The University of Richmond and the Department of Theatre & Dance presents

CURRENTS
University Dancers 41st Annual Concert

Artistic Director: Anne Norman Van Gelder¨

Founder and Director of Dance Emerita: Myra Daleng¨

Costume Design: Johann Stegmeir¨±

Lighting Design: Maja E. White¨±, Zach Carlson¨, & Keira Vogel¨

Stage Manager: Keira Vogel¨

Technical Direction: Phil Hayes¨ & Robby Williams¨

Costume Director: Heather Hogg¨﹦

University Dancers: Claire Blandford, Tess Carpenter, Emma Contursi, Simona Fahy, Annie Hamilton, Iria Jackson, Emma Johnston, Tessa Katz, Mary Kimbrough¨, Lucy Lew, Eliza Kaplan, Addy McKenney, Julia Mirelez, Olivia Napolitano, Julia Nugent, Jada Pedersen, Daniella Place,        Caroline Perry¨, Lindsay Stone, Katie Weispfenning

Company Captain: Annie Hamilton

Faculty Choreographers: Angelica Burgos, Deandra Clarke, Eric Rivera, Anne Van Gelder¨

Guest Artists: Ephrat Asherie, Nicolo Fonte, Trey Mclntyre

 
..     Member of ALPHA PSI OMEGA, the national dramatic honorary society

±     Represented by UNITED SCENIC ARTISTS, Local USA 829 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees 

﹦Represented by IATSE Local 487, Mid-Atlantic Studio Mechanics and Broadcast Techs of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees 

KIND
Choreography by Trey Mclntyre
Music: "Take the World Apart" by Yusf (Cat Stevens); "Morning Has Broken", words by Eleanor Farjeon, arrangement by Cat Stevens; "Peace Train" by Yusuf (Cat Stevens)
Rehersal Director: Anne Van Gelder¨
Costume Design by Johann Stegmeir¨±
Light Design by Maja E. White¨±
Projection Design by Robby Williams¨
Dancers: Claire Blandford, Emma Contursi, Annie Hamilton, Iria Jackson, Emma Johnston, Caroline Perry¨

Generous support for KIND was provided by the Cultural Affairs Committee

Pulso y Pasión
Choreography by Eric Rivera
Music: "Mirando A la Luna" by David de Arahal; "La Castellana" by Aroa Fernadez; "Arde Madrid" by Julia de Castro; "Ameksa" by Taalbi Brothers; edited by Eric Rivera
Costume Design by Johann Stegmeir¨±
Light Design by Maja E. White¨±
Projection Design by Robby Williams¨
Dancers: Tess Carpenter, Emma Contursi, Simona Fahy, Olivia Napolitano, Juliet Nugent, Jada Pedersen, Daniella Place

Convergence
Choreogtaphy by Julia Nugent
Music: "Heartbeat Sound - EP" by Heartbeat Sounds; "Flight from the City" by Johann Johannsson; "The Water Rises" by Laurie Anderson and Kronos Quartet; "This Place is a Shelter" by Olafur Arnalds' edited by Julia Nugent
Costume Design by Julia Nugent, mentored by Johann Stegmeir¨±
Light Design by Keira Vogel¨, mentored by Maja E. White¨±
Faculty Mentor: Alicia Díaz¨
Dancers: Emma Contursi, Iria Jackson, Eliza Kaplan, Olivia Napolitano

Generous support for Convergence was provided by the A&S Undergraduate Research Committee 

Aria II
Choreography by Anne Van Gelder¨
Music: "O mio babbino caro" performed by Kiri Te Kanawa, composed by Giacomo Puccini; "Lascia ch'io pianga" performed by Derek Lee Ragin with Ewa Mallas-Godlewska, composed by George Frideric Handel
Costume Design by Johann Stegmeir¨±
Light Design by Maja E. White¨±
Dancers: Claire Blandford, Annie Hamilton, Lindsay Stone

Where My Girls At
Chorography by Deandra Clarke
Music: "Lose My Breath" by Destiny's Child' "Damaged" by Danity Kane; "Whatchu Known About Me" by Glorilla; "Alright" by Victoria Monet; edited by Rave Williams
Costume Design by Johann Stegmeir¨±
Light Design by Maja E. White¨±
Dancers: Eliza Kaplan, Mary Kimbrough¨, Lucy Lew, Addy McKenney, Olivia Napolitano, Daniella Place


INTERMISSION


Between Worlds
Choreography by Nicolo Fonte
Music: "Voyager II" by AIRWAVES, Anna Phoebe and Aisling Brouwer, 2020 One Little Independent; "Between Worlds" by Anna Phoebe, 2025 Eat the Peach
Rehearsal Director: Anne Van Gelder¨
Costume Design by Johann Stegmeir¨±
Light Design by Maja E. White¨±
Dancers: Emma Contursi, Simona Fahy, Annie Hamilton, Iria Jackson, Eliza Kaplan, Lucy Lew, Olivia Napolitano, Julia Nugent, Daniella Place

Generous support for Between Worlds was provided by the Cultural Affaris Committee and the Modlin Center for the Arts

Silver String
Choreography by Mary Kimbrough¨
Music: "Eleanor Rigby" (Take 14 - Strings Only - Remastered) by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, performed by The Beatles; "One" by Harry Nilsson, performed by Harry Nilsson
Costume Design by Mary Kimbrough¨, mentored by Johann Stegmeir¨±
Light Design by Maja E. White¨±
Faculty Mentor: Alicia Díaz¨
Dancers: Simona Fahy, Emma Johnston, Lucy Lew, Addy McKenney, Jada Pedersen, Daniella Place, Lindsay Stone

Generous support for Silver String was provided by the A&S Undergraduate Research Committee

A Way Back to Then
Choreography by Lucy Lew
Music: "Everybody Loves Somebody" by Irving Taylor, performed by Dean Martin; "It Had to Be You" by Gus Kahn and Isham Jones, performed by Frank Sinatra; "Something's Gotta Give" by Johnny Mercer, performed by Sammy Davis, Jr.; edited by Lucy Lew
Costume Design by Lucy Lew, mentored by Johann Stegmeir¨±
Light design by Zach Carlson¨, mentored by Maja E. White¨±
Faculty Mentor: Alicia Díaz¨
Dancers: Claire Blandford, Tess Carpenter, Annie Hamilton, Mary Kimbrough¨, Julia Nugent

Generous support for A Way Back to Then was provided by the A&S Undergraduate Research Committee

Caged Sonatas
Choreography by Angelica Burgos
Music: Antonia Vivaldi, The Goldberg Variation, Alessandro Marcello; edited by Angelica Burgos
Costume Design by Johann Stegmeir¨±
Cage Construction by Phil Hayes¨
Light Design by Maja E. White¨±
Dancers: Simona Fahy, Annie Hamilton, Iria Jackson, Emma Johnston

Caged Sonatas explores the intricate relationship between fashion and the female body, questioning whether fashion truly liberates women or if it confines them within societal ideals.

Poco a poco (Little by little)
Choreography by Ephrat Asherie
Music: Donovan Dorrance
Rehersal Director: Angelica Burgos
Costume Design by Johann Stegmeir¨±
Light Design by Maja E. White¨±
Dancers: Claire Blandford, Tess Carpenter, Emma Contursi, Simona Fahy, Iria Jackson, Emma Johnston, Mary Kimbrough¨, Lucy Lew, Addy McKenney, Julia Nugent, Jada Pedersen, Daniella Place, Lindsay Stone

Generous support for Poco a poco (Little by little) was provided by the A&S Dean's Office

One of the most humbling and rewarding aspects of engaging in Dance is the opportunity to share before a live audience, the dances that have been created, learned, and rehearsed for months. We are delighted to share these dances, created especially for CURRENTS!

Members of University Dancers have had the rare opportunity to learn from acclaimed guest artists from throughout the world who bring diversity to our community in numerous ways. They have also worked closely with professional department faculty on lighting, costume, and scenic design. Through these unique experiences, students have come to see dance within an ever-broadening context and community. Today, when you walk through the lobby where many of our breath-taking costumes from years past are currently on display, I encourage you to take a look at the number of students who have engaged with UD, whether on stage as performers or backstage, working on the technical crew. The reach and impact are stunning!

In this our 41st year, we once again feature student work alongside the work of professional guest artists and faculty. One can observe in the program notes that our student performers and designers are artist-scholars whose academic majors include the arts, humanities, sciences, leadership, and business. The year's adjudicated student choreography represents an impressive achievement, enriched by the inspiration and support of peers and faculty. We celebrate the creative dance projects of Mary Kimbrough, Lucy Lew, and Julia Nugent, along with their collaborations with lighting design students Zach Carlson and Keira Vogel.

Collaboration, daily fine-tuning of craft, as well as opportunities for reflection and critique are integral features of all stage performance. This year three guest artists brought talent, prestige, and international experience through residencies lasting six to eight days. Ephrat Asherie has trained her entire life in multiple genres of dance, but identities the styles of breaking, hip hop, and house as her choreographic vocabulary. Asherie's artistic aesthetic utilizes urban social dance as a means to educate and engage community. A first-generation American whose parents emigrated from Argentina, Nicolo Fonte is excited by the prospect of being invited to Richmond to create his first choreographic work for the very talented dancers here at Richmond.

Trey Mclntyre, founder and artistic director of Trey Mclntyre Project and Creative Partner for LA-based BODYTRAFFIC, makes his debut with the company with KIND, set to music by Cat Stevens. Aligning with the department's mission the creative work by Asherie, Fonte, and Mclntyre each utilize contemporary dance to educate and engage community. Angelica Burgos, Deandra Clarke, Eric Rivera, and I have created new pieces that will premiere at this concert. As always, integral to each phase of the process, including the performance that you will see, are the important roles of faculty design artists Johnann Stegmeir and Maja E. White.

Producing this concert involves the collaboration of choreographers, composers, designers, musicians, and technicians. I would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of so many who have assisted in making this concert possible. A special thank you goes to my colleagues in the Department of Theatre & Dance for their generous spirit of collaboration and to the technical staff who literally make the production happen!

And finally, to you, the audience, may you feel enlivened by the dance, music, and choreography and reminded of the scope and sweep of the creative imagination, as well as the power of dance to arouse convictions, to strengthen covenants, and to build community. As we say nearly every day in UD, "we are lucky." Today, we are lucky to have you with us to share in the joy of our 41st annual concert, CURRENTS! Thank you for your support! I hope you enjoy the concert.

Anne Van Gelder
Faculty, Department of Theatre & Dance
Director of Dance
Artistic Director, University Dancers

February 27 and 28, 2026 | 7:30pm
March 1, 2026 | 2:00pm
Alice Jepson Theatre
Modlin Center for the Arts 

Any photography or videography of this production is strictly prohibited. 

Silence all cell phones and other noise-making devices. Please refrain from texting during the show. 

This production includes flashing lights and atmospheric effects.

Fair Use Notice
This work may make use of copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This constitutes a “fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance to Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this work is offered publicly and without profit, to the public users of the internet for comment and nonprofit educational and informational purposes. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted. No copyrights is/are claimed. Any infringement was not done on purpose and will be rectified to all parties’ satisfaction. The content is used for Study, Research and Educational purposes. The artists gain no profit from this work, so it falls under "Fair Use" guidelines:  www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html  

Stage Manager
Keira Vogel¨

Assistant Stage Managers
Zach Carlson¨, Colin Heathcott, Tina Li¨

Fly Crew
Abby Ament, Arthur Bond

Dressers
Tessa Katz, Julia Mirelez, Katie Weispfenning

Board Operators
Grace Allen¨, Rio Bello Sanchez, Noell Forgeng, Leland Solesby, Justin Zhang¨, Annabelle Zong¨, Gareth Woo¨

Followspot Operators
Janie Lusitis, Louisa Stringer¨, Wendy Wu

Lighting & Sound Supervisor
Robby Williams¨

Electrics Crew
Kiera Vogel¨, Zach Carlson¨, Caroline Perry¨, Colin Heathcott, Janis Lusitis, Abby Ament, Arthur Bind, Noell Forgeng

Technical Supervisor
Phil Hayes¨

Scene Shop Staff
Hope Amberger, Colin Heathcott, Mike Macholz, Leah Marchetti, Louisa Stringer¨

Director of Costume
Heather Hogg¨﹦

Costume Shop Staff
Bonny Bruzos, Alisha Tosto, Ava Weninger

Guest Costume Artisans
Lindsay Austria, Tinia Crider, Robyn Gebhartᵎ, Susan Rich

Production Mangers
Erica Hughes¨

Poster Design
Michael Warchol

T-shirt Design
Annie Hamilton

Videographer
The Video Department

Company Photographers
Kim Lee Photography, Narratography, David Van Gelder

Company Class and Rehearsal Musicians
Judith Bice, James Smithson, Charles Woodson

Piano Technician
Ray Breakall

ᵎMember of The Motion Picture Costumers, IATSE Local 705

A message to our graduating senior Annie Hamilton:
We appreciate the lasting commitment and contribution you have made to the Department of Theatre & Dance and University Dancers! We wish you well in the future as you explore opportunities that await you. Congratulations on your excellent work in the department including your performances and leadership! We will miss you!
- Department of Theatre & Dance Faculty and Staff

Ngoma African Dance Company 
31st Annual Concert
Artistic Director: Babadunjo Olagunke
March 21, 2026 | 7:30pm
Camp Concert Hall | Modlin Center for the Arts

Nevermore
The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of
Edgar Allen Poe
Written and composed by Johnathan Christenson
April 16-18, 2026 | 7:30pm
April 19, 2026 | 2:00pm
Alice Jepson Theatre | Modlin Center for the Arts

The Myra Daleng Dance Award
was created in 2005 in honor of University Dancers Founder & Director of Dance Emerita Myra Daleng.

The Award serves as a means of aiding a deserving student in their study of dance. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift.

For additional information contact Rhonda Jackson, Administrative Coordinator, Department of Theatre & Dance at rjackso3@richmond.edu or 804-289-8592. 

The Thanksgiving Play
by Larissa Fasthorse
October 1-3, 2026 | 7:30pm
Cousins Studio Theatre | Modlin Center for the Arts

The Tempest
by William Shakespeare
November 12-14, 2026 | 7:30pm
November 15, 2026 | 2:00pm
Alice Jepson Theatre | Modlin Center for the Arts

University Dancers 42nd Annual Concert
Directed by Anne Van Gelder
February 26-27, 2027 | 7:30pm
February 28, 2027 | 2:00pm
Alice Jepson Theatre | Modlin Center for the Arts

Newsies
by Alan Menken, Jack Feldman, and Harvey Fierstein
April 15-17, 2027 | 7:30pm
April 18, 2027 | 2:00pm
Alice Jepson Theatre | Modlin Center for the Arts

Performances are free for all, but registration is encouraged. To register, visit www.modlin.richmond.edu or call the Modlin Box Office at 804-289-8980.

theatredance.richmond.edu