The Lothridge Festival of Dance will feature 95 performers on stage at the Nott Memorial Friday, May 12, during Steinmetz Symposium.
The hour-long show is set for 4 p.m. and includes 14 works in an array of dance styles. Attendance is first come, first served, and will be capped at 400.
“We are thrilled to highlight the student performers and choreographers from across our community – including choreographic research from dance minors, students enrolled in our dance practicums, and performers from our various campus dance clubs and teams,” said Megan Flynn, the Gustave L. Davis ’59 and Susan S. Davis Director of Dance and artist in residence in the Department of Theater and Dance.
Flynn created the show with Laurie Zabele Cawley, dance program assistant director.
This year’s featured faculty choreography is by adjunct Omonike Akinyemi, whose flamenco practicum students will present their in-class work, titled “A Night in Sevilla.”
“It will include students who have never taken flamenco before, which is very cool,” Flynn said.
The main emphasis is on student choreography. This year’s original works are by Nishtha Agarval ’24, Trisha Agrawal ’23, Emily Armlin ’23, Shriya Balaji ’23, Ishika Chourasia ’25, Eva Crowley ’24, Janet Fabode ’23, Kim Falcon ’23, Aida Girma ’23 Miriam Rojo Gutierrez ’25, Keerthi (Anuja) Konda ’23, Caitlin LeSage ’25, Emily Juliana Lisi ’23, Abby Resnic ’23, Vaishali Srinivasan ’25 and Zoe Watson ’23.
“All of the dancers and choreographers have been working so hard to make this show possible,” said Armlin, who choreographed “Presence,” a piece in which she dances with three other students to music by Sleeping at Last. “I always love that this show in particular showcases so many dance styles and students’ talents. This year we have pieces inspired by everything from the Rockettes to the architecture of the Nott Memorial.”
The student clubs performing are Hip Hop, Bhangra, LatinX Dance Club, Kpop, Dance Team, African Dance Club and Tap Club, making its debut. Union’s dance seniors also will perform their own number.
Others who have worked on the program include Claire Knecht ’26, stage manager; Andrew Bodd, technical director; Brittney Belz, costume coordinator; Robin MacDuffie, scene shop foreman; and Victoria Rotondi and Charlie Jones, arts administrators.
The Steinmetz dance performance is supported by a gift from Charles Lothridge in memory of his parents, William (Class 1879) and Anna. Other sponsors include Joan and David Henle ’75; Sue and Dr. Gus Davis ’59; and the Gail and Carl George Annual Fund.