Dance Auditions

Five College Dance Auditions at UMass Amherst with Jenna Riegel. Photo © nikki lee.

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Tech and Performance Schedule

The techs and shows run weekends and evenings from Saturday Nov 1 to Saturday Nov 22. Please note, Thanksgiving holiday begins the weekend of Nov 22 at Amherst College. 

MHC Faculty Concert: Tech Nov 1-5, Performances Nov 6-8
AC/UM Faculty Concert: Tech Nov 8-12, Performances Nov 13-15
SC Faculty Concert: Tech Nov 15-19, Performances Nov 20-22 

Fall 25 Faculty Project Details

FCD Spring Auditions will be held on Saturday, April 12th at Scott Dance Studio, Smith College. All of the works will appear in Fall Faculty Concerts in November at the faculty's respective school. 

Auditioning Faculty and Rehearsal Schedules
AC: Jenna Riegel MW 6:00-9:00PM
MHC: Barbie Diewald MWF 11:30-12:45PM
MHC: Ian Berg Tuesdays from 7:00-9:45 pm + Labor Day Wkend Intensive TBC
SC: Angie Hauser WF 1:10-2:35PM + pre semester intensive 5 days  week of Aug 25th TBD
UM: Lauren Cox 3-4 hour weekend workshops + late August through semester TBD
UM: FCD Rep Mondays & Wednesdays: 5:30-7:00pm + Intensive weekend August 24-31, TBC

Jenna Riegel, Amherst College
The work: 
My work utilizes contemporary and postmodern movement techniques, aesthetics and choreographic devices. Students may expect to experiment and perform both set and improvised material, as well as speak, sing or sound in the process or final piece. The process is highly collaborative and students will contribute both movement ideas/material, as well as their thoughts/opinions on the concepts or inquiries being explored in the work. My current professional research is investigating the celestial bodiless point known as Black Moon Lilith, an astrological location associated with the shadow side, wild, rebellious and exiled parts of ourselves. This may be the focus of our work together or it may emerge as something else...
The cast:
I will be casting 4-6 dancers from the Spring Audition, with a final cast size of 8-10.
Rehearsals: 
MW 6:00-9:00PM at Studio 1, Webster Hall, Amherst College

Barbie Diewald, Mount Holyoke College
The work:
I'm looking for 6-8 dancers to continue some research I've begun this semester. This process will operate within a modern/postmodern contemporary paradigm, and will be highly collaborative. I'm looking for dancers who are interested in exploring compositional practice, partnering, full-bodied movement, and intricate brain/body teasing choreography. Rehearsals will be held immediately after my advanced modern course and the work will be featured in the Mount Holyoke Faculty Concert in November 2025.
The cast:
I am casting 6-8 dancers from this audition. I have already been working with 2 dancers in the early phase of this research. The final cast size will be 8-10 total.
Links: 
Field (2022)  
Apparition (2023)
Rehearsals:
MWF 11:30-12:45, MHC

Ian Berg, Mount Holyoke College
The work: 
Come learn a new dance in the Tradition of Jazz Tap dancing. We'll make music with our feet and move around the stage. Rehearsals meet on tuesday evenings at 7 with a potential weekend of rehearsals on labor day weekend.
The cast:
For this piece the cast will be 8 dancers. All should have a strong technical tap dance training and musical understanding.
My work generally:
Lots of musical and movement counterpoint with fun inventive uses of space
Rehearsals:
Mt Holyoke Tuesday nights, 7:00-9:45

Angie Hauser, Smith College
The work: 
I am making a new group work for 6-8 dancer who have strong performance skills and bold physicality. I am looking for dancers with skill and interest in generating and learning new movement material, working with improvisation, and challenging themselves as performers. The work begins from my interest in plants as constructors of form. I am inspired by composer and poet JJJJJerome Ellis and the Aster flower. Both Ellis' work and the Aster are expressions of the construction and deconstruction of form -- particularly repetition. The process focuses on a shared curiosity and appetite for -- specificity in the body -- movement that strives to go beyond the perceivable possibilities -- generative collaboration.
The cast:
6-8 dancers
Links:
prior work
Rehearsals:
Smith College W + F 1:00-2:35 with pre semester intensive 5 days TBD week of Aug 25th.

Lauren Cox, UMass Amherst
The work: 
The piece will be performed with a live vocalist and percussionist. I am looking for a trio. Dancers who can tell a story with movement, who are well versed in African Diasporic styles and who bring their own voice into the room.
The cast:
3-6
My work generally:
I like to create on the spot with the dancers in the room. I may give choreography or prompts, you may speak or sing. I enjoy working with versatile artists. My work is usually very spiritual and I want everyone to be the best they can possibly be.
Rehearsals:
At UMass in a series of weekend 3-4 hour workshops hopefully starting in late summer and extending through the semester.

Saroya Corbett & Duane Lee Holland, Jr.
The work:
Progressions is an exposition of the fundamentals of Dunham Technique. Katherine Dunham composed the structure of "Progressions" during her time building the Performing Arts Training Center in East St. Louis, IL. Progressions highlights the energy and power of the technique and features the authentic rhythms composed for Dunham Technique
The cast: 
12-16 dancers
Rehearsals:
UMass Mondays & Wednesdays: 5:30-7:00 pm + Intensive weekend August 23-30

Congratulations! These dancers are promoted to 300 level courses in ballet for your time at FCD, grade dependent. Well done! If you have questions, please see your campus dance program chair or faculty for feedback. 

Audrey Wang
Ellery Gleason-Kaiser
Kate Michel
Lizzy Tucker
Ella McCarthy
Beatrix Airhart
Abby Chan
Lucia Jacques
Macy Sawicz
Wilsie Ferris
Chloe Jean
Molly Armbrust
Chloe Mills
Helena McGowan
Madeline Wright

Following are the Fall 2024 Faculty Rep Projects Cast Lists. 

• PLEASE CONFIRM with your faculty via email that you will be in the work.
• Check the rehearsal times, some rehearsals start MONDAY. 

Congratulations to those who were cast! If you were not cast, there will be plenty of opportunities to be in concerts, keep your eye on this page, the FCD E-Blast, and IG for upcoming opportunities - this week and ongoing - as majors and MFAs need students for their works. If you have a question, please be in touch with your dance program chair or faculty for feedback. Also, be sure to check out your campus dance group activities. There was a lot of great dancing on Sunday, thank you!

Angelica Monteiro:
Annalise Kuhlmann, MHC
Aria Frehner, MHC 
Clara Michaud, UM
Evelyn Cauley, SC
Frankie Crosby, MHC 
Gaile Hao, MHC
Jessica Sotindjo, SC
Lauren Hanafin, UM

Chris Aiken: 
Abbey Fluet, SC
Chavi Bansal, SC
Natasha Crutchfield, SC
Nina Gibb, SC
Dimitri Kalaitzidis, SC
Lindsay Kowal, SC
Dahlia Riddington, SC
Grace Su, SC
Julia Steinberg, MHC
Sarah Young, SC
Taylor Zweil, SC

Duane Lee Holland Jr:
Avery Alvarado, UM
Brooke Enokian, MHC
Hanna Leonard, UM
Jessica Sotindjo, SC
Sophie Biderman, SC

Lailye Weidman:
Anjali Hith, MHC
Anais Dallett, HC
Ava Jett-Beachley, HC
Cora Fenichel-Hewitt, HC
Elsa Wood, HC 
Hannah San Clemente, MHC
Jeanette Gronemeyer, HC
KC Johnson Erikson, HC
Mére (Samara) Wilson, HC
Paloma Ortega, MHC
Rowan Banford, HC
Rory Carter, HC
Sarah Morquecho, HC
Yun Lee, SC

Molly Fletcher Lynch-Clark:
Audrey Garfinkel, UM
Devon Fischer, SC
Emma Vicinanza, SC
Hengle Yong, UM
Lauren Hanafin, UM
Lila Miller, SC
May Saito, UM
Nellie Alexandre, SC
Nicolette LeBrun, UM
Trista Auclair, UM
Vivian Eisenman, UM

Mustapha Braimah:
Amanda Amoabeng, MHC
Catherine D’Agostino, MHC 
Lucia Jacques, MHC
Maria Pless, MHC
Marina Jacobs, MHC
Meghan MacBeath, MHC
Natasha Nagarajan, MHC
Sakura Wilson, MHC
Trinity Hartridge, MHC

Neri Torres:
Audrey Garfinkel, UM
Chynna Jacobs, UM
Hanna Leonard, UM
Madi Wedge, UM
Ryann Burns, UM
Sadie Arundale, UM
Superstudy: Ayo Olowole, MHC 
Superstudy: Rebecca Robertson, UM 

Shakia Barron:
Ahtiana Charles, UM
Amanda Amoabeng, MHC
Catherine D’Agostino, MHC
Chenlu Wang, MHC
Elsa Wood, HC
Jessica Sabourin, MHC
KC Johnson Erikson, HC
Krista Lawson, UM
Kylie Gregory, SC
Marina Jacobs, MHC
Naia Owens, SC
Sakura Wilson, MHC
Shawn Lelia Barnet, SC
Trinity Hartridge, MHC
Warren Wang, AC

Tom Vacanti:
Catharine Richards, UM
Chloe Mills, UM
Clara Michaud, UM
Elena Zytnicki, SC 
Ellery Witman, UM
Emma Marchi, UM
Emma Wilson, SC
Jocelyn McCarrier, HC
Kate Synder, MHC
Laura Selberg, UM
Madeline Wright, MHC
Rebecca Robertson, UM
Ryan Carrigan, UM
Roselyn Chen, UM
Samantha Bernat, UM
Stella Melucci, UM

Planning for the Audition - Know the Rehearsal and Performance Schedules

Before you audition, please check these rehearsal timings and make sure they work for your schedule as you know it now. 

REHEARSAL SCHEDULE for Fall Faculty Concerts

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

MHC/AC Faculty Concert: Nov. 7th-9th
Tech: Nov. 2nd-6th
Choreographers:

• Angelica Monteiro, AC
• Shakia Barron, MHC 
• Mustapha Braimah, MHC
• Barbie Diewald, MHC (Already Cast)
• Bill T. Jones Rep Piece (Already Cast)

SC Faculty Concert: Nov. 14th-16th
Tech: Nov. 9th-13th
Choreographers:

• Chris Aiken, SC
• Guest Artist Ellie Goudie-Averill, SC (Auditions will be 9/10 at 7pm in Scott Studio at Smith College)
• Shakia Barron/Niki Farahani, SC (Already Cast)
• Bill T. Jones Rep Piece (Already Cast)

HC/UM Faculty Concert: Nov. 21st-23rd
Tech: Nov. 16th-20th
Choreographers:

• Duane Lee Holland Jr., UM
• Neri Torres, UM
• Lailye Weidman, HC
• Lauren Cox, UM (Already Cast)
• Bill T. Jones Rep Piece (Already Cast)

UMass Music and Dance Collaboration: Daughters of the Moon: Feb 13-15
Tech: Feb 8th-12th
Choreographers:

• Molly Fletcher Lynch-Clark, UM
• Tom Vacanti, UM

We would like you to know...

Group auditions for repertory projects can feel competitive. Each dancer is doing their best to show their abilities and potential fit for a choreographic project, while having to learn on the spot. We at FCD are committed to creating a positive and rigorous audition process and providing a range of opportunities for students across various dance styles, and varying levels of experience, body types, and identities. 

If you have concerns, please discuss them with your dance department / program chair, or contact Melinda Buckwalter, FCD Managing Director.

Please Note:

School title after faculty name reflects WHERE the work will rehearse, not necessarily the faculty's home campus.
Alphabetical by College then by Faculty last name.

Angelica Monteiro, Amherst College

Current Work: I am restaging "A Riverside Tale," an embodied storytelling piece that reimagines the Lenda do Boto through decolonial lenses. The Boto is part of the cosmology from the Brazilian Amazon and is a shape-shifting supernatural being who takes the form of the pink river dolphin. The piece combines street dances from Brazil and the U.S. with Amazonian traditional movement and music. I am looking for nine dancers (max) willing to work hard and learn something new while bringing their stories and experiences to this re-telling. My process is highly collaborative. We will read, discuss, and embody what we want to get to the stage. It is a delightfully immersive process with many twists and turns.

Rehearsal Schedule: M/W 5p-8pm, S1

Video 1

Overview: My artistic practice/research focuses on how geographic and anthropological movement patterns, such as immigration, colonization, and deforestation, influence how we dance our stories. I take an ethnographic approach to dance composition and embodied storytelling that is rooted in visionary fiction, Black and Indigenous feminism, as well as a fusion of Street, Contemporary, and Brazilian/Amazonian dance vocabularies. I call it Cuíra!

Lailye Weidman, Hampshire College

Current Work: The proposed investigation for this work centers dance as a practice of listening. We will explore our ears for their anatomical wonder and metaphorical power. We will also inquire beyond auditory perception. Dance is a vehicle for listening to: music, the environment, each other, the body's impulses, and more. We will be utilizing Deep Listening practices developed by composer Pauline Oliveros and her collaborators. Jesse Olsen Bay is the collaborating composer for this work. Come prepared to hear and make sounds!

Rehearsal Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays 1-3:50PM at Hampshire College, Small Dance Studio

Overview: Through multiple projects over the past several years, I’ve been looking at the forces that move us and asking how bodies respond to those forces. Most of my performances are artifacts of time spent together with the performers in rehearsal. I choreograph to acknowledge and grow connections with other movers and places. I am always asking—What are the conditions that compel us to move? What agency do we have inside these conditions? How do our environments and our communities imprint on our bodies, and how do we become conscious of the imprint that we leave in turn?

Shakia "The Key" Barron, Mount Holyoke

Current Work: My work is based off of the individuals that get selected. I am interested in working with Hip-Hop and Street Style dancers. I would like between 8-10 dancers for this repertory work. I like to create on the spot with the dancers, so being open to something new, and having good positive vibes are a necessity.

Rehearsal Schedule: Mondays 6-9pm, MHC

Video links

Overview: Always freestyle involved!

Mustapha Braimah, Mount Holyoke

Current Work: This piece, hiraeth...ofie ne fie, is a captivating original work inspired by the choreographer's immigration experience and the concept of home. Its movement ideas, music, and philosophies are deeply rooted in indigenous African dances, including contemporary and improvisation, blending African-rooted genres and modern contemporary dance forms via movement research by the choreographer – with live music and spoken words. It investigates the human condition by delving into personal narratives, mythology, and ontological questions. I will need eight cast members and two understudies.

Rehearsal Schedule: WEDNESDAYS - 06:00PM to 10:00PM KENDALL STUDIO THEATRE

Chris Aiken, Smith College

Current work: I am interested in working with an ensemble of dancers who are interested and invested in ensemble performance improvisation. The piece will include live music by Jake Meginsky which will be both melodic, rhythmic, and atmospheric and thus I will look for students who have an ability to listen to and respond to the sonic landscape that emerges within each performance. I am looking for dancers who are grounded in movement research and real-time composition. Also, I look for dancers who enjoy the dynamics of moving within and ensemble to moving as a soloist. I welcome dancers who possess skills in a diverse array of styles - improvisation is an approach not a style. Finally, I would love it if some of the people in my piece have partnering skills.

Rehearsal schedule: Wednesday 2:45-4:45 pm, Friday 1-3 pm

Video 1
Video 2

Overview: My work focuses on the potential of creating improvised performances that are grounded in composition and ecological relationships (between people, environment, and human artifacts and designed elements). I believe that improvising can reveal each person's history, awareness and aesthetic sensibility as well as their capacity to be in community with others.

Ellie Goudie-Averill, Smith College

Please Note: This work has an info meeting Tues Sep 3 during classtime, and will audition on Sep 10 during classtime.

Current Work: This Fall, I'll be creating a new postmodern ballet for the Smith College Concert. I am seeking dancers with at least some ballet training and the desire to dive into technical movement with curiosity and ease. We will work together on momentum driven phrases, some partner work, and a human presence within the formal aesthetics of ballet. We will also be working with colorful projection designs created using analog film technology.

Rehearsal Schedule: Tu/Th 7-8:30pm in Scott Studio, Additional rehearsal from 10:30-1:30 on Sun, 9/15.

Video

Overview: I make dances to draw lines out from ourselves into the world, to find delight in repeated movement, to understand the limits of codified systems of movement, and to find freedom within form. I want dancers in my work to feel and to be seen in three dimensions, to live within and beyond their lineage and training, and to make change our constant.

Duane Lee Holland, UMass Amherst

Current Work: This work features the inspiration conjured by the culmination of joy, dance, and fashion. I'm seeking movement artists that are familiar with fusing Africanist and Euro centric forms into one experience.

Rehearsal Schedule: Monday/Wednesday - 7-9pm at Totman Gym

Overview: My research centers on the interdisciplinary nature of the Black American arts continuum and highlighting its sophistication and innovation. My life has been fueled by wealthy intergenerational and transgenerational relationships that have formed me as a human being and artist.

Molly Fletcher Lynch-Clark, UMass Amherst

Current Work: This work is inspired by two short stories by Italo Calvino, The Distance of The Moon and Daughters of the Moon. This is a collaborative process between Molly and Thomas Vacanti with original music composed by Salvatore Macchia. I am seeking a medium to large cast of strong contemporary movers who are open minded and hard working, mature and ready to dream big. The process will work with existing movement material as well as collaboratively create based on improvisation tasks and scores.

Rehearsal times: TTH 5:15-7:15pm. Intensive September 14th 9-4pm. Possible additional weekend days if needed. The week of January 25th rehearsal intensive- schedule TBD.

Neri Torres, UMass Amherst*

Current work: The piece Obini is dedicated to the resilient women and all those engaged in relentless and courageous struggles to bring meaning to their families and homes. It honors those who have lost children, parents, siblings, and spouses in the pursuit of migration or in standing up against oppressive dictatorships. Obini (which means womne in Afrocuban tradition, Yoruba language)n originally premiered in 2021, and while the core will remain intact, some modifications will be made to accommodate the new cast, who will bring their unique personalities and skills to the performance. 6 female dancers will integrate the cast. Be ready to undesrtand a complex rhythmic section. Bring long wide skirts to the rehearsals.

Rehearsal Schedule: Mondays & Wednesdays, 5:30-6:15 PM *Repertory Project course at UMass, Amherst. Possibly additional rehearsals will be added some days after 2 pm Fridays and/or Saturday

Overview: My pieces invite reflection by blending mythical Afro-Cuban archetypes with contemporary social issues. This fusion seeks to convey complex emotions and abstract messages while preserving my culture’s joie de vivre and authenticity. The integration of drumming, voice, singing, and other media are aimed to enhance and deepen the dance experience.

Tom Vacanti, UMass Amherst

Current Work: Moon Project is an evening length dance work based on Italo Calvino's short stories "The Daughters of the Moon" and "The Distance of the Moon". This is a collaborative process between Tom and Molly Fletcher Lynch-Clark with original music composed by Salvatore Macchia. Performances include spoken word, experimental video, and live music. Performers should be able to not only participate in the creative process and feel comfortable with acting and speaking, but also performing with musicians. I am looking to cast between 8-10 dancers.

Rehearsal Schedule: Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 UMass Totman 202 Intensive September 14th 9-4pm. Possible additional weekend days if needed. The week of January 25th rehearsal intensive- schedule TBD.

About my work: Drama. I work with drama.