Dancing Uphill 2017 (photo by Lindsay Raymondjack)

Fall 2019

Annual Site Performance Project

Quantum Complications

The light is the beginning of quantum. The smallest particles of energy travel through empty spaces.
The lines confine the spaces. Pulsating energy collides and shapes the unknown.
The paper is the macro lenses of quantum complications.


Working in the new Discovery Hall, this site-specific performance intends to bring art and science together. Influenced by the work of Debra Weisberg, Tape Drawings, faculty Paula Higa and students examine quantum physics, the vast space between areas, and atomic turbulences.

Friday & Saturday, November 8 & 9, 2019
Discovery Hall
Two shows each night: 5:30 & 7:00 PM
Tickets: $5, general admission (cash or check only at the door)
NOTE: Limited availability. Please contact RTTTickests@uvm.edu to make a reservation

Vermont College Dance Exchange

Friday & Saturday, November 1-2, 2019
Middlebury College
 
The sixth annual gathering of dance students and faculty from around the Green Mountain State. A collection of master classes and choreography showings!
Contact Paul.Besaw@uvm.edu for more information or if you would like to participate.
 

Student Choreography Showcase #1

Sunday, November 3, 2019
7:00 PM
Music Recital Hall (Redstone Campus)
Free and open to the public.
 
Come see original work by UVM student Choreographers.
 

End-of-Semester Dance Showing (Fall)

Friday, December 6, 2019
4:00 PM
Free and open to the public.
 
Presentation of class projects and independent student  work. Coordinated by faculty member Paula Higa. Contact phiga@uvm.edu if you would like to present something.

 

Spring 2019

Paula Higa Dance & Ers: Urbano

Friday & Saturday, May 10-11, 2019 – 7:30 pm
Main Street Landing Black Box Theater
DISCOUNT CODE: UVMSTUDENT
Student Tickets: $15
www.paulahiga.com

Urbano is an immersive perormance of dance, music, and visuals inspired by urban experience. Artistic director Paula Higa. Visual art director Matthew Binginot.

End-of-Semester Dance Showing (Spring)

Friday, May 3, 2019 - 4:00 PM
Southwick Hall Ballroom (Redstone Campus)
Free and open to the public

Presentation of class projects and independent student work. Coordinated by faculty member Paula Higa. Contact phiga@uvm.edu if you would like to present something!

Masterclass with Ballet Hispánico

Monday, April 22, 12-1:30 PM
Cohen Hall Dance Studio

Ballet Hispánico practices a bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance that reflects America’s changing cultural landscape. Join company members for an exciting masterclass that will develop and hone your technical skills.

This masterclass will take place at UVM's Cohen Hall Dance Studio (14 S. Williams Street). Open to intermediate to advanced level dancers ages 15 and up.

Participation is free but space is limited. Reserve your spot by emailing Madeline at mbell@flynncenter.org.

Improvisation Laboratory

Saturday, April 13, 2019

• Workshop for All – 9:00-12:00 (Hannah Dennison)
• Workshop for Experienced Improvisors – 1:00-4:00 (Susan Sgorbati)
Cohen Hall Dance Studio
Limited Free Spots for UVM Students/Faculty/Staff
Contact pbesaw@uvm.edu to register.

American College Dance Association 2019

April 4-7, 2019
Plymouth State University

Students, faculty, and staff will be traveling to Plymouth State University to attend the annual ACDA New England Conference. Student work from UVM will be presented and students will take part in a whole array of master classes.

Please contact Paul.Besaw@uvm.edu if you are interested in participating.

Improvisation Laboratory

Saturday, March 30, 2019
• Workshop for All – 9:00-12:00 (Hannah Dennison)
• Workshop for Experienced Improvisors – 1:00-4:00 (Susan Sgorbati)
Cohen Hall Dance Studio
Limited Free Spots for UVM Students/Faculty/Staff
Contact pbesaw@uvm.edu to register.

Dancing Uphill 2019

Wednesday, March 20th - Saturday, March 23rd, 7:30 PM nightly
Mann Gymnasium (Trinity Campus)
208 Colchester Ave.

Highlighting UVM dance student performers, the concert includes choreography by UVM dance faculty, UVM composition students, and professional guest dance artists. The show will feature works by dance students Abby Enders, Anna Gibson, Meghan McClure, Zoey November, and Chloe Schafer; dance faculty Julian Barnett, Paula Higa, and Lynn Ellen Schimoler; guest choreographer Alexander Hille. Directed by Paula Higa; technical direction and design coordination by Bert Crosby.

Doors open at 7:00 PM, with special performances by Bella and the Notables.

Ticket Information
Tickets: $10 with student ID; $15 general admission.

Buy tickets anytime online. A small service fee will be charged for phone and online orders.

Advance purchase at Royall Tyler Theatre Box Office, walk-up or phone (802-656-2094). RTT box office hours are:


Tuesday, March 19 from 12noon to 4pm
Wednesday, March 20 from 12noon to 4pm
Thursday, March 21 from 12noon to 4pm
Friday, March 22 from 11am to 3pm

Tickets will also be on sale for each show at the door, subject to availability. Cash or check only. We strongly recommend advance purchase for the Friday and Saturday shows.

Master Class in Improvisation with Brazilian Choreographer Dr. Zilá Muniz

Dr. Zilá Muniz earned her PhD in Theater from the State University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Since 1999, Dr. Muniz has been the artistic director and choreographer of the contemporary dance Grupo Ronda. In her workshop, students will explore compositional skills through improvisation to activate the imagination. Each encounter addresses a theme applied as a research to allow the bodies to find rhythms, times, textures, sororities, spaces "between" and above all, the consciousness to create movement. The classes are structured in the form of collaborating in the creation, looking at the material of the other and talking about the compositions that take place. That is, we dance, watch and talk.

Guest Artist Residency - Alexander Hille

February 1-5, 2019

Events include:
• Contemporary Dance Master Class
                Monday, February 4 – 12:00 – 1:45 pm (Cohen Dance Studio)
                FREE and open to the public
• Ballet Master Class
                Tuesday, February 5 – 10:05-11:20 am (Patrick Dance Studio)
                FREE and open to the public

Fall 2018

Student Choreography Showcase #2

Sunday, December 9, 2018 - 7:00 PM
Music Recital Hall (Redstone Campus)
Free and open to the public.

Come see original work by UVM student choreographers:

Abby Enders
Anna Gibson
Meghan Letizia
Meghan McClure
Flannery Mehigan
Avanna Menard
Benny Nduwayo
Zoey November
Allison Piette
Chloe Schafer

End-of-Semester Dance Showing (Fall)

Friday, December 7, 2018 - 4:00 PM
Southwick Hall Ballroom (Redstone Campus)
Free and open to the public

Presentation of class projects and independent student work. Coordinated by Paul Besaw. Contact Paul.Besaw@uvm.edu if you would like to present something!

Improvisation Laboratory

Saturdays: October 13 and November 10, 2018

Workshop for All – 9:00-12:00 (Hannah Dennison)

Workshop for Experienced Improvisors – 1:00-4:00 (Susan Sgorbati)

Cohen Center

Limited Free Spots for UVM Students/Faculty/Staff

Contact pbesaw@uvm.edu to register.

Dancing Uphill Auditions

Monday, November 5, 2018 - 7:00 PM
Mann Gym (Trinity Campus)

Come prepared to learn new dance sequences and improvisational structures. Emphasis on creating a comfortable environment where everybody can have fun and show the best of themselves! Auditions for projects by choreographers Julian Barnett, Paula Higa, guest artist Alexander Hille, and students of DNCE 160. Dancing Uphill takes place March 21-23, 2019.

If you have a time conflict, please contact Paula.Higa@uvm.edu

Student Choreography Showcase #1

Sunday, November 4, 2018 - 7:00 PM
Music Recital Hall (Redstone Campus)
Free and open to the public.

*NEW DATE* - Changed from original date of October 14.

Come see original work by UVM student choreographers:

Abby Enders
Anna Gibson
Meghan Letizia
Meghan McClure
Flannery Mehigan
Avanna Menard
Benny Nduwayo
Zoey November
Allison Piette
Chloe Schafer

Vermont College Dance Exchange

Friday, November 2 & Saturday, November 3, 2018
University of Vermont

The fifth annual gathering of dance students and faculty from around the Green Mountain State. A great collection of master classes and choreography showings!

Contact Blair.Bean@uvm.edu for more information or if you would like to participate!

Fall Site Performance Project: Invisible Site

Invisible Site is a new site-specific performance created by UVM’s Music and Dance Artist in Residence Julian Barnett. The performance utilizes UVM’s brand new Cohen Integrative Arts Center as its frame to excavate themes of identity, community, and the potential. With a cast of performers of UVM students, live music by Barnett, and lighting design by Bert Crosby, the performance explores the metaphor of invisibility, as well as hyper-visibility, as a way of foreseeing and processing the future, and paints a world that moves, shifts, and vibrates with resonance.

The performance will traverse the various rooms, halls, and stairways of the Cohen Center and will run approximately 40min.

Limited audience capacity (25 per performance). Admission is $5 (cash or check at door).

We have already reserved all tickets for all four shows, but anyone not already on the list or waitlist is welcome to come to the door a few minutes before showtime to inquire about available spots. We will do our best to accommodate additional audience members at each performance.

Four Performances:
Friday, October 26 at 5pm and 7pm
Saturday, October 27 at 5pm and 7pm

Direction by Julian Barnett
Choreography by Julian Barnett, in collaboration with the performers
Performance by Tessa Barnett, Giovanna Carlson, Claire Cook, Katie Henry, Dina Posada, Nick Spaulding-Tansey, and Natalie Tikhomirova
Sound by Julian Barnett, Andy Stott, and Murcof
Lighting Assistance by Bert Crosby
Photo Art by Antony Gormley

POLLY MOTLEY: Falling Downstairs

Wednesday, October 3, 2018 – 6:00 pm

UVM Fleming Museum

Free with UVM ID

Features solo work by dance artist Polly Motley and an additional new piece with UVM dance students.

Vermont Dance Sampler

Saturday, September 8, 2018
7:30 PM
Music Recital Hall (Redstone Campus)

Admission: $5 w/ UVM ID; $15 general admission(cash or check at the door, please!)

Presented by the UVM Department of Music and Dance in collaboration with the Vermont Dance Alliance. The evening will feature works by:

All of Us (improvisation ensemble led by Hanna Satterlee)
Julian Barnett
Peggy Brightman/Moving Spirit Dance
Danielle Erb/Erb Dance Company
Paula Higa/Paula Higa Dance & Ers
Toni Nagy
Danielle Tekut & Jessie Owens

Feminism, Global Love, and Belly Dance: Master Class with Toni Nagy & Cyndal Ellis

Saturday, September 8, 2018 – 1:30-3:00 PM
Cohen Center (former Taft School)

Open to all levels.

Free and open to the public

Belly dance is not only an ancient tradition of healing, fertility, and celebration - it's also a feminist act. Learn the basics of belly dance, enjoy the organic movement of your body, and gift yourself with the opportunity to learn about another culture. Offered as part of the Vermont Dance Sampler collaboration with the Vermont Dance Alliance.

Dance Program – Fall Auditions

Monday, September 3, 2018
7:00-8:30pm - Auditions
8:30pm - Social for current/prospective dance minors and anyone interested in dance!
Mann Gymnasium (Trinity Campus)

Come prepared to learn new dance sequences and improvisational structures. Emphasis on creating a comfortable environment where everybody can have fun and show the best of themselves!

Auditions for the following projects:

DNCE 175 Dance Repertory: Faculty member Lynn Ellen Schimoler will set a new dance work on students; to be performed in the annual spring Dancing Uphill concert (see spring event listing below).
DNCE 177 Site Performance Practicum: Artist-in-Residence Julian Barnett will direct a new site specific performance that will be created and performed in the fall semester (see event listing below).
Dance projects created by composition students enrolled in DNCE 160.
(Note: if you have a time conflict that you absolutely cannot adjust, but would like to be considered, please contact Paula.Higa@uvm.edu!)


2017-2018

Spring 2018

Paula Higa Dance & ErS: In/Voluntary Motion - Encounters - Blue Rewind

Saturday, May 5, 2018 - 7:00 pm
Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Black Box Theater
60 Lake Street, Burlington, VT
Tickets: $25 general public, $20 seniors, $15 students (link to purchase)

ft. guest choreographer: Paul Besaw

End-of-Semester Dance Showing (Spring)

Friday, May 4, 2018 - 4:00 PM
Southwick Hall Ballroom (Redstone Campus)
Free and open to the public

Presentation of class projects and independent student work, coordinated by faculty member Paula Higa. 

Spring Advanced Unraveling Improvisation - UnShowing

Saturday, April 21st, 2018 - 4:00PM
UVM Recital Hall
featuring work from Advanced Improvisation Class: Anna Gibson, Emma Hintz, Molly Kaye, Di Lu, Flannery Mehigan, Yismerai Ojeda, and Sarah Whetzle. For more info, contact Prof. Clare Byrne at csbyrne@uvm.edu.

Balinese Dance Master Class with CARLOS FITTANTE

Tuesday, April 3 – 5:05-6:45 pm (Mann Gym)
FREE and open to the public
Financial Support provided by the Humanities Center, Global and Regional Studies Program, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and from the Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.

Mexican Traditional Dance Master Class with MIGUEL PEÑA

Tuesday, March 27 – 11:40 am – 12:55 pm (Mann Gym)
FREE and open to the public
Financial Support provided by the Humanities Center, Global and Regional Studies Program, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and from the Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.

Dancing Uphill

Thursday, March 22 - 7:00 PM
Friday, March 23 - 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Saturday, March 24 - 7:00 PM & 9:00 PM
Mann Gymnasium (Trinity Campus)

Highlighting UVM dance student performers, the concert includes choreography by UVM dance faculty, UVM composition students, and professional guest dance artists. The show will feature works by dance faculty Paul Besaw & Lois Trombley and Julie Peoples-Clark, and guest artists Ephrat Asherie and Avi Waring. Directed by Besaw; technical direction and design coordination by Bert Crosby.

Tickets: $10. Buy tickets online through Royall Tyler Theatre website through 3pm on Friday or pay cash/check at the door, subject to availability

Dance with the Burlington Chamber Orchestra

Saturday, March 3 & Sunday, March 4, 2018
7:30 PM
Music Recital Hall (Redstone Campus)

This concert is presented by the Burlington Chamber Orchestra in collaboration with the UVM Dance Program. Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of Faun” with new choreography by Paul Besaw, and Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” with choreography by Clare Byrne. Yutaka Kono, artistic director. Paul Besaw and Clare Byrne, choreographers. Tickets available now! $30 general admission; $10 students with ID. Visit flynntix.org or call 802-86-FLYNN

Contemporary/Hip Hop Dance Master Class with NICHOLAS LEICHTER

Friday, March 2 – 1:15-2:45 pm (Patrick Dance Studio)

Contemporary/Hip Hop Dance Master Class. FREE and open to the public

American College Dance Association 2018

February 15-18, 2018
Boston University

Students, faculty, and staff will be traveling to Boston University to attend the annual ACDA New England Conference. Student work from UVM will be presented and students will take part in a whole array of master classes.

Please contact Paul.Besaw@uvm.edu if you are interested in participating.

Guest Artist Residency – Ephrat Asherie

Residency: February 3-6, 2018

Contemporary Dance Master Class

                Monday, February 5 – 10:55 am – 12:40 pm (Mann Gym)
                FREE and open to the public

Hip Hop Master Class
                Tuesday, February 6 – 1:15-2:30 pm (Mann Gym)
                FREE and open to the public

New York City-based dance artist Ephrat Asherie's residency includes setting a new dance work on students for Dancing Uphill (see event listing below), as well as open master classes in contemporary dance technique and hip hop.

Improvisation Workshop with ROB SCHWIMMER – Theremin, Piano, Haken Continuum

Thursday, January 25 – 6:15-7:15 pm (Southwick Hall 301/Ballroom)
FREE and open to the public
Live Music & Dance Improvisation Workshop Featuring ROB SCHWIMMER – Theremin, Piano, Haken Continuum. Dance Improvisation Led by Clare Byrne. Presented in collaboration with the UVM Lane Series.

Fall 2017

Student Choreography Showcase #2

Sunday, December 10, 2017 - 7:00 PM
Music Recital Hall (Redstone Campus)
Free and open to the public.

Come see original work by UVM student choreographers.

End-of-Semester Dance Showing (Fall)

Friday, December 8, 2017 - 4:00 PM
Southwick Hall Ballroom (Redstone Campus)
Free and open to the public

Presentation of class projects and independent student work. Coordinated by Paul Besaw. Contact Paul.Besaw@uvm.edu if you would like to present something!

Vermont College Dance Festival

Friday & Saturday, November 10 & 11
Marlboro College

Don't miss the fourth annual gathering of dance students and faculty from around the Green Mountain State. A great collection of performances and master classes! Contact Paul.Besaw@uvm.edu for more information or if you would like to participate!

Dance Program - Spring Auditions

Sunday, November 5, 2017
Date/Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
**NEW LOCATION** Music Building Recital Hall
Come prepared to learn new dance sequences and improvisational structures. Emphasis on creating a comfortable environment where everybody can have fun and show the best of themselves!

Auditions for three projects, all dances to be performed in the annual spring Dancing Uphill concert (see event listing below):
• Choreography by guest artist Ephrat Asherie (residency to take place February 3-7, 2018).
• Choreography by faculty member Julie Peoples-Clark
• Choreography by faculty members Paul Besaw & Lois Trombley (in collaboration)

(Note: if you have a time conflict that you absolutely cannot adjust, but would like to be considered, please contact Paul.Besaw@uvm.edu.)


Site Performance Project: Feminine Malady

Friday November 3 & Saturday, November 4
Two shows each day: 5:30 & 7:00 pm
UVM Alumni House (61 Summit Street)
Tickets: $5 (cash or check only, please).
Limited capacity (25 people per show).

Directed by Paula Higa, in collaboration with UVM dance students. Lighting Designer: Bert Crosby.

The performance takes place at the new UVM Alumni House. This beautiful historical house was built during the Victorian era for Edward Wells, who built his fortune in the manufacture of patent medicines. Fortune for some and misfortune for others. Victorian women were expected to be submissive, sweet, and self-sacrificing.  Any woman going in the opposite direction would be restrained from her dreams and ambitions, ending up in asylums to treat her mental illness. This performance is an open diary, a research on the life of many women from the past two centuries who could not find their freedom.

Student Choreography Showcase #1

Sunday, October 22, 2017 – 7:00 PM
Music Recital Hall (Redstone Campus)
Free and open to the public. Come see original work by UVM student choreographers Jieru Chen, Hannah Loughlin, Di Lu, Anna Martone, Sophia Navarre, Yismerai Ojeda, and Mi Tian.

LOOKING DEEPER (Fall Improvisation Workshops)

For the second year in a row, the UVM Dance Program is partnering with the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in presenting Looking Deeper, a contemporary dance workshop series that focuses on training and exploration in the art of improvisation. Each 4-hour workshop will be led by a professional dance artist from the greater Vermont community. Open to UVM students/faculty/staff and the public.

Saturday workshops are open to all dancer/performers.
Sunday workshops are for dancers with more experience.

Fall dates (the workshop time for each day listed is 12:00 – 4:00 pm):

  • Saturday, October 14 – Hannah Dennison
  • Sunday, October 15 – Susan Sgorbati
  • Saturday, December 2 – Lida Winfield
  • Sunday, December 3 – Penny Campbell

Location: Mann Gym (Trinity Campus)

NOTE: There is a fee for these workshops, but a limited number of free and reduced rate spots are available for UVM community members. Contact Paul.Besaw@uvm.edu if you have questions about this opportunity or would like to participate.

The Storytellers

Tuesday, September 26, 2017
7:00 PM
Music Building Recital Hall

Choreographer Joy Madden and a spirited company of dancers spin a tale of heartbreak, humor and overcrowding in an Irish Catholic family.

Created by Joy Madden; Performed by Mireya Guerra, Jessie Owens, Jenna Giguere, David Kreiss-Tomkins, Laila Copperansky, and Joy Madden.

Free and open to the public

Vermont/Nebraska Dance Sampler

Thursday & Friday, September 7 & 8, 2017 – 7:30 PM
Music Recital Hall (Redstone Campus)
Admission: $5 (cash or check at the door, please!)

This performance supports ongoing collaborations between dance at the University of Vermont and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The evening will feature dance works from three dance groups:

sloDance (Lincoln, NE)
Artistic Director: Susan Levine Ourada, with guest choreographers Paul Besaw and Hye-Won Hwang
Paula Higa Dance & Ers (Burlington, VT)
Artistic Director: Paula Higa
Embi (Lincoln, NE)
Artistic Directors: Marisol Herling and Beth Jensen

Dance Program – Fall Auditions

Tuesday, September 5, 2017
7:00-9:00 pm
Mann Gymnasium (Trinity Campus)

Come prepared to learn new dance sequences and improvisational structures. Emphasis on creating a comfortable environment where everybody can have fun and show the best of themselves!

Auditions for the following projects:

  • DNCE 175 Dance Repertory: Guest Artist Avi Waring will set a dynamic new dance work on students; to be performed in the annual spring Dancing Uphill concert (see spring event listing below).
  • DNCE 177 Site Performance Practicum: Faculty member Paula Higa will direct a new site-specific performance that will be created and performed in the fall semester (see event listing below).
  • Dance projects created by composition students enrolled in DNCE 160/260.

(Note: if you have a time conflict that you absolutely cannot adjust, but would like to be considered, please contact Paul.Besaw@uvm.edu.)