Choreographers and Composers Create

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Journal Slideshow Gallery

Choreographer My'Kal Stromile and Composer James Gulielmetti

Pictured: Patrick Blain and Kylie James

I already knew My'Kal's style of dancing quite well, so the first thing I wanted to know was how his choreography would interpret different elements of his dancing, and he wanted to get a sense of my compositional style and musical background. Once we started figuring those things out, we started spitting out ideas and realized that they were more similar than we'd thought they'd be.—Third-Year Composer James Gulielmetti (Photo: Rosalie O'Connor)

Choreographer Taylor LaBruzzo and Composer Michael Parsons

Pictured: Sean Lammer (left) and Ethan Colangelo (Photo: Rosalie O'Connor)

Madison Hicks with Can Wang, Anca Putin, Hayley Mertens, and Jennie Palomo

Choreographer Madison Hicks and Composer Thomas Morrison

Pictured: Madison Hicks (left) with Can Wang, Anca Putin, Hayley Mertens, and Jennie Palomo (Photo: Rosalie O'Connor

Three words I would use to describe my piece would be femininity, vulnerability, and strength. When we started collaborating we sat down and discussed images we both had and came up with an idea/agreement on the arc of the piece. This way we both knew in what direction we were going in and were on the same page as we started our creative process! It’s been an amazing journey so far.—Third-Year Dancer Madison Hicks

When we first met, Madi showed me some abstract pictures to give me a sense of what she was going for emotively. Then we discussed how the arc would play out minute by minute. Everything has seemed so efficient and natural during this collaboration—it's been wonderful so far! —Second-Year Master's Composer Thomas Morrison

Choreographer Zachary Gonder and Composer William Healy

Pictured: Zachary Gonder (foreground) with Oliver Jull

Being an artist who has built a career in interdisciplinary collaboration, I so strongly value the educational and artistic benefits of the collaborative process across disciplines. The experience one gains from working with another art form is invaluable.—Faculty Member Jerome Begin (Photo: Rosalie O'Connor)

Choreographer Mikaela Kelly and Composer Theophilus Chandler

Pictured: Mikaela Kelly (background) with Moscelyne ParkeHarrison and Matthew Gilmore (Photo: Rosalie O'Connor)

As a long-time choreographer, dancer, vocalist, and teacher, I learn so much every year from the students in terms of all four of these disciplines. The fresh ideas and contemporary ways of thinking that they bring to their art forms are always inspiring and keep me so engaged in how I navigate giving relevant feedback to each pair and in turn, hopefully inspiring them.—Faculty Member Janis Brenner

Choreographer Mason Manning and Composer Jacob Gelber

Pictured: Mason Manning (Photo: Rosalie O'Connor)

I keep coming back to [teaching] ChoreoComp because the interaction of the sister arts, Music and Dance, is a passion of mine; every year I learn so much from watching our amazing students that it feels as if I get to be the student again!—Faculty Member Daniel Ott (MM ’99, DMA ’04, composition)

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Each fall, six pairs of third-year dancers and composition students work together to create original pieces in a course called Composers and Choreographers, informally known as ChoreoComp, that's overseen by faculty members Jerome Begin, Janis Brenner, and Daniel Ott (MM '99, DMA '04, composition). The pieces are then performed by student dancers. “From the beginning of time, music and dance have been linked, and I think it's amazing that we have young professionals in dance and music that desire to continue this important collaboration,” said Lawrence Rhodes, artistic director of the Dance Division. “I'm always surprised that other schools that have music and dance departments don't.” (Photos by Rosalie O'Connor)

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