When members of Eisenhower Dance Detroit, one of the Midwest’s top contemporary dance companies, perform at The Egg in Albany on Oct. 18, Union students will share the limelight with them.
Jolita Brettler ’25, Melanie De La Cruz ’25, Ava DuBoff '25, Hailey Dunn ’28, Livi Gwinnett ’25, Grace Newcombe ’25, Emily Tobar ’27 and Abby Wilder ’25 were selected through recent open auditions for the chance to dance in “State of Mind,” choreographed by EDD Artistic Director Stephanie Pizzo.
The performance, at 8 p.m., is part of the Theater and Dance Department’s annual Stephanie C. Davis Dance Residency.
A limited number of free tickets to the performance are available through Oct. 17 for Union faculty, students and staff with a Union ID. The Egg is located at the Empire State Plaza Center for the Performing Arts.
Since auditioning with the company in the Henle Dance Studio last month, the students have spent many hours rigorously learning “State of Mind,” which explores the intense physical and emotional state of the fear of the unknown.
“I loved the rehearsal process, learning all the choreography, getting notes and then doing it all over,” said DuBoff. “The process pushed me hard; there was a lot of inner monologue telling myself I can do it. It was challenging but rewarding to see how far my peers and I had come in such a short time.”
Wilder said the intense rehearsals turned out to be “one of my favorite weekends at Union. Although physically and mentally exhausting, the energy in the studio was incredible.”
EDD dancers were equally pleased about working with the selected students.
“We admired their eagerness, dedication, maturity and focus,” said Lillie Hamilton, who is in her eighth season with the company. “I can envision these students being successful in dance in their post-Union lives.”
Senior company member Tara Charvat found it inspiring “to be working with students whose focus of study is not primarily dance. The process feels the same as working with dance majors, which is a testament to these Union students.”
Now in its 16th year, the Stephanie C. Davis Dance Residency was created by a gift from Sue and Gus Davis ’59 in memory of their daughter, a modern dancer and environmental activist with a lifelong love of the performing arts. Sue is a 1960 graduate of Russell Sage College.
“Dancing had been Stephie’s passion, and Union College, where we met, has always been a special place for us,” the Davises said. “The idea of a dance residency was enthusiastically received as an educational experience for students and an artistic experience for the entire Union community. We remember Stephanie by transmitting our love for her and her love of dance to new generations of Union students. She would have been thrilled.”
This year’s residency is greatly expanded. In addition to welcoming students to the stage, the company is conducting three lecture/demonstrations, three movement workshops and 11 master classes at Union and numerous other colleges and schools, reaching participants from elementary age to senior citizens.
On Thursday, Oct. 17, the troupe will offer two free events in the Henle studio, open to the public with no registration required. Dancers of all ages and abilities are welcome to take a technique master class, 6-7:15 p.m. An hour-long lecture/demonstration begins at 7:30 p.m. Earlier in the day, there will be an adult/senior class in studio, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
In addition to “State of Mind,” the 90-minute Egg program will feature “Legacy Island” by Norbert De La Cruz III; “En-code” by Australian choreographer Marc Brew; “Hyper” by hip-hop ballerina Micaela Taylor; and “See Me” by Christian Denice.
In a free pre-show conversation at 7:15 p.m. in the Hart Theatre lobby, Laurie Zabele Cawley, interim director of Union’s dance program, will talk with EDD Artistic Director Pizzo about the evening’s program.
And in addition to free tickets, round-trip bus transportation will be provided. Buses leave from the Nott/Seward parking lot at 6:30 p.m. and return to campus after the show.
Alumni, parents and friends on campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend (Oct. 18-20) can buy discounted tickets directly through The Egg with the code UNIONCOLLEGE.
“This is a rare opportunity for our students to learn from and perform with a world-class company,” said Cawley.
And with their professional debuts nearing, the students are simultaneously eager, nervous and thoughtful.
“I look forward to being on the stage while also knowing what it’s like to sit in the audience seeing other dancers perform,” said Gwinnett.
“This experience let me know that anything is truly possible if you put your mind to it,” said De La Cruz. “You don’t need an extensive background in art to be able to tap into that ‘human expression.’”