Midterms week!

Hello Everyone!

Its another busy week here in the Mercyhurst Dance Department. Not only is it midterms week but several of our students are getting ready for the Youth America Grand Prix competition this weekend in Chicago. Midterms in the dance department vary depending on the teacher of the class. They range from learning a combination and videotaping it for evaluation, writing a paper,or having a conference with your teacher.

The Youth America Grand Prix competition is the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition that awards over $250,000 annually in scholarships to leading dance schools worldwide. The competition is held annually around the world and in New York City, and is open to dance students of all nationalities 9-19 years old. Launched in 1999 by two former dancers of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, YAGP is also a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization created with a mission to provide extraordinary educational and professional opportunities to young dancers, acting as a stepping stone to a professional dance career. Now in its 12th Season, YAGP has awarded over 2 million in scholarships to the leading dance schools worldwide. Over 25,000 dancers worldwide have participated in YAGP’s international workshops, competitions, and audition classes. Over 200 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 50 companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, among others.

In other news, Lehrer Dance taught a master class here on Sunday. About 25 students attended the master class and had an amazing time learning and performing the contemporary dance combinations. The Lehrer style focused on using your entire body to dance and reaching past your boundaries in your movement. It was an amazing experience for all those involved and the good news is they will be returning to Mercyhurst for the Erie Festival of Dance next weekend where they will both perform and teach a master class!

“I get up, I walk, I fall down. Meanwhile I keep on dancing.” - Author Unknown

Hello Everyone,

Its been a quiet week so far here in Erie. Everyone is focused on getting back into shape after the holiday break as well as working hard in their academic classes. However, tomorrow will be an exciting day as it is our first audition day of the new year! We have six girls coming to take class and possibly be a part of the freshman class next year. It is always fun to see new faces in the department.

In other news, we also have a number of students attending the Youth America Grand Prix on the weekend of January 21st. They will be performing various classical solos as well as a group piece in Chicago. We wish them the best of luck in the competition!

"Dance- an art form. The body- an instrument. Learn to play the instrument and master the art form." -Debbie Dee

Happy New Year!!!

Hello Everyone!

2011 has officially kicked off here in the danceSpace and everyone is back and ready to work. Academics as well as dance classes are in full swing and everyone has jumped right back into life here on campus.

In exciting department news we will be taking part in the Erie Festival of Dance on the 29th of January. The purpose of the festival is to showcase the talent and recognize the achievements of local dancers, past and present. It is presented by the Erie Dance Consortium produces the bi-annually. This year the Consortium is honored to join Stairways Behavioral Heath of Erie in their 50th Anniversary Celebration, bringing awareness to mental health and wellness by embracing the theme Wellness in Body, Mind and Spirit. The festival gives local dance companies, seasoned professionals and children the opportunity to join together as performers and audience members. While exposing audiences to dance in its many forms we are reflecting our cultural and ethnic diversity and demonstrating the interrelations of the arts through collaboration with other art forms.

In other exciting news, alumni Trevor Sones will be returning to the department this week to teach several master classes! Mr. Sones is currently a cast member with the national broadway tour of CATS and we are extremely honored to be able to host him for a week.

"Dance Is Life" - Trevor Sones

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!!

Hello All,

It is officially winter here in Erie, we are supposed to have 2-3 feet of the white stuff by the end of the day today. Everyone has been walking into the danceSpace looking like snow men :)

In other news, Raw Edges rehearsals have started this week and everyone is really excited to find out what the pieces they are in are like. It is always interesting and fun to see what your fellow students come up with and what talented student choreographers we have in the department.

It is also Christmas season here at Mercyhurst and the dance department is keeping the christmas joy going. The whole danceSpace has been decorated with trees, lights and snowflakes. We also do a department wide secret santa so every friday until christmas break we will be trading clues and gifts until the department Christmas party when our santa is revealed!

“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you are.” - Author Unknown

Heaven Has A New Ballerina

Hi Everyone,

It is with deepest sadness that I have to inform you that our dance department lost a beautiful and kind dancer over break. Junior dance major Jenni-Lynn Watson, a joy in our department, was violently taken from us. She is truly missed by everyone and will always be remembered as a shining light that brought happiness and love to everyone she came in contact with. We are supporting each other through this difficult time and send our support to her family and friends.

Mercyhurst has set up a memorial scholarship fund in honor of Jenni-Lyn, anyone that would like to make a contribution please go to http://mercyhurst.edu/news/news-releases/article/?article_id=2326

At this time I would just like to share with you some of the special sentiments felt for Jenni by her friends and family......

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. Rest in Peace Jenni-Lyn Watson." - Bryan Parker

"I really miss you ballet buddy. Thought about you all day. Praying for your family constantly. "Love is stronger than death. Though it cannot stop death from happening, no matter how hard death tries, it cannot separate people from love. It cannot take away our memories either. In the end, love is stronger than death.” ♥" - Michaela Barta

"Jenni u would have enjoyed tonight so much, we all had a good drink in ur memory and as it was karaoke there were a few beatles song sung, including let it be and hey jude. We may have ruined them a little bit and not done them complete justice but we tried our best and hey jude was sung with a lot of people. I hope ur happy now and still smiling and always dancing, ur gona be forever missed." - Billy Colton

"Jenni, I miss you so much. I want you back in our lives so bad, it's not fair. I miss my roomie and I'm not sure how to go on with out you..." - Constance Ashley

"Jenn-ayyy. "When I see you again....i will make this face :O!!" And i hope you are falling the bathtub and making the sound of a water buffalo for everyone in heaven. Remember the alphabet, especially f-ing L. I even hope that the yankees win when they play the red sox in heaven. Love you so much unrelated sister ♥" - Tori Scott

"Jenni, I want to start off by saying how amazingly beautiful you are and always will be...no one can take away our memories that I will hold nearest and dearest to my heart forever. You are the best big sister anyone can ask for and know that I'm not alone, not only do I have you forever in my heart but I have so much support so I do not want you to worry about me, I know that you are always here when I need you. I love you more than anything in the world.
P.s I'm going to watch white christmas everyday before christmas because I know thats youre favorite. I love you♥" - Lauren Watson

"I hope wherever you are there is a furry wall and russel brand, lots of pandas and huskies, dave and beatles playing on a constant loop, all the grape soda you can drink, a closet full of ed hardy, a tv to watch the pens and yankees, a beautiful stage with a standing room only every night just to see you dance, a mustang for every day..." - Rachel Torgesen

"I hope you dance love! I will never forget you, you have been taken away from us but now can watch over us! I love you rest in peace!" - Alexa Bradley

"Jenni you were a beautiful woman, a talented ballerina and choreographer, and a great friend. I will miss your sweet smile and laugh around the dancespace and in class. I feel honored to have known you and been friends with you for the time that you were given to us. Rest in God's arms." - Heather Gorres

"i love you so much jenni. i cannot put into words how badly i am taking this news. and i cannot express how badly you will be missed. you are a beautiful girl and will be rememered as such. i will think about you everyday and remember the fun spirit that you have always been. this isn't "goodbye", it's "until next time" until i see you again ♥" - Carrington Lorenz

"may angels lead you in ♥ JMW" - Amy Deer

"guess God needed some good angels up in heaven. jenni-lyn you will be in my heart forever! i love you so much! ♥ RIP JLW! only the good die young." - Hailey Glover

We Love you Jenni-Lyn, forever and always! <3

Finals Are Over!

The term has come to a close here in the danceSpace at Mercyhurst College. The last adjudicated finals were performed just a half an hour ago bringing a close to the fall term for the dance department. Focus has shifted to studying for academic finals before the term break begins a week from today.

Overall it has been an amazing term. There were a lot of achievements and it is clear that everyone worked hard and improved in their technique and performance quality. There were some spectacular performances by the department with the parents/homecoming weekend show, choreography I showings and "A Stravinsky Celebration" being a huge success. We had some great master classes and guest choreographers come in, most notably Randy James who's piece was featured in the department's fall show. Fall term 2010 has been labeled a success!

"When in doubt......dance!"

Last Week Of The Term!

Hello All,

Its the last week of classes for the fall term and life is just as crazy as ever for the dance majors. Today is the last day of adjudicated finals for the department and everyone has been doing wonderfully. The hard work the students have put in this term really shines through in their performances in front of the faculty showing a great amount of improvement from everyone in terms of both performance quality and technique.

In addition to finishing up finals, the department is holding auditions for the winter term production, Raw Edges XIV. Raw Edges showcases and is made up entirely of the choreography of some of the department's very talented choreography students. Pieces range from seven minutes to a half an hour depending on what level of choreography the student is currently taking. Some of the pieces will also feature collaborations with musicians, artists, seamstresses and more. Its a very exciting show and is always loved by the audience. We will keep you posted on how the production develops throughout the term!

"Set yourself up for success and anything is possible."