica, the older couple slowly persuades her to impersonate Veronica to meet Cissie, the sole surviving member of the mansion's family and comfort her as she believes Veronica is still alive. Once dressed in Veronica’s clothes, the line between what is real and what is not begins to blur.
Iona University Dance Ensemble
Spring 2022: "Reflection in Action"
The pandemic over the past few years has reminded us of the need to reflect on the past and to invite the future with intention. This semester, the Iona University Dance Ensemble members used dance and creative processes as tools for reflection, both personal and on important matters that lead to growth and connection through embodiment. As a director, it was an honor to witness the dancers reflecting on the hopes and visions that are needed for a new beginning, through creative processes, as we see the pandemic improving.
Throughout the process, the dancers sought to explore the meaning of self, others, and matters that are important to them, whether those might be personal, spiritual, or philosophical. Besides a contemporary ensemble piece that explores the idea of individual and collective vision and hope observed in our lives, and the ensemble’s dance film-based piece that highlights each dancer’s physical ideas of reflections in a chosen space, the program also includes a dance on screen that shows the collective voices of dance faculty members/artists involved in the program, and a work by our continuing guest jazz dance artist, Ms. Lisa Harvie. Ms. Harvie’s ensemble musical theatre piece, “Mein Herr” and “Cabaret” from the musical Cabaret highlights dance as a way to experiment freely, to show off, and to reflect on our deepest dreams and desires. Additionally, we have advanced student choreographers’ solo projects that explore physical and internal reflections on self or other matters.
We congratulate all the performers for their work as creative artists, thinkers, and collaborators. We also want to recognize our current senior dancers who are graduating this year after having committed themselves to the ensemble for the past four years and wish them the very best for the future. We thank the Council on the Arts and the Arts and Languages department for making this program possible.
Finally, I invite you to witness the embodiment of various meaningful reflections from the perspectives of our performers and choreographers. It is my hope that the program will provide appreciation of dance as an art form and a form of reflection to remind us of the beauty of life even in the midst of these present times.
As always, the Iona University Dance Ensemble expresses its deep gratitude for your continued generous support.
Sincerely Yours,
Hannah Park, Ph.D.
Director of Iona University Dance Ensemble
Reflection in Action
Director: Dr. Hannah Park in collaboration with the dancers
Videographer: Dr. Gilliean Lee
Choreographers/Performers:
Madison Anderson, Laura Arroyo, Leslie Aguirre, Haley Aversa, Breanna Bass, Brittney Castro, Samantha D’Agostino, Elizabeth DeLeo, Chiara Fabiano, Daniela Gregarek, Lara Lyn Jackson, Lillian Johnson, Khris-Annecia Lewis, Isabella Lopane, Laila Ojeda, Jennifer Romain, Victoria Shinnick, Melanie Vazque-Ponce
Music: "Drug" by Nu
Note: This dance uses a co-created dance film that incorporated the movement train structure (inspired by Mitchell Rose’s Exquisite Corps) to explore the physical presentation of reflections through experimentation with limbs and gestures and actions that one can relate to. The process involved reflecting on self, connecting with images and/or thoughts coming from one’s own experience, and careful observations to attune to various matters that are present in our lives. The performance is used as an introduction to each dancer as well as each dancer’s explorations on dialoguing with themselves on the screen. Some compositional ideas incorporated are articulations of Elements of Dance related to the content of reflection, body manipulation, mirroring, exploration of pathways, explorations of entrance and exits and varied shape and motion possibilities.
A Cleanse
(Dance on Screen)
Choreographers/Performers: Dr. Hannah Park, Prof. Lisa Harvie
Videographer: Dr. Gilliean Lee
Music: "JennyLauren2" by Michael Wall
Note: This screen dance aims to express collective voices and identity of the faculty/artists involved with the program through individual site-specific explorations on a given space with a focus on the embodiment of cleansing.
Intent
Choreographers: Dr. Hannah Park in collaboration with the dancers
Performers: Madison Anderson, Laura Arroyo, Leslie Aguirre, Haley Aversa, Breanna Bass, Brittney Castro, Samantha D’Agostino, Elizabeth DeLeo, Chiara Fabiano, Daniela Gregarek, Lara Lyn Jackson, Lillian Johnson, Khris-Annecia Lewis, Isabella Lopane, Laila Ojeda, Jennifer Romain, Victoria Shinnick, Melanie Vazque-Ponce
Music: "Escape Artist" by Zoe Keating
Note: This dance explores individual and collective physical and internal expressions and ideas on intention through the exploration of relationships, pathways, and visuals.
Overcoming
Choreographer/Performer: Victoria Shinnick
Music: "Reflection" (Mulan 2020) Originally Performed by Christina Aguilera, edited by Victoria Shinnick
Note: This dance piece highlights the ebb and flow within the process of overcoming obstacles through integrating ballet movement vocabularies and articulating possible movement qualities that represent the idea of exploring physical representations of beauty within the experience.
La Cultura
Choreographer/Performer: Laura Arroyo
Music: A Mi Manera by Gipsy Kings
Dance Film: Laura Arroyo
Note: The piece focusing on Latinx movement styles and experimentation explores the integration of three different styles of Latinx dance forms- Tango, Salsa, and Bomba. The dance reflects the dancer’s journey of dance and its possible role in shaping one’s cultural identity.
Bring Back the Love
Choreographer/Performer: Khris Annecia Lewis
Music: "Higher Love" by Kygo, Whitney Houston
Note: This dance explores lightheartedness and playfulness as it highlights various inspirations for meanings of love.
Power of Mind
Choreographer/Performer: Jennifer W. Romain
Music: "Eights 120" by London Dance Collective and "Enemy" (From the series Arcane) by Imagine Dragons, Arcane and League of Legends, edited by Jennifer W. Romain
Note: This piece examines the relationship between inner-outer through explorations of the interplay between actions and reactions through experimentations with gestures, movement dynamics and call and response.
Girl throughout the Seasons
Choreographer/Performer: Elizabeth DeLeo
Music: "MacArthur Park" by Donna Summer
Note: The dance highlights the meaning of change and learning from the past and its necessity in life as one reflects on the past and invites the future.
Reflection on “Hate”
Choreographer/Performer: Isabella Lopane
Music: "God Must Hate Me" by Catie Turner
Note: This piece explores one’s internal struggle and its possible influence on self-esteem through exploration of mirroring, shapes, and gestural studies.
An Excerpt from “Immersion”: A Work in Progress (Dance On Screen)
Choreographer/Performer: Dr. Hannah Park
Music: The Introspecting by Pete Kuzma
Note: The piece somatically examines various visuals and sensations that may symbolize hope through immersion of bodily reflection on integrity, imagination, and faith and its possible complexity.
“Mein Herr” and “Cabaret” from the musical Cabaret
Choreographer: Prof. Lisa Harvie
Performers: Madison Anderson, Khris Annecia Lewis, Laura Arroyo, Haley Aversa, Samantha D’Agostino, Elizabeth DeLeo, Isabella Lopane, Jennifer Romain, Victoria Shinnick
Music: Version from Fosse/Verdon FX Miniseries, John Kander (music), Fred Ebb (lyrics), Alex Lacamoire (music director) Steve Gizicki (music supervisor)
Note: Life on stage is often an escape from reality. Within that escape, though, is a world wherein there is freedom to explore, to experiment, to show off, and to reflect on our deepest dreams and desires. “Life is a cabaret old chum, come to the cabaret!”
Fall 2021
Theatre: The Weir
In a bar in rural Ireland, the local men swap folklore stories in an attempt to impress a young woman from Dublin who recently moved into a nearby house. However, the tables are soon turned when she spins a tale of her own.
Watch Now: The Weir
Moments from The Weir
Spring 2021
Theatre: An Ideal Husband
Photo Gallery: An Ideal Husband
2021 Visual Arts Exhibition
Iona College Dance Ensemble: Social Justice in Motion
Choreographers: Dr. Hannah Park in collaboration with the dancers
Videographer: Nicholas Carter
Performers: Madison Anderson, Laura Arroyo, Haley Aversa, Olivia Conte, Elizabeth DeLeo, Sierra Emener,Eileen Exama, Megan Fisher, Isabella Lopane, Sarai Perez,Jennifer Romain Melanie Sena, Victoria Shinnick
Music: Rhythm Talks by Groove Junkie by Kyle Preston
This dance uses the movement train structure (inspired by Mitchell Rose’s Exquisite Corps) as it examines specific issues related to social justice that are important to each of the dancers. These include various types of mental illnesses, the Black Lives Matter movement, domestic abuse, sexual violence, and LGBTQ, among others, for a continued choreographic exploration of individual expression within a chosen space, capturing personal perceptions of the details of the space and the environment in relation to the issue through embodiment. The process involved integrating and connecting with dance, visual art and/or images, research, and storytelling coming from one’s own experience and perspectives to highlight the need for bringing awareness of inclusiveness and social justice.
Choreographers: Dr. Hannah Park in collaboration with the dancers
Videographer: Nicholas Carter
Performers: Madison Anderson, Laura Arroyo, Haley Aversa, Olivia Conte, Elizabeth DeLeo, Sierra Emener, Eileen Exama, Megan Fisher, Isabella Lopane Sarai Perez, Jennifer Romain, Melanie Sena, Victoria Shinnick
Music: One Earth, One People, One Love by Terry Riley, Kronos Quartet
The piece highlights the need for people to be heard, understood, and embraced as it explores each individual dancer’s perceptions and embodied expressions of different social justice issues that have been revealed and experienced in the past year.
Choreographer/Performer: Dr. Hannah Park
Music: Skirmish by Kyle Preston
Using selected action words related to pulling and reaching as metaphors, the dance examines the need to speak, and reach out in order to validate, understand, and reflect on justice, injustice, and equity.
Choreographer: Ms. Lisa Harvie
Videographer: Nicholas Carter
Performers: Madison Anderson, Olivia Conte, Megan Fisher, Victoria Shinnick
Music & Lyrics: Shine on Your Shoes by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz performed by Liza Minnelli
Originally from the Broadway musical The Band Wagon, this piece focuses on the idea of stepping forward with a purpose and eagerness to maintain a positive attitude and to better ourselves and the people around us. “With a shine on your shoes, there’s a melody in your heart…” Thus, simple acts start with one step at a time.
Choreographer/Performer: Laura Arroyo
Music: My Future by Billie Eilish
This piece experiments with the idea of women’s empowerment by examining different colors and aspects of female power and its relationship with one’s background, history, thoughts, and body.
Choreographers/Performers: Madison Anderson, Haley Aversa
Music: Lost in Thought by Jon Hopkins
This piece highlights awareness of suicide and examines ideas related to suicide through various physical and emotional expressions.
Choreographer/Performer: Megan Fisher
Music: Driver’s License x Praying by Olivia Rodrigo and Kesha
This piece examines the challenges and reality surrounding mental illness, specifically anxiety, and its possibly uncontrollable varied emotions and states.
Choreographer/Performer: Jennifer Romain
Music: Natural by Imagine Dragon, Woman by Kesha
This piece explores the general norms in society and one’s struggle to blend in because of one’s unique preferences and identity.
Choreographers/Performers: Olivia Conte, Elizabeth DeLeo
Music: You Don’t Own Me by SAYGRACe and G-Eazy
This piece highlights domestic abuse and its psychological impact.
Choreographer: Ms. Lisa Harvie
Videographer: Nicholas Carter
Performers: Madison Anderson, Laura Arroyo, Haley Aversa, Olivia Conte, Elizabeth DeLeo, Megan Fisher, Isabella Lopane Sarai Perez, Jennifer Romain, Victoria Shinnick
Music: “In the Heights” Original Broadway Cast Recording Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Originally from Broadway’s In the Heights, this piece focuses on the importance of community and social connection. In both joyful and challenging times, we depend on the people within our own circles to continue moving forward.