SALEM DANCE ENSEMBLE FALL CONCERT PROGRAM
… and if our songs won’t save us?
Choreography: Betsy Miller, with significant contributions from the cast
Performance: Austin Guin, Aiden Jones, Olivia Theriault, Mackenzie Trainor, Taylor Willis
Music: “Eye,” Matthew Dear; “Remembrance” and “Night in the Draw,” Balmorhea; edited by Betsy Miller
UNRAVELED:UNBOUND
Choreography and Performance: Jack Newton
Music: “Ancestors” by Björk Guðmundsdóttir (feat. Tanya Tagaq)
This piece is dedicated to Lisa Bibeau from the Center for Accessible Academic Resources. Without her loving, dedicated support and mentorship, I would not have been able to tell this story.
We Will Flourish Again
Choreography: Eliza Crook
Performance: Eliza Crook, Alivia Gendron, Austin Guin, Aiden Jones, Maya Luna, Mackenzie Trainor, Karen Velasco Duffy
Music: “Taste the Rainbow”: original composition by Jesse Alford, performed by Joel Paradis
MOUTHFUL
Choreography: Austin Guin
Performance: Eliza Crook, Summer Gordon, Austin Guin, Aiden Jones, Bella Rocha, Mackenzie Trainor, Taylor Willis
Music: “Inevitable Truth,” Murcof; “Misty (Instrumental,” Erroll Garner; “Seabird,” Innovations; “Mum’s Ringtone,” Punko; edited by Austin Guin
MOUTHFUL is an excerpt of an evening-length work that will be presented in spring 2025.
Push and Pull
Choreography: Evan Bernstein
Performance: Evan Bernstein, Kayleigh Sheehan
Music: “Hue” by SOHN, “1121” by Halsey, “BLUE” by Billie Eilish; edited by Evan Bernstein
RALLIED
Choreography: Laila J. Franklin, in collaboration with the cast
Performance: Eliza Crook, Summer Gordon, Austin Guin, Aiden Jones, Isabelle Keller, Alanna Niemczura, Mackenzie Trainor, Taylor Willis
Music: “Let’s Begin Again (NitNot),” “Revealed,” and “Rally” by Tune-Yards, edited by Laila J. Franklin
- Ten Minute Intermission-
What Happened To YOUR light?
Choreography from the minds of Dance Ensemble I, curated by Jarell Howard Rochelle
Performance: Benjamin Fandetti, Summer Gordon, Fen Marcin, Sally Martinez, Jacob Mitchell, Jaianna Ohannesian, Han Schmider, Neveah Scott, Kayleigh Sheehan
Music: "Kid Again" by Jon Bellion
Bendiciones
Choreography and Performance: Mackenzie Trainor
Music: “Qué Agonía (Remix),” Ángela Yuridia, Yahritza y Su Esencia Aguilar; “Qué Agonía,” Ángela Yuridia
This is dedicated to my mom, who has never missed a performance.
Dear you,
Choreography: Taylor Willis
Performance: Alivia Gendron, Summer Gordon, Isabelle Keller, Taylor Willis
Music: “Nature-Inspired Focus Music ,” Headspace
Text: Taylor Willis and dancers in collaboration with Cameron Holmes
i know this movement like the back of my hand
Choreography: Aiden Jones
Performance: Eliza Crook, Austin Guin, Bella Rocha
Music: “Fish Eyes” by Haley Heynderickxx
I would like to acknowledge Frankie Amster as an essential face in this creative process.
Unlocked
Choreography: Joanne(Jojo) Caidor
Performance: Evan Bernstein, Sydney Collazo Michaiah Fernandes, Alivia Gendron, Summer Gordon, VedaRuth HarveyAhmai, Jaiana Ohannesian, Molly Porter-Crean, Lili Rataj, Caroline Sciarratta, Nevaeh Scott, Kayleigh Sheehan
Music: “Let Me Go” by NF, “The Way I am” by Eminem, “Work of Art “by Will Smith, “Pass The Courvoisier” by Busta Rhymes, P. Diddy & Pharrell Williams; edited by Joanne (Jojo) Caidor
STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHER BIOGRAPHIES
Evan Bernstein is currently a junior at Salem State, majoring in media and communications and minoring in dance. He is a singer-songwriter and music producer as well as an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health awareness. As a first-time choreographer, Evan translates his lyrical storytelling abilities into the language of dance.
Eliza Crook is from Colchester, CT. She is a junior dance major with a minor in education and is pursuing a certificate in dance education. Eliza’s work has been seen in both Repertory Dance Theater and Salem Dance Ensemble’s fall and spring concerts (2023, 2024). She had the honor of working as an administrative intern for Judy Dowrin’s company, Justice Dance Performance Project, this past summer. She is a current recipient of the SSU Presidential Arts Scholarship.
Austin Guin is a senior majoring in dance and art. He has trained at dance intensives including Bates Dance Festival, David Dorfman Dance, and Staibdance Italy Program. He has performed with the Boston Center for the Arts in Simon Montalvo’s Dance Maker Residency work A House with No Walls, in Mira Göksels work for ArtBeat in Somerville titled “Lokma,” and twice for Salem Arts Festival. As a Salem Public Art Commission grant recipient, this past summer Austin choreographed and produced a short dance work titled “‘Are You Still Looking?’” at Salem Old Town Hall.
Aiden Jones is a senior, double majoring in Elementary Education and Dance. They are a proud recipient of the Salem State Summer Artistic Development Grant which brought them to both Bates Dance Festival and Bebe Miller and Angie Hauser’s ‘Solo/Duo Dancing Workshop’ at Bearnstow this past summer. Aiden’s work has been presented with the Salem Dance Ensemble previously, in both annual concerts (2022, 2023, 2024) and Dances in the Raw (2023).
Jack Newton is from Lowell, MA. He is studying music, theatre, and dance. This is his first time choreographing for the Salem Dance Ensemble. Jack was nominated for a DASH award by EMACT for “Best Ensemble” for his 2022 performance in the dance ensemble in Tuck Everlasting the Musical at Marblehead Little Theatre. He is also a recipient of the Marijane Godin Memorial Scholarship for figure skating.
Mackenzie Trainor is from Methuen, MA. Mackenzie is a dance major with a modern contemporary concentration and a psychology minor. She has had the opportunity to choreograph and perform in Dances in the Raw and the Spring Concert with the Salem Dance Ensemble. She also participated in guest artist pieces and attended the American College Dance Association Conference in Rochester, New York last year. She is a recipient of the Presidential Arts Scholarship and The Meagan Noel Scholarship for Dance.
Taylor Willis is currently pursuing a BA in theater with a concentration in performance and a BA in dance. Previously, Taylor choreographed Finding Nemo Jr. with Triboro Youth Theater, Heathers the Musical and Going to Adultown with Student Theater Ensemble, and Freaky Friday the Musical, In the Heights, Legally Blonde the Musical, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with Sizer School. Her work focuses on bringing people together, and she looks forward to building future pieces.
FACULTY AND GUEST ARTISTS BIOGRAPHIES
Matthew Breton (lighting designer) is delighted to be working with the Salem State dance faculty and students. Mr. Breton has designed lighting for dance performance for two decades, including shared choreographers concerts at the Dance Complex and emerging artist programs at Green Street Studios. In addition to his work as lighting supervisor for numerous Boston theaters, Mr. Breton has designed performances for Jean Appolon Expressions (Summer 2024 at The Yard), Janelle Gilchrist Dance Troupe (November 2024 at the BCA) and Abilities Dance (November 2024 at the Strand). He has served as lighting supervisor for performances by Kyle Abraham/AIM, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Faye Driscoll. Upcoming performances include work with Unyted Stylez, Kelley Donovan and Dancers, and the Mark Morris Dance Group.
Joanne Caidor (faculty) focuses on making you feel good while doing good. Her education and training comes from Dean College and the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she studied Dance and Business Management. Throughout life, Joanne has been a part of cabarets, musicals, step teams, and more. Her credits involve performance in Jean Appolon Expressions (a Haitian contemporary), and Street Hype (a hip hop company). She is the director of Afmohip: a hip hop, African, and modern company. She is also the lead in Haitian folklore dance troupe Arc-en-ciel. Joanne has been featured in movies and has performed in major venues such as the Embassy in Washington, DC, Annual Independence Gala in Boston, José Mateo Ballet Theatre Annual Dance for World Community Festival, Haitian Movie Awards, Boston City Hall, The Boston Contemporary Dance Festival at the Paramount Center, World of Dance, French Festival, Prelude Dance, Performing Arts Festival, Boston University Theater, Annual Haitian Fund Conference, and Hairspray the musical.
Laila J. Franklin (guest artist) is a multidisciplinary dance artist based in Boston, MA. In her work, she takes interest in meta-commentary, deconstruction, and bits, approaching themes surrounding the human experience with complexity, nuance, curiosity, and humor. She has been commissioned by Brown University and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and presented through Public Space One, Loculus Collective’s Sideways Door Festival, School of Contemporary Dance and Thought, and Movement Research at The Judson Church. Her performance credits include projects with Miguel Gutierrez, Stephanie Miracle, and Melinda Jean Myers. She was recently featured as one of Dance Magazine ’s “25 to Watch” of 2024. Laila holds an MFA from the University of Iowa, a BFA from The Boston Conservatory, and is a proud alumna of Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
Betsy Miller (faculty) is a dance artist, educator, and facilitator based in Salem, Massachusetts. Her choreography blends improvisational practice, ritual, athleticism, and theatricality through collaborative practices, and has been presented in venues across the country, from Jacksonville to Seattle. She has recently presented at the International Association for Dance Medicine Science (Helsinki, Finland), Dance Studies Association (Vancouver, Canada), National Dance Education Organization, and TEDxSalemStateUniversity. Miller was a 2023 and 2017 Bates Dance Festival Artist in Residence, 2019 Next Steps for Boston Dance Awardee, and a 2016 Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Choreography Fellow. Currently serving as Associate Professor of Dance at Salem State University, Miller has been on faculty at Providence College, Connecticut College, Dean College, and AS220 (Providence, RI), and regularly teaches and performs as a guest artist throughout New England and beyond. She holds an MFA in Dance from The Ohio State University and a BA in Dance from Connecticut College. www.betsymillerdanceprojects.com.
Jarell Rochelle (faculty) is a movement artist, actor, and inspirational speaker hailing from Alief, Texas. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Sam Houston State University and MFA in dance and social justice from the University of Texas in Austin. Jarell's career includes an appearance on So You Think You Can Dance, background dancing for Grammynominated artist Angie Stone, and choreographic contributions to the Harlem Globetrotters halftime show. In 2019, Jarell made his speaking debut at TEDx Greenville. International recording artist Dennis Lloyd sampled his speech "How I Moved From Fame to Purpose" in the title track of his award-winning studio album Some Days . Beyond his artistic pursuits, Jarell is a dedicated husband and father. His primary focus lies in empowering youth and young adults who grapple with fear hindering their authentic self-expression. He employs the "Xpression" pedagogy, a methodology he developed that utilizes Paul Ekman's six primary emotions in relation to movement art. Through mentorship, training programs, and speaking engagements, Jarell has guided numerous young individuals in shedding their "created selves" to embrace their most genuine identities.
TECHNICAL CREW
Lighting Designer: Matthew Breton
Assistant Stage Managers: Eliza Crook and Olivia Theriault
Stagehands: Eliza Crook, Austin Guin
Sound: Mackenzie Trainor and Aiden Jones
DANCE PROGRAM FACULTY
Meghan McLyman, Professor of Dance, Dance Program Coordinator
Betsy Miller, Associate Professor of Dance, CCPA Dance Liaison
Jarell Howard Rochelle, Assistant Professor of Dance
Joanne Caidor, Visiting Lecturer in Dance, Director of Hip Hop Dance Ensemble
Michelle Deane, Visiting Lecturer in Dance
Tremendous thanks to the collaborative energies of Stu Grieve, Ashley Preston O’Toole, and Karen Gahagan, without which this production would not be possible.
This concert was made possible in part through the generosity of Bernard and Sophia Gordon and the Gordon Foundation.
