Good Evening Everyone, 

We are glad to present the MTSU Dance Theatre company in tonight’s performance. This semester’s Fall Dance Concert features faculty, guest artist, and student choreography. Through this semester’s guest artist experience, our students engaged in an intensive residency with guest choreographer, Matt Del Rosario. He is a former member of the Pilabolus dance company and shares his extensive knowledge of partnering work and modern dance to create meaningful and impactful dances that emphasize a sense of community and belonging. This choreographic residency was made possible through the generous support of the MTSU Distinguished Lecture Fund. Professional experiences like these provide the opportunity to bring a diversified knowledge and expertise of dance to MTSU. Students are able to expand their preparation for the artistic landscape of the dance profession while developing their professional networks. 

Tonight’s concert will feature, Catharsis, an original choreographic work by senior dance major, Kenzie McCroskey. To represent the MTSU Dance program, Catharsis, will be presented at the American College Dance Association’s Southeastern regional conference in the spring 2026 semester. Through the creative process of developing this piece, Kenzie’s work has continued to evolve through faculty mentorship, continued collaboration with her cast of dancers, and the production design team. 

All student performers you will see in tonight’s concert are company members of the MTSU Dance Theatre. This company experience is modeled to reflect the professional landscape of concert dance performance. Through the creative process of preparing for tonight’s concert, these dancers have invested extensive hours in both the studio and classroom to heighten their physical, intellectual, and artistic awareness. It is through this process, that we as an artistic community are able to celebrate the power of creative expression through dance, investigate perspectives, collaborate, and appreciate our collective contributions to the artform. 

We in the MTSU Dance Program believe that dance performance has the ability to evoke powerful responses and connections for our audiences. On behalf of our students and faculty, we invite you to enjoy tonight’s concert, and we thank you for your support in developing the future generation of dance artists, educators, and leaders in the state of Tennessee. 

Jade Treadwell 

~ 

About our Guest Artist: 

Lauhala Matt was born and raised in Hawaii. He studied dance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and throughout his career Matt performed and worked with many great artists and organizations; the American Dance Festival, Britney Spears, Camille A. Brown, David Levinthal, Happy Madison Productions, Helen Simoneau, Inbal Pinto & Avshalom Pollak, Larry Keigwin, Michael Moschen, OK GO, Penn & Teller, Pilobolus, Rosie Herrera, Sidi Larbi Cherkauoi, Takuya Muramatsu, and Trish Sie. In 2017, Matt established Flow Kākou, a Hawaii-based dance company that provides services in education, empowerment and inspiration through dance and theater. Matt lives his life through curiosity, imagination and determination. “All it takes is one dance, letʻs get to work”. 

MTSU Department of Theatre and Dance would like to say thank you to the various local businesses who graciously donated items for tonight’s silent auction. The money raised goes towards scholarships for dance majors and future program developments for a sustainable future of dance studies at MTSU. More information about each piece presented in tonight’s concert is available in our digital program. Enjoy the show!

The MTSU Dance Program has had two special people to pass recently that have made great impact on our campus dance community. 

Quinn Cunningham, June 20, 1998 - July 23, 2025, ('2020) an active dance minor and member of Dance Society and the Dance Theatre company. 

Anne Holland Cole, August 14, 1932 - September 13, 2025, Founder of MPAC and MTSU Dance Minor Program. 

Tonight's concert is dedicated in their memory. 

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In Memoriam: Anne Holland Cole

The earliest presence of the MTSU Dance program originated in the form of dance courses designed to fulfill the university’s physical education requirement. In 1967, faculty member Anne Holland Cole established MTSU’s Performance Arts Company (MPAC), providing an expressive and artistic outlet for dance as a student organization on campus.

Anne Holland Cole also established the curricular dance program as a Dance Minor. Over the years, the MTSU Dance Program continued to offer the dance minor established by Anne Holland Cole along with the addition of the dance major. In 2017, through the support of the College of Liberal Arts and Department of Theatre and Dance, the MTSU Dance Program became the only Bachelor of Science degree in Dance offered at a public university in the state of Tennessee. The MTSU Dance Program continues in the legacy of Anne Holland Cole, who championed dance as an academic program of study and professional pathway in its earliest beginnings on the MTSU campus. Anne Holland Cole passed away in September 2025. We dedicate the 2025-2026 dance concert season in honor of her memory and contributions to the history of the MTSU Dance Program. 

In honor of Anne's legacy, we invite you to contribute to the Anne Holland Dance Scholarship, ensuring her passion for dance continues to inspire future generations of MTSU dancers. All donations can be made online at www.mtsu.edu/give and include Anne Holland Dance Scholarship in the other/giving preferences box or by mailing a check made payable to the MTSU Foundation and include Anne Holland Dance Scholarship in the memo line to the address below:

MTSU Office of Development 
1301 E. Main Street 
Box 109 
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Lily Agee

Xan Barrell

Anna Conar

Mariana Diaz

Mesha Dockery

Maggie Gilchrist

Morgan Hayes

Addison Hicks

Neila Hudson

Megan Johnson

Rylee Mallicoat

Kenzie McCroskey

Natalie McCutcheon

Mildred Miles

Keke Moore

Maggie Munier

Cara Paty

Julia Peasall

Emma Pickett

Elizabeth Rhodes

Maya Siciliano

Hannah Smith

Emma Sutt

Kai Wahba

MTSU Department of Theatre and Dance would like to thank the MTSU Distinguished Lecture Fund for their generous support. Through this support, MTSU Dance students of MTSU Dance Theatre had the opportunity to engage in a choreographic residency with Hawaii based guest artist  Matt Del Rosario, for the development of a new work presented in tonight’s concert, In It Together. 

MTSU Department of Theatre and Dance would like to thank the many local businesses and artists that donated items for our Silent Auction, helping us raise funds for the Dance Enrichment Foundation.  

Bean Loft Coffee Company, Brass Horn, Buff City Soap, Strike and Spare, Millers Ale House, Jefferson’s, Bellissimo, Trader Joe’s, HotWorx, Barre 11, Marina’s on the Square, The Happy Book Stack, Starbucks, Set the Scene Photography, Molly Peňa, Kim Deale, Afro Inspirations, Cannon Arts Dance Studio, and Area 54. 

Dance Society President: Kenzie McCroskey 

Dance Society Board Members: Natale McCutcheon (Vice President), Anna Conar (Secretary), Emma Sutt (Treasurer), Maggie Gilchrist (First Year Rep.), Rylee Mallicoat (Volunteer Rep.), Morgan Hayes (Graduating Senior Rep.), Keke Moore (Social Media Rep.), Xan Barrell (Student Gala Coordinator), Kai Wahba (Assistant Student Gala Coordinator), Brooklyn McIntosh (Member At Large), Lily Agee (Member at Large), Neila Hudson (Member At Large), Maya Siciliano (Member At Large), Cara Paty (Member at Large). 

Thank you, Ascend Federal Credit Union, for sponsoring MTSU Arts.