HARTFORD, CT, February 16, 2012 – A dance choreographed by New York artist Lindsey Dietz Marchant and performed by Trinity students for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Trinity/La MaMa Urban Arts Semester earned plaudits from adjudicators last weekend at the New England regional conference of the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA).
Of the students from the many participating colleges and universities in the six New England states, Trinity’s five-member troupe was among an elite group selected to perform at the gala concert, which was the culminating event of the conference held at Connecticut College in New London, CT.
Trinity’s five students – Nikki Cella ’13, Chelsea Cummings ’14, Stephanie Hewett ’14, Samantha Montalbano ’13, and Carolyn Toner ’14 – appeared in a work called “Inflatable Man, Evaporating Woman.”
The 11-minute dance was described by Lesley Farlow, associate professor of theater and dance at Trinity, as “a dreamlike piece in which the trappings of maleness and femaleness shift and change, an enormous wedding dress rises and falls, and the dancers move dreamily and sensuously through shifting alliances.” Farlow accompanied the students to the conference.
ACDFA, which originally had 13 charter members but now boasts a membership of 300 institutions, is a national organization whose primary focus is to support and promote the wealth of talent and creativity that is prominent throughout college and university dance departments. Eleven regional conferences are held annually.
According to the group’s Web site, ACDFA's sponsorship of the conferences provides a venue for students and faculty to engage in three days of performances, workshops, panels, and master classes taught by instructors from around the region and country. The conferences provide an opportunity for students and faculty to have their work judged by a panel of nationally recognized dance professionals in a constructive forum.
Colleges and universities may present one or two works for adjudication, but if two are presented, a student must have choreographed one.
Hewett called the conference an “absolutely incredible experience,” adding that “it was great to learn about different styles and movement and to be around people who love to dance as much as you do.”
At the New London conference, roughly 10 of the 50 or so adjudicated dances were selected to be performed at the gala concert. Of those, three will be showcased at the National College Dance Festival, which will be held this year at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
“Although our piece was not selected for the ACDFA national festival, it is a great honor to have been chosen for the regional gala concert,” said Farlow.
The dance that the Trinity students performed, “ Inflatable Man, Evaporating Woman,” was first presented at the Austin Arts Center’s Goodwin Theater in November as part of a celebration marking the 25th anniversary of the Trinity/La MaMa Urban Arts Semester, which occurs in the fall semester. The program provides immersion experiences in the study of the arts and culminates with the presentation of original work by students at both La MaMa E.T.C. and Trinity. La MaMa is a legendary incubator and producer of new work.
Marchant, the choreographer, is a guest artist and faculty member in the Trinity/La MaMa program.
“Inflatable Man, Evaporating Woman” premiered in June 2007 as a duet performed by Lindsey Dietz Marchant and Jason Marchant. It had a running time of 35 minutes. The Trinity students performed a portion of that work.
Hewett said she and her fellow dancers were delighted, though surprised, that theirs was one of the 10 dances chosen to be performed, given that there was “a big contrast” in style. Many of the dances were technical, Hewett said, “but ours was a lot more subtle.”