Iona University Dance Ensemble (IUDE)

The pandemic has reminded us of various patterns that are present in our lives, whether they are external phenomenon and happenings or internal and intuitive patterns. This semester, the Iona University Dance Ensemble members used dance and the creative process as tools to be attentive to the patterns that are present and to explore them through embodiment.

As a director, it was an honor to witness the dancers reflecting on patterns that are noticeable to them through sharing, dance making, and performing.

Even with the limitations due to mandated safety practices, we are pleased to have produced ensemble pieces. Throughout the process, the dancers sought to explore the meaning of patterns from their own perspectives. Besides a contemporary ensemble piece on patterns of chaos observed in our lives and the ensemble’s dance film-based piece that highlights each dancer’s observations of patterns in a given space, the program also includes a prologue piece, a dance on screen that shows 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, “Cinema Italiano” from Nine, highlights an artist’s interpretation of the patterns of color that surround us and the images that grab our attention.

Additionally, we have student choreographers’ solos and duet jazz dance projects that explore internal patterns toward a relationship or oneself. We congratulate all the performers for their work as creative artists, thinkers, and collaborators. 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 expressions of various colors of patterns present in our lives from the perspectives of our performers and choreographers. It is my hope that the program will provide appreciation of the art of dance and the beauty of life even in the midst of these present times.

As always, the Dance Ensemble expresses its deep gratitude for your continued generous support.

Dr. Hannah Park
Director of Iona University Dance Ensemble
Associate Professor of DANCE

Dance on Screen

Performers/Choreographers: Dr. Hannah Park, Dr. Mary S, Burns, Ms. Lisa Harvie

Videographer: Dr. Gillian Lee

Music: Mama’s Dream by Analozik

Note: As a prologue to the semester’s program titled “Colors of Patterns,” 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 confined space with focus on embodiment of the patterns of details in the space through the lens of Elements of Space.

Director: Dr. Hannah Park in collaboration with the dancers

Videographer: Dr. Gillian Lee

Performers/Choreographers: Laura Arroyo, Haley Aversa, Breanna Bass, Elizabeth DeLeo, Sierra Emener, Chiara Fabiano, Megan Fisher, Daniela Gregarek, Khris-Annecia Lewis, Isabella Lopane, Samantha Mirasola, Laila Ojeda, Sarai Perez, Jennifer Romain, Melanie Sena, Victoria Shinnick, Katheryn Thomas, Melanie Vazque-Ponce

Music: Sol by Alef

Note: This dance uses a co-created dance film that incorporated the movement train structure (inspired by Mitchell Rose’s Exquisite Corps) to examine details of patterns that are observed in our daily lives. These include various spatial designs and patterns observed in a physical space and patterns noticed internally or intuitively. The process involved integrating and connecting with dance, visual art and/or images and/or thoughts, research, storytelling coming from one’s own experience, and careful observations to highlight the various colors of patterns that are present in our lives. The performance is used as an introduction to each dancer without masks as well as each dancer’s explorations on experimenting in relation to their movements on the screen. Some compositional ideas incorporated are variations of Elements of Dance, manipulation, mirroring, exploration of pathways, and explorations of entrance and exits.

Dance On Screen

Performer/Choreographer: Dr. Hannah Park

Music: Cantorum by Penguin Cafe

Note: The piece somatically examines various patterns that our experiences imprint in all our tissues and how as we bring awareness to our bodies, our cells awaken to themselves to reveal to us the memories of these experiences which allows us to transform to embody deeper wisdom, humanity, and compassion.

Choreographer: Dr. Hannah Park in collaboration with the dancers

Performers: Laura Arroyo, Haley Aversa, Breanna Bass, Elizabeth DeLeo, Chiara Fabiano, Daniela Gregarek, Khris-Annecia Lewis, Isabella Lopane, Samantha Mirasola, Laila Ojeda, Sarai Perez, Jennifer Romain, Melanie Sena, Katheryn Thomas, Melanie Vazque-Ponce

Music: Nomadic Knights by Yves Larock

Note: Using reflections on the past years with the pandemic, the piece explores the collective voices and observations on patterns of chaos that are seen and experienced internally, physically, and phenomenologically in our daily lives.

Choreographer/Performer: Victoria Shinnick

Music: Unconditionally by Katy Perry

Note: This dance explores the ebb and flow of life and the role of love in the midst of it all through the investigation of various movement qualities associated with “Love.”

Choreographer/Performer: Elizabeth DeLeo

Music: Mercy by Duffy

Note: This dance examines factors that might constitute a toxic relationship and how the patterns might look and feel like physically through a narrative approach of conveying a young woman breaking away from a toxic relationship and finding comfort and peace within herself.

Choreographers/Performers: Haley Aversa and Jennifer W. Romain

Music: Cravin' by Stiletto and Kendyle Paige

Note: The piece explores embodied resonance coming from being controlled and hurt as the dance conveys emotional and physical patterns surrounding a complicated unhealthy relationship between two people.

Choreographer/Performer: Sierra Emener

Music - GOLDWING by Bille Eilish (edited by Sierra Emener)

Note: “In the MYnd” explores how people go through emotions in cycles. The dance aims to explore how we, as humans, can be very worn down and weathered, then joyful and free; only to be left on the ground again. This is how seasonal depression feels; it comes and goes in patterns.

Choreographer: Ms. Lisa Harvie

Performers: Khris-Annecia Lewis, Laura Arroyo, Haley Aversa, Elizabeth DeLeo, Megan Fisher, Isabella Lopane Sarai Perez, Victoria Shinnick

Music: Cinema Italiano from "Nine" (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Composed by Maury Yeston Performed by Kate Hudson

Note: This piece is performed to Cinema Italiano, an original song from the movie musical “Nine.” The story is based on the life of a gifted Italian filmmaker in the 1960’s. This particular song centers around the artist and his visionary work and what he captures through his lens. It is an artist’s interpretation of the patterns of color that surround us and the images that grab our attention.

Choreographers: Dr. Hannah Park in collaboration with the dancers
Videographer: Nicholas Carter
Performers: Olivia Conte, Elizabeth DeLeo, Haley Aversa, Madison Anderson, Melanie Sena, Sarai Perez, Victoria Shinnick, Laura Arroyo, and Isabella Lopane, Megan Fisher, Jennifer Romain
Music: Inflection Point by Kyle Preston
Painting: “Reflections” by Brother Kenneth Chapman

Note: Inspired by Mitchell Rose’s Exquisite Corps, a dance film capturing movement train as performed by 42 established contemporary choreographers, the dance uses the movement train structure with a focus on the exploration of individual expression within a given space, capturing personal perceptions of the details of the space and the environment.

Choreographer/Performer: Dr. Hannah Park
Music: Eights 120 by London Dance Collective

Note: This dance explores the meaning of resilience through the framework of Laban’s Diagonal Scale.

Choreographer: Mrs. Lisa Harvie (Guest Choreographer)
Music: All that Jazz by Ralph Burns
Performers: Olivia Conte, Elizabeth DeLeo, Haley Aversa, Madison Anderson, Melanie Sena, Sarai Perez, Victoria Shinnick, Laura Arroyo, and Isabella Lopane, Megan Fisher

Note: The dance is an excerpt of “All That Jazz” from the musical Chicago (1975). Due to the unanticipated lock down mandated by the college during which time was when the piece was scheduled to be recorded officially, this is a presentation of a work-in-progress technical rehearsal.

Choreographer/Performer: Dr. Mary S. Burns
Music: Georges Bizet-Intermezzo from "Carmen" performed by Lenny K.

Note: This dance explores finding gratitude in the midst of challenging situations.

Choreographer/Performer: Haley Aversa
Music: Text read by Ashley Ormon and recorded by Melissa Aversa

Note: This dance explores the recognition of the vulnerability that all humans experience as well as society’s hidden pressures to be perfect.

Choreographers/Performers: Laura Arroyo
Music: Caminare by Marc Anthony

Note: The dance examines passion, strength, and identity expressed through physicality and motion.

Choreographer/Videographer: Dr. Alba Vieira
Guest artist from the Federal University of Vicosa, Brazil
Performers: Trees, wind, birds, dog, tree leaves, butterfly, tree trunk, stones, cicada, the rain, white fabric, Black River (Chapada dos Vedadeiros), the sun, the sky, Alba Vieira e Kira and the cosmologies of the Brazilian indigenous people.
Music (copyright free): Wisps of Whorls by Kevin MacLoad, and Somnolent by The Tides; soundscape and ambient sound recorded and edited by Alba Vieira
Photo: Jamille Queiroz
Editing: Alba Vieira and Tatiane Taiga.
Production: Mosaico Company of Contemporary Dance

Note: This video dance honors the Brazilian indigenous people and their spiritual values. The dance was recorded in the state of Minas Gerais and in Goiás at the natural reserve called Chapada dos Veadeiros, one of the country’s most important ecological and spiritual landmarks. The two performers, Alba and Kira, reflect a young child’s sense of connection to the place where they dance, expressing respect, curiosity, joy, and peace. Playfulness guides their improvised movements. This video dance approaches dance as a lived experience and a practice of spiritual wellbeing.

Choreographers: Dr. Hannah Park in collaboration with the dancers
Performers: Olivia Conte, Elizabeth DeLeo, Haley Aversa, Madison Anderson, Melanie Sena, Sarai Perez, Victoria Shinnick, Laura Arroyo, Isabella Lopane, Megan Fisher, and Jennifer Romain
Music: Black on Black by NCT (instrumental)

Note: Using K-pop inspired movement vocabularies and music, the dance explores the meaning of community through the group’s collective understanding of power and the somatic experience of individual expression that reflects one’s identity within shared movement vocabularies, particularly during this time of pandemic.