B.F.A. Senior Dance Concert / Student Dance Festival
Apex
POSTPONED INDEFINITELY
In response to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s proactive approach to keeping our state safe during the ongoing spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Kent State University has suspended all in-person classes and university-sponsored events, both on campus and off campus, through April 12, 2020.
Consequently, all scheduled School of Theatre and Dance events are cancelled through April 12 and ticket sales to all College of the Arts events are suspended.
If you have already purchased a ticket to a School of Theatre and Dance production during this time frame, please check back soon for information on securing a refund.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Faculty Director: Barbara Allegra Verlezza
Enjoy wonderful choreography and performances from graduating senior BFA candidates in dance performance and dance majors and minors.
2020 Senior BFA Dance Candidates
SYDNEY BANKS, BFA Dance Performance, is a second-year member of the Kent State Dance Ensemble, the university’s pre-professional dance company. She has also performed in numerous faculty and student-choreographed concerts during her tenure at the university. She is a member of the Student Dance Education Organization-Kent State Chapter, under the auspices of the National Dance Education Organization. During her time at Kent, she has had the opportunity to study internationally in various countries: Bangkok and Hua Hin, Thailand with East Meets West; Florence, Italy at the OpenFLR International Summer Choreographic Intensive; and Ontario, Canada at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre Intensive. Sydney also has traveled to Los Angeles to train with DIAVOLO|Architecture in Motion, dancing alongside members of the company. In recognition of her academic achievements, Sydney has been placed on the Dean’s List every semester. In 2019, she was awarded the Dance Faculty Outstanding Achievement Award for ‘Growth and Development’. Upon graduation, Sydney plans to pursue a professional career in dance.
NICOLE CROWL, BFA Dance Performance, is a third-year member of the Kent Dance Ensemble (KDE), the university’s pre-professional dance company. She has studied abroad in Bangkok, Thailand as Vice President of the student organization, East Meets West, and as a participant in a two-week dance intensive with the School of Toronto Dance Theatre in Ontario, Canada. Nicole has also trained with DIAVOLO|Architecture in Motion in Los Angeles, California. Alongside her dance studies, she serves as the President of the Student Dance Education Organization-Kent State Chapter, under the umbrella of the National Dance Education Organization, and as an active member of Kent’s Theatre and Dance honors fraternity Alpha Psi Omega-Beta Psi Cast. Nicole has been the recipient of School of Theatre and Dance awards including the Nancy Rockland-Miller Award (2019), Cowperthwaite (2019), and May O’Donnell Memorial Dance Award (2018). One of her favorite memories at Kent State University is performing as a member of KDE in guest artist Catherine Meredith’s Aftermath at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. for the American College Dance Association’s National Festival. Upon graduation, Nicole plans to pursue a professional dance career in Los Angeles, California.
MEGAN FINCH, BFA Dance Performance, is a third-year member of the Kent Dance Ensemble, the university’s pre-professional dance company. She has performed in numerous faculty and student choreographed concerts, as well as in gala and adjudication concerts at American College Dance Association conferences. Last year, Megan traveled with the Ensemble to Washington, D.C. and performed Catherine Meredith’s Aftermath at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Megan has studied abroad in Bangkok and Hua Hin, Thailand as a founding member of the student organization East Meets West. In summer 2019, she was chosen to participate in the six-week Alvin Ailey Summer Dance Intensive in New York City. Megan is the Vice President of the Student Dance Education Organization-Kent State Chapter, under the auspices of the National Dance Education Organization, and is a member of Kent’s Theatre and Dance honors fraternity Alpha Psi Omega-Beta Psi Cast. Throughout her tenure at Kent State, she has been represented on the Dean’s List. Additional awards in recognition of her accomplishments include the 2017 May O’Donnell Memorial Dance Award, the 2018 Xavier Atienza Dance Scholarship, and the 2019 School of Theatre and Dance Award. Upon graduation, Megan plans to pursue a professional dance performance career.
SOPHIE GASSER, BFA Dance Performance, is a second-year member of the Kent Dance Ensemble, the university’s pre-professional dance company. During her tenure at Kent, she has performed in both faculty and student choreographed concerts at Kent, as well as choreographed an original piece entitled Block, which was presented in the 2019 Student Dance Festival. She also performed at Playhouse Square, Cleveland as a guest dancer with the Kent Dance Ensemble. Sophie has participated in summer intensives at the Toronto Dance Theatre, Ontario, Canada and at The Ruth Page School of Dance in Chicago. She is an active member of the Student Dance Education Organization-Kent State Chapter, under the umbrella of the National Dance Education Organization, and Kent’s Theatre and Dance honors fraternity Alpha Psi Omega-Beta Psi Cast. During her time at Kent, she has been the recipient of various awards including the Kathryn E. Mihelick Award (2019), Dance Faculty Outstanding Achievement Awards for ‘Creative Achievement’ (2019) and ‘Growth and Development’ (2018). Upon graduation, Sophie plans on pursuing a professional dance career.
KELSEY LANESE, BFA Dance Performance, is from Mentor, Ohio. She has been dancing since the age of four training in jazz, modern, ballet, tap and hip hop. She has traveled internationally to Toronto, Ontario and Bangkok, Thailand to enhance her dance training, performing skills and cultural experiences. She also attended the Houston Met Dance Company 2019 summer intensive. Kelsey is a first-year member of the Kent Dance Ensemble, the university’s pre-professional dance company. Additionally, she is a dancer on the Cleveland Monsters Hockey Top Line Dance Team. During her time at Kent State, Kelsey has performed in many annual faculty-choreographed concerts, BFA Senior Dance Concerts and Student Dance Festivals, and was also a dancer in the Nick Cave HEARD Akron performance. She showcased her own choreography entitled Inhibition in the 2019 Student Dance Festival concert. She is an active member of the Student Dance Education Organization-Kent State Chapter, under the umbrella of the National Dance Education Organization, and Kent’s Theatre and Dance honors fraternity Alpha Psi Omega-Beta Psi Cast. She serves as the event coordinator for the student organization East Meets West, and during this academic year, she was appointed the role of Assistant to the Faculty Artistic Director for the Fall’ 19 Faculty Concert: Dynamic Fusion. Upon graduation, Kelsey plans to perform in the commercial dance field.
MORGAN ASHLEY MESSER, BFA Dance Performance, is originally from Lima, Ohio. Before college, she danced at Steppin’ Out Dance Center in Elida, Ohio, winning multiple awards on the competition stage. She has performed in faculty and undergraduate-choreographed concerts at Kent State University, and in the 2019 Student Dance Festival, she presented her original choreography entitled Loosened Skin. Morgan has had the opportunity to perform in HEARD AKRON with Nick Cave and participate in Regional Dance America’s National Choreography Intensive as well as Limón and Joffrey Summer Intensives. Morgan is currently working with MamLuft&Co. in a piece which will be presented in spring 2020 as part of the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the May 4th tragedy. She is also a member the Student Dance Education Organization-Kent State Chapter, under the auspices of the National Dance Education Organization. In recognition of her meritorious work within the Dance Division, she has received Dance Faculty Outstanding Achievement Awards for ‘Emerging Artist’ (2019) and ‘Service to the Program’ (2018 and 2019). After college, Morgan wants to choreograph and create art for the stage, finding new ways to move and tell her own stories.
TAYLOR PARKER, BFA Performance, is originally from Akron, Ohio and began training in dance at the age of 2. She studied ballet, modern, tap and jazz until graduating from Firestone High School in 2016. She is a second-year member of the Kent Dance Ensemble (KDE), the university’s pre-professional dance company and has had the honor to perform works by Gregory King, Shaness Kemp, Christopher Huggins and Catherine Meredith. As a member of KDE, Taylor also had the opportunity to perform at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH. She is a member of East Meets West, a student organization that creates opportunities for artistic collaboration with the University Suan Sunandha Rajabhat in Thailand. While in Bangkok, Taylor performed an original group work as well as presented a self-choreographed solo entitled “Exhale”. She is also a member of the Student Dance Education Organization-Kent State Chapter under the auspices of the National Dance Education Organization. In summer 2019, Taylor received partial scholarship to study in NYC with Pascal Rioult and company in the RIOULT Dance NY Summer Intensive. She has been the recipient of two Dance Faculty Outstanding Achievement Awards: ‘Creative Achievement’ (2019) and ‘Growth and Development’ (2018). Upon graduation, Taylor plans on pursuing a professional career in dance.
Hannah Sidol, BFA Performance, (she/her, they/them), is originally from North Olmsted, Ohio. She is a first-year member of the Kent Dance Ensemble, the university’s pre-professional dance company, and has performed in many faculty and undergraduate-choreographed concerts. During her time at Kent, she has had additional performance opportunities including a solo choreographed by Joan Meggitt at the trideaDANCE Festival and her self-choreographed solo entitled where are you at the 2019 American College Dance Association East Central Regional Conference. In spring 2020, Hannah will perform with MamLuft&Co. Dance in a work commemorating the events of May 4. Hannah’s choreography credits include Kent’s Student Dance Festival and Omega (WO)man. Additionally, she choreographed a solo for a contestant in the Miss Ohio Scholarship Program. Summer studies have included the Limón Dance Company Summer Intensive and Strictly Seattle, Washington. Hannah has served in many leadership roles including Student Artistic Director for the Student Dance Festival, Treasurer of the Student Dance Education Organization-Kent State Chapter, and Student Representative for a School of Theatre and Dance Faculty Search Committee. She has been the recipient of various awards including the Lucy E. Stillings Scholarship (2019), the Xavier Atienza Scholarship (2019), and a 2018 Dance Faculty Outstanding Achievement Award for ‘Service to the Program’. Upon graduation, Hannah plans to move to Seattle, Washington to pursue a professional performing career, while also expanding on her choreographic work.
SADIEANN STROUSE, BFA Dance Performance, is from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is a second-year member of the Kent Dance Ensemble, the university’s pre-professional dance company. She has performed in many faculty and student choreographed concerts during her time at Kent. SadieAnn has studied abroad in Bangkok, Thailand, with the student organization East Meets West. This past summer, she had the opportunity to intern with NCCAkron through their LGBTQ+ Arts Administration Internship along with the professional dance company A.I.M. During her internship, she learned about the inner workings of a contemporary dance company including logistics, rehearsals, documentation and community engagement. SadieAnn is an active member of the Student Dance Education Organization-Kent State Chapter and currently holds the title of historian. In 2018-19, she served as the student artistic director for the Kent Dance Ensemble. She was the recipient of the 2019 School of Theatre and Dance Samuel Stillings Memorial Scholarship in recognition of her strong leadership within the Dance Division. Upon graduation, SadieAnn plans to pursue a career in dance administration.
BUY TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Performing Arts Box Office, located in the lobby of the Roe Green Center for the School of Theatre and Dance at 1325 Theatre Drive, Kent, OH 44242, by phone at 330-672-ARTS (2787) or online at the link below.