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A self-aware, hyper-dramatic portrayal of the pressures of performativity, where the façade of exterior expressions are broken because, regarding life itself, it’s not that serious.

Debut: “Why We Are,” DANC 378 Performance, April 2024

Dancers: Cassidy Baratta, Frieda Dangerfield, Madeline Hsiao, Cruz Nuñez, Abby Rice, Dana Tagliaferro

Music: “Requiem in D Minor, K. 626: IIIf. Sequentia. Lacrimosa” - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. “Velvet Belly - Remastered” - This Mortal Coil. “Stabat Mater” - Woodkid. “Nautilus” - Anna Meredith. Opening words to Ohad Naharin’s ‘Minus 16.” “It’s Over” - Roy Orbison. “Violin Concerto: III - -” - Philip Glass, Adele Anthony, Ulster Orchestra, Taku Yuasa. “Sensitivity Training” - Mandy, Indiana. “Daylight And The Sun” - Antony and the Johnsons, ANOHNI.

Photo by Luke Ullmann

View Performance in Loeb (videography by Craig Bonheur)

Challenging the separation between performers and spectators, Reciprocal Visions re-situates who is viewing whom in the dance performance space. Dancers, as forms of embodied art, are themselves responsive to their environment in ways similar to how audiences react to the performance. How do the audience, the lighting, and sensational experiences physiologically change the dancers’ realization of the performance? Placing cognitive science and dance into a direct dialogue, this thesis performance of original choreography will measure the dancers’ physiological reactions to their environment and to the audience’s visibility.

Debut: MODfest, in the Loeb in January 2024 and in the VRDT performance in February 2024.

Dancers: Julia Dawson, Maria Dean, Paige Glover, Lilli Palmer, Courtney Spero, Dana Tagliaferro & Clara Alger, Helen Ambrose, Cassidy Baratta, Jacob Geiger, Emma Mazloom, Yoshi Sanders

Music: "Scoops Troop" by Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein. "Derezzed - Remixed by the Glitch Mob" by Daft Punk & The Glitch Mob. "Entering the Fog" by Jivolet, "Peach Fuzz" by Mandy, Indiana.

Photo by Karl Rabe/Vassar College

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A celebration of sexiness and owning one’s pleasure, expressed through a sense of play inspired by camp-esque and exaggerated sensibilities.

Debut: Flypeople Spring Showcase 2024

Dancers: Alex Spitzer, Cassidy Baratta, Ciara Tate, Courtney Spero, Jack Holloway, Kelly Fagel, Maya Lopez, Noe Rueschemeyer-Bailey, Olivia Sparks, Sara Hoskins, Tala, Yoshi Sanders

Music: "MOTOMAMIS" by Rosalía. "SAOKO" by Rosalía

Photo by Zoë LaCheen-Fine

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This work investigates how the performance itself is an element of society that simultaneously operates as an escapist event and one that mirrors some facet of human nature. I think about the ways in which performances have existed for centuries, dynamically adapting with time.

Debut: Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre Fall Concert, November 2023

Dancers: Julia Dawson, Paige Glover, Eva Gubitz-Hess, Zoë LaCheen-Fine, Emma Mazloom, Liana Tortora, Anjali Turchiano

Music: “The Gulag Orkestar” by Beirut, “Brandenberg” by Beirut

Photo by Jade Hsin

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“Juncture” was selected to perform in the 13th annual Young Choreographer’s Festival.

Date: June 23rd, 2023

Dancers: Cassidy Baratta, Camryn Spero (performed in place of Jalene Medina), Courtney Spero, Dana Tagliaferro, Laura Tylinska, Sophie Wang

Music: “Gathering” by Forest Swords

Photo by Jaqi Medlock

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A continuous, prolonged act of falling out of one’s self, abstracting the acts of leaning on and crashing into others in the process.

Debut: Vassar Dance Department Spring Showcase, May 2023

Dancers: Helen Ambrose, Julia Dawson, Paige Glover, Courtney Spero

Music: "Viola d'amore Concerto in D Major, RV 392: III. Allegro" by Antonio Vivaldi

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A pseudo-investigation of my own times of weakness, and how I reconciled the ways I could have found strength, the piece is a contrast between strength-from-assertiveness and strength-from-release

Debut: Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre Final Showings, November 2022

Dancers: Lily Gee, Olivia Gotsch, Jalene Medina, Cruz Núñez, Courtney Spero

Music: “Vienna” by Ultravox

Photo by Yesmina Townsley

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A thematic exploration of dependency and power struggles, how we exist in a power balance with others that rises, breaks, and is ultimately rebuilt again.

Debut: Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre Spring Showings, April 2022

Dancers: Cassidy Baratta, Jalene Medina, Yoshi Sanders, Emily Tieu, Laura Tylinska, Sophie Wang

Music: “Gathering” by Forest Swords

Photo by Yesmina Townsley

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A high-energy celebration of love, empowerment, and community. Inspired by my friends, to be shared with friends.

Debut: Flypeople Fall Showcase 2022

Dancers: Christie Burnside, Kathryn Carvel, Hannah Dagen, Jack Holloway, Bella Kimbrough, Emma Mazloom, Noe Rueschemeyer-Bailey, Rory Thompson

Music: “Clearest Blue” by CHRVCHES

Photo by Yesmina Townsley

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Groovy and eclectic, drawing on sources ranging from post-modern contemporary to flirtatious social dancing. Eager to play, to interact, and to express.

Debut: Flypeople Spring Showcase 2022

Dancers: Sofia Baah, Zoe Bauland, Sloane Burling, Emily Lesorogol, Noe Rueschemeyer-Bailey

Music: “Queen of Boredness” by Kinney and Diesler

Photo by Yesmina Townsley

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The explosion of a moment, an overwhelming wave of love and passion unlike anything you have experienced before.

Debut: Flypeople Fall Showcase 2021

Dancers: Alex Spitzer, Cassidy Baratta, Crystal Wang, Emma Mazloom, Hannah Dagen, Rory Thompson, Victoria Tager-Geffner, and Yoshi Sanders

Music: “Drumming Song” by Florence + The Machine

Photo by Brian Santos