Good Evening Everyone,

We are glad to present the MTSU Dance Theatre company in tonight’s performance. This semester’s Dance Concert features our Dance Theatre company performers in choreography presented by MTSU Dance faculty and a selected student choreographer.

Students in the MTSU Dance program are encouraged to define, refine, and explore their choreographic perspectives as they progress through the curriculum as a dance major. Through careful selection of many talented student choreographic proposals, Anna Conar’s work, Altruist, was selected to be produced in this semester’s concert series. Altruist is an original work developed from concept to performance through Anna’s choreographic vision developed through faculty mentorship and dedication from her cast and design team. We are excited to support student success through choreographic development.

All the performers you will see in tonight’s concert are company members of the MTSU Dance Theatre. The MTSU Dance Theatre company is a professional development space where students are invested in the creative process that aligns with the professional standards of the concert dance company model. These student performers, choreographers, and designers sharpen their collaborative communication and innovative practices through the vision, mentorship and guidance of MTSU faculty in their respected areas of artistic expertise.

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

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. 

*See In Memoriam of Anne Holland Cole's legacy.

Tonight's concert is dedicated in their memory.

The MTSU Department of Theatre and Dance would like to thank the MTSU Distinguished Lecture Fund for their generous support. This is a fund that supports student interactions with guests with demonstrated excellence in their respective fields to elevate the campus dialogue on important matters. The MTSU Dance Program was awarded a grant to host April Henehan as a guest artist in residency to create a new work for Dance Theatre. However, the unpredicted January snow storm required this residency experience to be transitioned to a virtual platform. During this time, MTSU Dance students were still able to engage with April Henehan virtually, for various classes and workshop experiences on topics including audition practices, careers in dance, and choreographic phrase development. Thank you to the MTSU Distinguished Lecture Fund for your continued support of the MTSU Dance Program. 

MTSU Dance Society encourages student leadership and advocacy for the MTSU Dance Program. MTSU Dance Society promotes dance on campus and in the local community through outreach events and gives back to the community through volunteer and service projects as well as provides student perspectives for the MTSU Dance Program.

Dance Society President: Kenzie McCroskey  

Dance Society Board Members: Natalie 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).

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

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