dance at illinois
ISSUE 40 • 2026
DANCE AT ILLINOIS 1
A Nik Owens (MFA ’26), Jayla
Anderson (BFA ’27), and Jeremiah Jordan (BFA ’27) in Katherine Dunham’s Afrique, restaged by April Berry. Costumes by Chantel Renee Booker, based on original designs by John Pratt
Looking Back A Jasmine O’Connor (BA ’26),
Sofia Garcia (BFA ’28), and Jade Lajeune (BFA ’27) in Katherine Dunham’s Afrique
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Moving Forward by Sara Hook I hope by now that the myth of spontaneous or inherited, individual genius has been fully rebutted. Great artists become great because of exposure to great art and because of a nurturing, attentive community. Those stories about “making it” all alone are just stories meant to marginalize and erase people who provided inspiration, perspective, and sweat equity that they did not get credit for. Dance at Illinois teaches history through the lens of artistic achievement of groups of people and trends in thinking that were shared. No one owns the title of originator alone although many might make a cogent argument for that. But even the “greats” had mothers and fathers, siblings, grandparents, teachers, friends, colleagues, and competitors who influenced them and drove them toward artistic invention. The great costume designer Paul Tazewell of Wicked fame credits his mother and grandmother with teaching him how to see and pay attention and how to value the art in his own
home environment. Literary great Dorothy Parker was probably influenced by years of having lunch conversations with other writers and artists of the period at the Algonquin Hotel. Who knows? She might also have been influenced by her experience playing piano at a “Dancing School” to earn money in her youth. Dance at Illinois is choosing to expose and highlight the fact that art is a social phenomenon with multiple facets of contributing influences by celebrating the conscious act of collaboration this upcoming year. Faculty choreographers will be making work in groups, bumping up against each other’s practices and aesthetics to create something none of them would have made on their own. We are also collaborating with Doug Varone and Dancers, a contemporary dance company who is celebrating its 40th anniversary year. Hollis Barlett, 2nd year MFA student and former member of the Varone company, will be setting Varone’s Strict Love (1994) on our dancers for the October Dance concert. This
work, set to hit songs from the 1970s, is an ironic look at love and devotion with eerie parallel messages about the dangers of idealism and blind group allegiance. We also plan to continue our practice of collaborating on new pedagogies, ever vigilant to co-create with faculty and students on curricular enhancements. And of course, we will continue efforts to collaborate with our local community as well through partnerships with Independent Media Center, Gallery Art Bar, Urbana Dance Company, Illinois Soul, Smile Politely, and many others. In this year of acknowledging the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, it is fitting to prioritize collaboration as an art practice and as a way of life. After all, collaboration was and is key to a functioning democracy. And as Margaret Mead said,
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
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A Avi Pellegrinetti (BFA ’26), Rose
Boder (BA ’28), and Elle Kramer (BFA ’28) in Laina Reese Werner-Powell’s (BFA ’15) Echoes of the Unbroken; The Revolution Will Dance
ACDA
A faculty perspective from ACDA by Paige Cunningham Caldarella Dance at Illinois students represented our university exceptionally well this year at the American College Dance Association’s (ACDA) Central Conference at Western Illinois University. In addition to outstanding performances within the Gala Concert and Informal Concert, our students were eager to support and engage: cheering on students from other institutions, participating enthusiastically in a wide range of classes, and forging meaningful connections with peers across the Central Region. As a board member of ACDA, I served as the Peer Response Coordinator for the Central Conference, connecting colleagues across institutions to observe classes and choreography and exchange feedback, engaging in thoughtful pedagogical conversations with fellow educators that deepened my perspective on teaching and creative practice. This summer, I traveled to New York City for the annual ACDA Board Meeting at Pace University. Being part of an organization that celebrates dance in higher education makes this service especially meaningful.
A Faculty and Alums at
ACDA’s Central Conference at Western Illinois University: Sara Hook, Jacob Henss (MFA ’22), Angela Fledderman-Miller (MFA ’07), Paige Cunningham Caldarella (MFA ’07), Bevara Anderson (MFA ’22), Laina Reese Werner-Powell (BFA ’15), and KT Williams (BFA ’15); not pictured: Sarah Cullen Fuller (BFA ’00)
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ACDA experience By Jasmine O’Connor (BA ’26) What made ACDA especially memorable for me this year was the balance between growth, performance, and connection. I loved having the opportunity to attend movement classes and lectures that encouraged me to think differently about dance and artistry. Throughout the conference, I also appreciated the chance to build new relationships while strengthening friendships from past ACDA experiences. Attending ACDA my freshman year solidified my decision to pursue a dual degree in Dance & Chemistry, so ending my final ACDA experience by performing in the gala concert felt incredibly full-circle and meaningful.
A Jasmine O’Connor (BA ’26) in e g
condon’s (MFA ’26) i want to go out in quiet glory
Repertory Company Experience By Logan Radostits (BFA ’29)
Adding Dimension to the BFA Degree by Avi Pellegrinetti (BFA ’26) One of the highlights of my time at Illinois was getting to participate in a variety of certificate and minor programs. Getting my minor in Integrated Biology and my certificates in Cripistemology and Undergraduate Research allowed me to get more experience with interdisciplinary arts, as well as dip my toes into a variety of fields outside of dance. When going to such a large research institution, it can be challenging to experience all the university has to offer, especially with such an intensive degree as a BFA. Fortunately, the breadth of certificates and minors available have added so much dimension to my education. These programs have afforded me unique opportunities outside of the department, as well as helped me further personalize my degree. These experiences have made me a better scholar, student, and person, and I wouldn′t be the artist I am without them.
DAI graduate students were an important anchor for me this year, and the opportunity to work with them in our Repertory Company was paramount. Each piece of choreography asked something distinct. Ethan Rome’s (MFA ’27) work let me inhabit a tough, cool presence, channeling his modern athletic technique into smooth floor transitions that felt both grounded and effortless. Marlee Doniff’s (MFA ’27) choreography gave me room to play. The character exaggerations were genuinely fun to inhabit and helped me loosen my grip on self-consciousness. Chelsea Wahrendorf’s (MFA ’27) piece challenged me the most. The timing was complex and forced me to feel the music rather than intellectualize it. Performing these works for local area school children were some of the most rewarding moments of my first-year experience at Dance at Illinois.
A Top Row, L to R: Isabella Schwager (BA ’29), Gillian Jarett (BFA ’29),
McKenna Garcia (BA ’29), Logan Radostits (BFA ’29), Lilyana Spyrnal (BFA ’29), Kristen Der (BA ’29), Molly Brick (BFA ’29), and Abigail Sobel (BA ’29) Front Row: Katie Mason (BFA ’29), Jenna Duncan (BA ’29), Lelia Zou (BA ’29), and Jessica Ji (BA ’29)
The BA Experience by Anna Carlson (BA ’26) My time as an undergrad student has been rewarding, insightful, and the perfect amount of challenging. I pursued a dual degree in Dance and Plant Biotechnology and although they appear quite different, both have taught me to think creatively and solve complex problems. I merged these interests through my senior thesis research on bone degradation in dancers, combining scientific investigation with my passion for movement and performance. These experiences showed me how science and art can work in tandem to improve the wellbeing of others. Beyond academics, I still had plenty of time to perform in dance productions, participate in research, work on-campus jobs, and train for half marathons. With enough discipline and hard work, no dream is too big. After graduation, I will attend the University of Central Florida to pursue a Master of Science in Biotechnology where I hope to make contributions to under-explored areas of medical research!
A Anna Carlson (BA ’26) in e g condon’s (MFA ’26) i want to go out in quiet glory
A Avi Pellegrinetti (BFA ’26) in Lily Freebery’s (BFA ’26) Hiraeth
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BLACK ON BLACK; A CELEBRATION OF BLACK DANCE by Dr. Kemal Nance
The 2025–26 academic year celebrated the pervasiveness of “Blackness” in contemporary dance. We imagined an “Africa” in the reconstruction of Katherine Dunham’s 1949 classic Afrique, an artistic rendering that synthesized her field work in several countries. We marveled at Rena Butler’s Black creativity with the premiere of her dance work Les Pigeons. Dance at Illinois’ Black on Black season acknowledged the presence of Black culture as a panoply
of artistic expression, with works by our own faculty and alums, including Roxane D’Orléans Juste (with her sister Sonia), Cynthia Oliver, Alexandra Barbier, Ty Lewis (MFA ’23), Nik Owens (3rd year MFA candidate), Laina Reese Werner-Powell (BFA ’15), and myself. Amidst a renewed hatred for cultural diversity in this country, the sheer mention of the moniker incites resistance, representing what civil rights activist John Lewis coined as “good trouble.” It not only heralds the brilliance of Black people, but it also demonstrates how Blackness can serve as a portal through which the dancing body, in its wonderfully complex and varied forms, celebrates humanity.
A Logan Radostits (BFA ʼ29) and Abigail Sobel (BFA ʼ29) in Dr. Kemal Nance’s #Hippies
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DANCE AT ILLINOIS 6
IN COMMUNITY
A Members of the community at Blacks in Ballet lecture with Dr. Joselli Deans and Marilynn Dean Cleveland, photo by Walt B.
by Samuel Hanson Black on Black: A Celebration of Black Dance included a range of community-engaged events outside our department’s concerts on stage, brilliantly organized by Assistant Professor Alexandra Barbier. We kicked off at Flatlands Film Festival with a public conversation between Black faculty from DAI and the School of Art and Design. In November, Play + Wellness = Joy activated Gallery Art Bar with line-dancing and meditation led by DAI lecturer Ty Lewis, and a community documentary made in roughly 72 hours by Southern University Dance Director Roxi Victorian. Champaign photographer Walt B., founder of local production company The Safe Haven, documented these community events, and his work ended up in an April Dance Magazine article on Victorian. A lecture entitled Blacks in Ballet: Embodiment, Resilience, Representation took place at the Independent Media Center in March, featuring Marilynn Dean Cleveland, visual artist and local radio legend, and Dr. Joselli Deans, University of Utah scholar and Dance Theatre of Harlem alum. Dr. Deans was able to teach a masterclass to DREAAM, a community organization which aims to build a school-to-college pipeline for Black students. Dance at Illinois students from the Dancing in Community class also completed a residency at the Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center. We closed the season at Skateland in April with Roller Skating While Black, an interactive lecture and roller-dancing class with Kenyon College’s Isaiah Harris.
A Play + Wellness = Joy at Gallery
Art Bar with Roxi Victorian, photo by Walt B.
Throughout the year, Black DAI alums were featured at our Friday forums and NYC-based Black Dance Change Makers presented at two forums, beginning an ongoing mentorship of our Black Advocacy team.
A
Dr. Joselli Deans, Marilynn Dean Cleveland, and Alexandra Barbier
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John Toenjes A Loving Send-Off by Rebecca Nettl-Fiol He builds harpsichords … he designs software and virtual reality applications … he plays piano, harpsichord, drums … he composes music, teaches dancers about music and musicians about dance … he fixes and installs audio systems and teaches us all how to use them … he trains musicians to play for dance class … he turns dance class, no matter what the style or genre, into a dynamic and wonderous experience with his musicianship. This doesn’t even begin to describe the impact Professor and Music Director John Toenjes has had on our department. John joined our department in 2001. A talented dance musician with experience in software development, he blossomed into a researcher in the field of interactive technologies, creating computer-assisted interactive dances, telematic dances, and smartphone-enhanced works where dancers carried iPads around the stage. Most recently he developed the “Master Dancer” virtual reality application/game that teaches players about Loie Fuller and her contributions to modern dance. Perhaps even more impressive though, for me, is John’s expertise as a dance musician, improviser, and composer. In the dance class, he is integral to effective technique teaching, providing just the right rhythm, dynamics, and phrasing that supports the teacher’s movement goals. Not only is he a skilled improviser, but he composes on the spot, weaving all manner of counts, phrasings, and qualities being asked for into brilliant pieces of music that exist just for the moment. Easily taken for granted when someone like John makes it look so easy, this highly specialized skill is precious and has impacted students and faculty
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A Photo by Fred Zwicky
for the past 25 years. We will miss that. And his laugh—what will we do without that infamous laugh? We wish John all the best as he joins his wife, Janice Dulak, in Florida. We know he will continue all branches of his research, and we have already booked him to compose music for October Dance 2026! The newly established John Toenjes Live Music for Dance Fund has been created in his honor and can be accessed through our giving page.
go.illinois.edu/SupportDance
A John Toenjes’
Retirement Concert at the Orpheum Theatre
Welcoming
A Photo by Mark Frohna A Photo by Beth Halsey
Cody Jensen
Samuel Hanson
Jacob Henss
Welcome Cody Jensen as our new Music and Technology Director. Cody is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, composer, and dance musician based in Urbana. He has developed a deep musical understanding through both formal training in the academy and immersive cultural experiences in Guinea, Indonesia, and all over the United States. Since 2011, he has performed close to 2,000 shows as a touring musician with groups such as Bones Jugs, Chicago Farmer, and Alma Afrobeat Ensemble. Cody’s compositional work includes three solo albums: banjoboy, COVID Commissions, and Moon Songs. His collaborations with Angie Pittman (MFA ’15) have been featured at venues like the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Roulette Intermedium, and the Chocolate Factory Theater. He received a Bessie Award for Outstanding Sound Design for Musical Composition in 2025.
Dance at Illinois welcomed Samuel Hanson as Assistant Teaching Professor and Assistant Media Coordinator. Samuel is a dance artist who has performed in the work of Hilary Carrier, Isabel Lewis, Ishmael Houston-Jones, among many others. His research interests include improvisation, dance criticism and print media, experimental presenting and curation, dance on film and video, and public education. In his new role, Samuel is currently working on creating an online departmental journal and expanding the PK–12 teaching curriculum. He holds an undergraduate degree in Performance and Media from the University of Utah and an MFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Jacob Henss (MFA ʼ22) began his new role as Assistant Teaching Professor. Jacob is a dancer, producer, choreographer, and teacher primarily based in the Midwest. Previous appointments have included Illinois State University and Millikin University, where he was awarded Outstanding Adjunct Faculty in 2023. Jacob is a 2017 graduate of Webster University, where he received his BA in Dance and Music. He has performed with the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO), located in St. Louis, and he is a founding member of apprentice company MADCO2. Currently, Jacob is the Producer and Artistic Director for Space Station Dance Residency, an organization dedicated to presenting experimental dance work in the greater St. Louis area.
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dance at illinois A Lily Freebery (BFA ’26), Avi Pellegrinetti (BFA ’26), Emma Kunz (BFA ’28), Jade Lajeune (BFA ’27), Ella Andersen (BFA ’27), and Sofia Garcia (BFA ’28) in Rena Butler’s Les Pigeons
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A Jayla Anderson (BFA ’27) in Avi
Pellegrinetti’s (BFA ’26) Things That Have Never Happened Before Happen All of the Time
A Marlee Doniff (MFA ’27) in Nik Owens’ (MFA ’26) Taking Care of the Dirt
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CLASS OF
2026 Back Row, L to R:
Lilah Leopold (Grad Minor ’26), Maggie Segale (MFA ’26),
Jasmine O’Connor (BA ’26), Avi Pellegrinetti (BFA ’26), e g condon (MFA ’26), and Nik Owens (MFA ’26) Front Row, L to R:
Sophia Corrales (BA ’26), Harper Clark (BA ’26), Anna Carlson (BA ’26), Emily Ernst (Dance Minor ’26), Erin Fabian (BFA ’26), and Lily Freebery (BFA ’26)
Grad Futures by Roxane D’Orléans Juste (MFA ’21) MFA dance graduates Nik Owens, Maggie Segale, e g Condon, and PHD/grad minor Lilah Leopold, are activists, poets, historians, courageous multidisciplinary artists, and scholars who distinguished themselves by engaging in the most salient questions of our current time. Nik’s blazing choreography Taking Care of the Dirt called attention to the urgency of erasing the lines of segregation, prejudice, and alienation. Maggie’s Shaping was driven by her investigations between sculptures and the body and alternative modes of gathering in space in opposition to authoritarian regimes. e g’s I want to go out in quiet glory invited the dancers and audience to reflect and reconsider a world before history through the reimagining of the dancing body archive. Liliah’s research interests included how contemporary art practices reimagine land and agricultural heritage. We look forward to following these exceptional artists and their contributions to our world in the future and trust that their generosity as human beings will resonate for years to come!
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Undergrad Futures by Rachel Rizzuto (MFA ’21) This year’s graduating BFA and BA seniors may have been a smaller group, but their futures—bright and full of big plans—are reflective of a much larger group. Each of our four BA students graduated with dual degrees, in fields as diverse as chemistry and psychology, and two of them will go on to pursue fully funded master’s degrees in social work and biotechnology. Our three BFA students will continue training and dancing professionally in Chicagoland, St. Louis, and Orlando, as they find further ways to develop and present their boundary-pushing choreographic theses. As the first cohort of DAI students to experience four full years of our new curriculum, these dancers are no stranger to forging new paths and finding inventive ways to make their creative voices felt and heard. We wish them luck!
FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS REBECCA NETT-FIOL was recognized as a 2025 Lifetime Achievement Awardee from the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) for her excellence in teaching, research, and contributions in the field. PAIGE CUNNINGHAM-CALDARELLA co-presented the workshop Every Step Has Value: Merce Cunningham Technique at the NDEO conference in Detroit and premiered her duet Push at the Cleveland Dance Festival. She received a 2026 Humanities Research Institute Summer Faculty Fellowship and a College of Fine and Applied Arts Project Completion Grant. She co-wrote a chapter for the forthcoming The Oxford Handbook of Ballet Pedagogy and was selected as the CBA–Juilliard Fellow for the 2026–2027 academic year. KEMAL NANCE received the prestigious Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, recognizing his sustained excellence, innovative approaches to teaching, and positive impact on student learning.
A Back Row, L to R: Kemal Nance, Samuel Hanson, Rebecca Nettl-Fiol, Jan
Erkert, Molly McLaughlin, Paige Cunningham Caldarella, Sara Hook, Jacob Henss, Betsy Brandt, John Toenjes, and Tere O’Connor. Front Row, L to R: Anna Sapozhnikov, Alexandra Barbier, Rachel Rizzuto, Roxane D’Orléans Juste, Serouj Aprahamian, Jennifer Monson, and Laura Chiaramonte
SEROUJ APRAHAMIAN has been promoted to Associate Professor. ANNA SAPOZHNIKOV expanded her work Good House Keep with generous funding from the Office of Arts Integration at Illinois. Performances continued to highlight midcentury modern architecture throughout the Champaign-Urbana community, including at Hessel Park Church, and as part of the Champaign County History Museum’s Midcentury Modern Tours with a performance at First Presbyterian Church in Urbana. Sapozhnikov also received the 2026 College of Fine and Applied Arts Excellence Award in Administrative and Operational Support. BETTY ALLEN helped organize the 30th anniversary of the International Association of Creative Dance (IACD) Congress with the theme “Looking Back, Moving Forward: Fearless Expression,” promoting the development of creative dance and continuing the work of Barbara Mettler (1907–2002) who was an American dancer, educator, and pioneer in creative dance. Betty also helped establish the Dance Endorsement program through the College of Education. BETSY BRANDT received the 2026 College of Fine and Applied Arts Excellence Award for Specialized Faculty. Brandt also received the Provost’s Innovation Mini Grant for her proposal “Creative Research Lab: platforming and sharing creative research across campus.”
A Anna Sapozhnikov, Samuel Hanson, and Betsy Brandt at the College of FAA awards
LAURA CHIARAMONTE has been promoted to Associate Teaching Professor.
RACHEL RIZZUTO received Professional Development Funds for Specialized Faculty from the College of Fine and Applied Arts to produce Love Sucks in collaboration with Lyric Theatre. JENNIFER MONSON received a Humanities Research Institute Interseminars award with Magdalena Novoa to support the creation of a new interdisciplinary graduate course to be taught in spring 2027. TERE O’CONNOR premiered his new work, The Lace, at New York Live Arts in December 2025. He also received a National Dance Project Production Grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA). SARA HOOK continued her collaborations with NYC-based David Parker & The Bang Group at Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in New York in February 2026, as well as reviving their original 1994 duet Housebroken at The Dance Complex for DanceNow Boston in June 2026.
A Kemal Nance receives the campus award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, presented by Provost John Coleman
A Alexandra Barbier and Laura Chiaramonte at Flatlands Dance Film Festival
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Awards Undergraduate Summer Study Awards (est. 2010) Targeted for summer study by undergraduates.
Emma Kunz (BFA ’28) Jeremiah Jordan (BFA ’27) Jade Lajeune (BFA ’27) Jasmine O’Connor (BA ’26)
Mary Elizabeth Hamstrom Award (est. 2005) Awarded to a graduate student for summer study. Maggie Segale (MFA ’26)
Patricia Knowles Graduate Travel Award (est. 2006) Designated for an outstanding MFA candidate in the Department of Dance to be used for travel and study that deepens their artistic life. Paula Sousa (MFA ’28)
Courtney B. Kellogg Memorial Scholarship (est. 2015) For an outstanding undergraduate dance student. Established in memory of Courtney B. Kellogg Wojcik (BFA ’00).
Fernadina Chan Scholarship (est. 2019) Given by alumna Fernadina Chan (MA ’72) to help make education more affordable for student dancers at UIUC.
Emma Kunz (BFA ’28)
Mackenzie Gowans (BFA ’30)
A. Raheim White Scholarship (est. 2017) Merit-based award for an underrepresented/ minority first-year student. This award is named in honor of alumnus A. Raheim White (BFA ’11), who has cultivated an imaginative, innovative, and sustainable artistic life. To be awarded to a future incoming student.
Moe Family Dance Award (est. 1996) Awarded to a dance major with potential for unique contributions to the profession, which may lie outside the realm of performance in the traditional sense.
Ahmad D. and Dulce G. Issa Dance Scholarship (est. 2018) For overall outstanding achievements, to be awarded to a future incoming student.
Anna Carlson (BA ’26)
Outstanding Undergraduate Performance Award (est. 2015) Lily Freebery (BFA ’26) Jayla Anderson (BFA ’27)
Vannie L. Sheiry Memorial Scholarship (est. 1994) Given to a dance major who has demonstrated exceptional performing talent. Priority given to graduate students. Marlee Doniff (MFA ’27) Hollis Bartlett (MFA ’28)
Senior Magnolia Award (est. 1999) For a dance student who has shown the most growth and development throughout their four years. Erin Fabian (BFA ’26) Harper Clark (BA ’26)
Jan Erkert Leadership Award (est. 2018) This award honors those who have served as leaders in our community. Lena Baumann (BFA ’27)
Wanda M.Nettl Prize for Student Choreography (est. 2002) This annual award is designated for best choreography by an undergraduate or graduate student. Nik Owens (MFA ’26) Avi Pellegrinetti (BFA ’26)
William McClellan Memorial Scholarship (est. 2017) In honor of William McClellan (BFA ’00) for outstanding achievement in choreography and performance.
Len Lewicki Award (est. 2025) For an outstanding student who shows generosity of spirit, good citizenship, and is a leader within the Dance at Illinois community.
Jessica Ji (BA ’29) Jasmine O’Connor (BA ’26) Chelsea Wahrendorf (MFA ’27)
Kate Neal Kinley Memorial Fellowship (2026–2027) (est. 1932) Banafsheh Amiri (MFA ’27)
Anna Brady (BFA ’27)
John C. and Pamela A. McKinley Rozehnal Scholarship (est. 2024) For a talented incoming undergraduate or graduate student. Adalynn Forsyth (BFA ’30)
A
Performance photos of Cynthia Oliver’s Turn. Turning. TURNT. by Natalie Fiol; Left: Kendra Portier, Paige Cunningham Caldarella, Leslie Cuyjet; Middle: Nik Owens, Angie Pittman, Dare Ayorinde; Right: Kendra Portier, Nik Owens, Leslie Cuyjet, Dare Ayorinde
A 1. Rose Boder (BA ’28), Jessica Ji (BA ’29), Leila Zou (BA ’29), and Abigail Sobel (BFA ’29) in Jasmine O’Connnor’s (BA ’26) Affinity 2. Sydney Miller (Dance Minor) and Sofia Garcia (BFA ’28) in Harper Clark’s (BA ’26) Stay Cool 3. Isabella Schwager (BA ’29), Dominka Panek (Dance Minor), Emily Ernst (Dance Minor), Jessica Ji (BA ’29), and Logan Radostits (BFA ’29) in Erin Fabian’s (BFA ’26) Circa 2000s 4. Gabriella Quaresima (BFA ’27), Josie Stierwalt (BA ’28), Anna Brady (BFA ’27), Gillian Jarett (BFA ’29), and Siggi Tubbs (BFA ’28) in Avi Pellegrinetti’s (BFA ’26) Things that Have Never Happened Before Happen All of the Time 5. Sofia Saldana (Dance Minor) and Jeremiah Jordan (BFA ’27) in Lily Freebery’s (BFA ’26) Hiraeth
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Alumni Perspective
Turn. Turning. TURNT.
By Nik Owens (MFA ’26) Dr. Cynthia Oliver’s Turn. Turning. TURNT is a triptych evening that negotiates pre, present, and post world-altering events and collective experiences. It offers Afro-futuristic, rigorous, and adaptive movement landscapes through the three works that comprise it: Tether, Fallow, and Summon. Sow. Reap. The pieces are rich, pleasurably hard, complex, and beautiful. TURNT features an incredibly diverse and talented group of UIUC alumni artists—Dare Ayorinde (MFA ʼ24), Paige
Cunningham Caldarella (MFA ’07), Leslie Cuyjet (BFA ’03), Angie Pittman (MFA ’15), Kendra Portier (MFA ’18), and me—Nik Owens. We began the process by learning each work individually through videos of their original iterations, with Cynthia adjusting, manipulating, and expounding on
them to fit the current cast. Now that I have experienced the evening work that is TURNT as we prepare for our premiere at Bates Dance Festival, I am able to bear witness to the astounding craft and artistry of the cast, from the badass strength and groundedness in Angie’s Tether solo, to the whimsical and emotional rollercoaster bookends of Kendra and Dare’s solos in Fallow. As I reflect on my time as a cast member of TURNT, I’m reminded of the Dance at Illinois legacy I’m part of, crafted in no small part by Cynthia and continued by
the incredible alumni in the work. Get a ticket (or a few!), bring friends, and enjoy!
A 1. Jeremiah Jordan (BFA ’27), Gabriella Quaresima (BFA ’27), and Lily Freebery (BFA ’26) in Jayla Anderson’s (BFA ’27) Throughline 2. Lena Baumann (BFA ’27), Siggi Tubbs (BFA ’28), and Molly Brick (BFA ’29) in Anna Brady’s (BFA ’27) What if Nothing Happens 3. Jessica Ji (BA ’29) and Sophia Vangelatos (MFA ’28) in Paula Sousa’s (MFA ’28) I am Nothing 4. Angelina Fredricks (Dance Minor) in Sophia Vangelatos (MFA ’28) rePurcussions 5. McKenna Garcia (BA ’29), Carinne Scarbeck (Dance Minor), Lily Freebery (BFA ’26), Sofia Saldana (Dance Minor), Josie Stierwalt (BA ’28), and Gillian Jarett (BFA ’29) in Gabriella Quaresima’s (BFA ’27) Still, I Stayed
DANCE AT ILLINOIS 15 15
A Cynthia Oliver in I Would Not Dance
Donors 2025–2026
Betty and David Allen Fran and Marc Ansel Bethany Bak Alexandra Barbier and Sam Hanson Fernadina Chan Paula and Clifford Barnes Kenneth and Elizabeth Bayne Adrienne Bibby Nancy Blake and James Lenz Joe Bowie Kelly Bradham Betsy Brandt and Mike Preusch Megan Bullerwell Jerry Carden and Tim Temple John and Jan Chandler Charles and Janet Chiaramonte Terri Ciofalo Joan Clement Elisabeth Conner Skjaervold Kennedy Cowan Wesley Crampton and Jodi Patt Toni and Donald Cunningham Paige Cunningham Caldarella and Brian Caldarella Roxane D’Orleans Juste Winifred and Donald Daisley Eugenia and Matthew Der Jane Desmond and Virginia Dominguez Nicole Donohoe Peggy Drane Richard Erickson Jan Erkert Erin Fabian Natalie Fiol Dulce Issa Margaret Fisher-Krugman Sandi Freebery
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Denise Gaffney Barbara Geissler and Monica Miller Paul and Joan Germano Bruce and Debra Gillingham Alyssa Gordon Diane Gottheil Jessica and Dominic Green Matthew and Alicia Harvey Jacob Henss Monica Hoekstra Sara Hook and Sean Murphy Anne Jackson and Mags Ruch Fenton Johnson Michael and Christina Jones Jon and Amy Karagiannakis Pat and Frank Knowles David and Marisa Kunz Michael Lambert and Timothy Hutchison Karen Leopardi Stuart Lerner Daniel Lewart Len Lewicki Ty Lewis Arthur Lieb Richard and Debra Liesse Daniel and Dorothy Lillig Mark and Ella Magruder Traci Marable David Marchant Brad Marcus Cynthia and Frank Masko Gary and Leslie Mason Jason and Pernelle Maxwell Michael Mininsohn and Pamela Marks Jennifer Monson JW and Anne Marie Morrissette Rebecca Nettl-Fiol and Stephen Fiol
Haley Noll Juli Noll Tere O’Connor Sarah and William Odenkirk Richard Orr Greg and Donna Ortman Martha Palit Carol Palmiotto Sheila Parinas Lisa Pellow Grady and Marilyn Phillips Paul Picha and Susan Dingle Jacob and Angela Pinholster Catherine Prendergast Laura Reed John and Pamela Rozehnal Anna Sapozhnikov Stephen and Bonnie Schmidt Mariana Seda Sarah Shepherd Daniel and Alys Shin Brandon Shipley Robert Sieczkowski Lisa Simons Rhea Speights
Peggy Stierwalt Stratton Elementary School Duane and Melissa Teske Joy Thornton-Walter John Toenjes Tom and Joyce Trigger Ralph Trimble and Carolyn Casady-Trimble Mark Ulrich and Gloria Chukman Urbana School District 116 Brayan Uriostegui Timothy Veach and Christina Kirk Sarah Vickerman Renee Wadleigh Nicholas Wagner Bethany Whoric Carol L. Wikoff Richard and Lynn Wilson David Wolf Ruth Woody Jerry Wray Stephen and Basia Yakaitis Sarah Young
Be a Pivotal Force DONATE NOW
Donors play a pivotal role in the realization of the department’s mission to become a national center for the development of dance artists and leaders. The collaborative work generated in our program has been spreading across campus and out into the world, and we can do even more to share what dance can contribute to our society. Dance Partners—our generous donors—provide the core strength for our students, our creative work, and our vision for advancing the art of dance.
A Jan Erkert and
Kelly Bradham
A Masumi Iriye and David O’Brien
A Dean Pinholster and Sara Hook
Our Dance Partners Advancement Committee (DPAC), made up of a small group of dedicated Dance Partners, acts as a bridge between Dance at Illinois and the community. Along with DPAC, we hope you will join us in our mission to cultivate imaginative, innovative, and sustainable artistic lives. For information on how to donate online:
go.illinois.edu/SupportDance To make a gift by check:
• Designate the desired fund (“Scholarships” or “Production & Enrichment”) • Make payable to the University of Illinois Foundation/Department of Dance • Mail to University of Illinois Foundation PO Box 734500, Chicago, IL 60673-4500
DPAC Special thanks to the Dance Partners Advancement Committee and to Len Lewicki and Alicia Tresize who shared the duties as president of DPAC for the past year (2025–2026). Kelly Bradham Don Hardin Kim Hardin
Masumi Iriye Len Lewicki Ty Lewis
Dorothy Lillig Pugh Sally Shepherd Alicia Trezise
• Special thanks to our lead DPAC donor, Len Lewicki, for offering matching grants during our first International Dance Day Crowdfunding Campaign, where we raised over $11,000 to help support programming and scholarships for our students.
A Hollis Bartlett (MFA ’28), Marlee Doniff (MFA ’27), and Chelsea Wahrendorf (MFA ’27) in Juli Brandano’s (MFA ’25) music
• Thank you to our DPAC members as they also helped support the John Toenjes Live Music for Dance Fund.
DANCE AT ILLINOIS 17
26–27
A Jacob Henns (MFA ’22) in his solo Shed Skin
Season FLATLANDS FILM FESTIVAL August 27 February 5 Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum OCTOBER DANCE October 15–17 Colwell Playhouse Krannert Center for the Performing Arts STUDENT WORKS CONCERT November 18–19 DRK Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Auditions UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM October 17, 2026 Open House and Auditions for Juniors and Seniors
January 23, 2027 Visceral Dance Center, Chicago
FEBRUARY DANCE February 11–13 Colwell Playhouse Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
April 17, 2027 High School Dance Day: Open House for High School Dance Students, grades 9–12
SENIOR THESIS CONCERT April 15–17 Studio Theatre Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
GRADUATE PROGRAM December 10, 2026 (virtual) January 28–29, 2027 (in-person)
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Credits DANCE FACULTY
AFFILIATED FACULTY
MAGAZINE CREDITS
Betty Allen Lecturer and Creative Dance for Children Director Serouj Aprahamian Assistant Professor Alexandra Barbier Assistant Professor Betsy Brandt Associate Teaching Professor and NonMajors Program Director Laura Chiaramonte Assistant Teaching Professor and Media Coordinator Taylor King Crocker Lecturer Paige Cunningham Caldarella Associate Professor Roxane D’Orléans Juste Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director Jan Erkert Professor Emerita Sam Hanson Assistant Teaching Professor, Assistant Media Coordinator Jacob Henss Assistant Teaching Professor Sara Hook Head and Professor Patricia Knowles Professor Emerita Linda Lehovec Associate Professor Emerita Ty Lewis Lecturer Nicole Marini Lecturer Jennifer Monson Professor C. Kemal Nance Associate Professor and Associate Head Rebecca Nettl-Fiol Professor Tere O’Connor Professor Cynthia Oliver Professor Rachel Rizzuto Assistant Teaching Professor and Undergraduate Director Anna Sapozhnikov Senior Assistant Head of Program Administration and Public Engagement, Lecturer Alex Tecza Lecturer John Toenjes Professor Renée Wadleigh Professor Emerita
Jane Desmond Professor, Anthropology Jenny Oyallon-Koloski Associate Professor, Media Sandra Ruiz Sue Divan Professor of Performance Studies, Department of Theatre Deke Weaver Professor, Art & Design
Anna Sapozhnikov Editor Natalie Fiol Photos, Design Anne Jackson Copyeditor
A Front Cover: Jasmine O’Connor (BA ’26),
Molly Brick (BFA ’29), Sofia Garcia (BFA ’28), and Rose Boder (BA ’28) in Laina Reese Werner-Powell’s (BFA ’15) Echoes of the Unbroken; The Revolution Will Dance
A Back Cover: Jessica Ji (BA ’29) in Alexandra Barbier’s The Way She Wears It
STAFF
Natalie Fiol Photographer Nicole Marini Health & Wellness Specialist and Physical Therapist Molly McLaughlin Office Administrator TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Banafsheh Amiri Hollis Bartlett Juli Brandano e g Condon Marlee Doniff Andrea Hanson Nik Owens Ethan Rome Maggie Segale Paula Sousa Nathalia Trogdon Sophia Vangelatos Chelsea Wahrendorf ACCOMPANISTS
Mark Becker Beverly Hillmer Cody Jensen Ming Kim James Mauck Brant Roberts Mark White Aaron Wilson
A Leila Zou (BA ’29), Kristen
Der (BA ’29), and Gabriella Quaresima (BFA ’27) in Maggie Segale’s (MFA ’26) Shaping
DANCE AT ILLINOIS 19
Department of Dance University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 907½ West Nevada Street Urbana, IL 61801-3810
dance.illinois.edu
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