Geneseo Dance Ensemble cast members express how they became close while practicing for their performance, “Defying Limits,” on poster boards (pictured above). Student members choreographed dances for the event (Rebecca Williamson/assoc. news editor).
From the phenomenal movements and choreography to the brilliant lights and costumes, the audience was captivated by the dancers onstage from the Geneseo Dance Ensemble who highlighted just how difficult yet breathtaking the sport can be.
The group performed their show “Defying Limits” from Nov. 21 to Nov. 24 in the Alice Austin Theatre. The performance featured dances by student choreographers, alumni choreographed and performed numbers and a piece by Artistic Director and Producer of GDE Joanette Lancos.
“Duality of Reflection,” choreographed by senior Emily Thamm, played with the idea of mirror images as the dancers expressed feelings regarding body image.
Psychology major senior Emanuela Scollo explained that the themes of each dance were showcased throughout the performances.
“I feel like after reading the program and then seeing the dances you could see the themes from each piece as well as the overall show theme,” Scollo said.
One of Thamm’s dancers—business administration major sophomore Madison Harding—expressed the challenge of what the piece is about and why it is important.
“For the piece I was in specifically, it was finding the backstory behind it—like the emotions and the motive for the movement and keeping that, even though we’re all exhausted after this week,” Harding said.
The next number—choreographed by accounting major sophomore Zachary Iannotta—was one of two pieces featuring slam poetry and music. Iannota painted distinct pictures throughout the number, such as one dancer stepping through the arms of another.
The stunning piece “focuses on women’s mental health and society’s unrealistic standards,” according the program.
“The most challenging is probably trying to get your vision onto other people and saying it in such a way that they understand,” Iannotta said. “At the same time having to go over obstacles and the time commitment.”
“Rhythms Under the Sun,” directed by Lancos, featured stunning artwork from artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Each piece of artwork project behind each dancer flowed into the next seamlessly, culminating into an explosion of all the dancers under the final painting when the cast joined together.
The alumni performers—Samantha Schmeer ‘19 and Megan Roberts
Caughlin ‘15—choreographed and performed beautiful pieces with unique features. A video of alumnus Alexander MacDonald ’08, created by Keith Walters ’11, showcased the art of tap dancing and the work MacDonald has done since graduation.
Other student choreographers include junior Lauren Hummel and senior Sonia Bartolomeo, who also created emotional dances.
Scollo said she knows “second-hand” how much time and effort the students practiced for this performance. She emphasized the passion of student performers and choreographers in GDE.
“I think my favorite part of the performance was the student choreographed piec