Elon Performing Arts students explored the beauty of the spring season with their Spring Dance Concert in McCrary Theatre on March 8. The performance focused on family and diversity within the constructs of society. The concert also allowed students to create a unique style and explore their passion for dance.
Senior Isabella Sessa said she began her dancing career at a young age when her mother signed her up for dance classes. Sessa said she fell in love with the beauty and creativity that exemplifies the art of dance.
“When I was 3, I started dancing, ever since then, my mom saw that I loved doing it,” Sessa said. “It was the one sport, extracurricular activity outside of school that I enjoyed the most. So here I am, at 22 years old, still pursuing my dancing career and I plan to continue even after graduation.”
Sessa said she enjoyed performing in Renay Aumiller’s section, “The Dwelling Place” at the beginning of the dance. The performers were set in a tiny home that interpreted each individual's idea of a home. She said this collaboration was creatively thrilling and allowed her to incorporate diverse movements into the piece.
“There were six dancers in this home, climbing, throwing each other using weight to balance each other out. Eventually they connected through a home,” Sessa said. “The message is that everyone has a different definition of a home. In a literal sense, the tiny home represents all of us with a diverse background and how we are grounded together.”
Senior Gabby Cataldo said the Spring Dance Concert will be her last mainstage performance at Elon. Cataldo described her experience as a bittersweet and beautiful performance. She was part of Alexandra Joye Warren's section, “Dissent and Descent” — the second to last dance.
Seniors Isabella Sessa and Gaby Cataldo perform Alexandra Joye Warren's piece “Dissent and Descent” on March 8 at McCrary Theatre.
“We incorporated creative movements into the choreography,” Cataldo said. “The piece represented an individual finding their identity within a group and coming together in the end.”
Cataldo said she is sad to leave the department after graduation, but grateful for the opportunities she was given to pursue her passion. She said it was a privilege to work with such talented chereographers that helped improve her dancing skills.
In the audience, sophomore Eliza Gregory said she was excited to view each dance through a creative lens. Gregory is also a performing arts major, so she decided to come support her friends.
“My favorite piece of the night was Accordance,” Gregory said. “It was beautiful; I loved the variety of dancing techniques. There was a mix of modern and contemporary, I saw every specialized skill put into the performance.”
Gregory said she was impressed by their performance and encouraged others to attend Elon’s Performing Arts concerts. She also said it gives students an opportunity to explore the artistic side of dance.
“I was immediately hooked throughout the performance,” Gregory said. “In my eyes, the concert emphasized the agility and uniqueness of each dancer. I saw the tension in their body and how they moved smoothly through it with their physicality. It was just beautiful to see.”