UADC 2014 Fall Concert
The University of Akron Dance Company
There and Back Again...
Melissa Edington joins UA Dance Faculty and UADC Concert
With a successful eight years with the Radio City Rockettes, Melissa Edington is the newest addition to the UA dance faculty.
An alumnus of the UA Dance Program, Melissa often imaged herself teaching at the collegiate level. Originally, going into her undergraduate studies at UA, she pictured a career in commercial work. However, through her UA dance training, she found she was best suited for a career in musical theater.
Her professional dance credits began with Holland America Cruise Line, where she performed for two years. Upon moving to New York City, she was awarded her Actor’s Equity card through Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, toured with 42nd Street throughout Japan and North America, and began her Radio City Rockette career.
Reflecting on her UA undergraduate experience, “having ballet everyday as a UA dance student really improved my technique as a dancer and being introduced to modern dance really taught me how to move my body.”
The UA Dance Program is fortunate to add Melissa to its existing collective talented dance faculty. Her first faculty-choreographed work, “The Ritz,” will be presented in the UADC 2014 Fall Concert. “The Ritz” was created from the inspiration of old-time dancers such as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. This style of expressing effortless movement and high quality performance was instilled in her ensemble of 18 dancers. Melissa is excited to see her production performed for the greater Akron community.
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UADC Choreographers and Ensemble
Bobby Wesner - Invited Guest Choreographer
Performers: Aviance Bain, Rebekah Gray, Kathleen Horrell, Christine Howe, Ali LeBay, Dianna Muzic, Erica Piper, Rachel Spies, Sarah Sutherland
Guest choreographer Bobby Wesner, artistic director of Neos Dance Theatre, will present “New Work.” This original piece explores text, movement, and space while incorporating spoken word using Macbeth’s Soliloquy, a monologue from “Pretty Woman,” and sections from the children’s book “Good Night Moon.”
Cydney Spohn - UA Faculty Choreographer
Performers: Teresa Catterlin, Angela Mira, Jovana Perisic, Emilia Resanovic, Celena Ritchey, Ashley Schlissel, Feather Weldon
Cydney Spohn’s contemporary “Sketch Seven” investigates unrelated movement schemes, intentions, and imagery.
Tom Smith - UA Faculty Choreographer
Performers: Aviance Bain, Kweku Bransah, Abby Brinker, Amber Cherup, Haylee Dunahay, Christine Howe, Aaron Knowles, Darcie Lemons, Dianna Muzic, Erica Piper, Christy Wurtz, with understudy Andonetta Anthony
Tom Smith has created “Grinched, Elfed, and Scrooged,” a modern dance work inspired by Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Melissa Edington - UA Faculty Choreographer
Performers: Ashley Adamik, Corinne Albright, Leah Anthony, Kweku Bransah, Teresa Catterlin, Katie Cox, Haylee Dunahay, Craig Fowlkes, Dana Graham, Kathleen Horrell, Alex Logsdon, Angela Mira, Jovana Perisic, Kayleigh Pietrantone, Rachil Reynolds, Celena Ritchey, Ashley Schlissel, Rachel Spies
UA dance alumnus Melissa Edington, a retired Radio City Rockette and new part-time faculty member in the UA Dance program, will present “The Ritz,” a jazz and tap piece with a 1940s club flair.
Aviance Bain - UA Student Choreographer
Performers: Caitlin Dennis, Kathleen Horrell, Erica Piper
To round out the program, “Dialogues in Soliloquy,” an outstanding student piece choreographed by UA dance major Aviance Bain, has been selected by dance faculty for the fall concert.