If you’re interested in seeing history put into motion, the 2024 Dance Show at Williston is a must-see.
Each fall and spring season, a performance is put together by Williston’s dance teacher, Noël St. Jean; this year she has choreographed three pieces for “Making History,” along with guest artist Zackery Betty, who has contributed a special piece. The dancers have been working tirelessly to piece together this astonishing show, which hits the stage Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 pm.
This year’s performance brings historical figures, key events, and defining moments to life through dance. In addition to the main choreography, eight student-choreographed works will be featured, each offering a personal take on history through movement. Each choreographer has approached the challenge of translating history into dance, inspired by different time periods and significant historical themes, giving audiences an experience that blends the past with the present.
Wakanda Hu, a junior dancer and one of the student choreographers, focuses on themes of religious persecution and societal scapegoating in her dance
“It’s not just about witches or magic,” she explained. “It’s about how people always look for someone to blame in times of fear. My piece is about exploring that and questioning the social forces that lead to these kinds of actions.”
Junior Maya Vulakh, a first-time student choreographer, took instpiration for her piece from a trip she took to Greece this summer.
“I was listening to ‘God is a Woman’ in Greece and I was like, ‘This could be a great song to choreograph to,'” she said. “My piece uses the song to show the historic past of Greek goddesses.”
As a first-time choreographer, Maya experienced what many creators face: self-doubt.
“It’s a lot of second-guessing yourself,” she said. “When you’re in the middle of doing it, you think everything looks bad, even though it really doesn’t. It’s just a lot of self-doubt.” Despite her worries, she created a majestic piece that portrays the beauty of Greek goddesses.
While Wakanda is not new to choreographing, she faced her own challenges in bringing her vision to life. One of the biggest obstacles was managing a large group of dancers with varying levels of experience and body types.
“It’s hard to synchronize so many people and make sure they all understand the same message,” she said. “It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s also a chance to push myself and the dancers to be better.”
Wakanda also faced difficulties with her music choice. “I had to change the music halfway through the process, which impacted how the piece developed,” she explained. “The lyrics were an important part of the story, and without them, it’s harder to get the same emotional depth. It definitely forced me to rethink parts of the piece.”
Despite these setbacks, Wakanda is happy with how her piece has come together and appreciated the opportunity to work alongside Zackery Betty, the guest artist.
“His piece has been really fun to work on. He brings a lot of creativity and new ideas to the table, and it’s been a great learning experience,” she said.
Betty is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of NSquared Dance, a professional company founded in 2014. Betty holds an MFA in Choreography from Wilson College and a BFA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College. His work has been featured at Ballet Hartford, the Palace Theatre, Boston Arts Academy, and New England Dance Project. He is currently an adjunct Professor of Dance at Saint Anselm College.
The Williston dance team has a wide range of dance experience, from first-time dancers to dancers with 10-plus years of experience. A common theme that seems to keep dancers motivated is the community and the pure love for the craft.
“I just enjoy dancing so much and feel like it’s the best way to express myself,” said sophomore Finlay Kavanagh. “I can’t imagine not doing it.”
Camila Gonzalez Hudson, a junior from Mexico, adds that this season, the team itself was the main component of her dance confidence.
“What kept me motivated was the people; everyone is so supportive on our team and lifts each other up,” she said.
No matter the background of each dancer, the Williston Dance team provides a safe space for each dancer to express their creativity.
“I feel like we’re all very close, and it’s a very joyful environment where we all lift each other up,” Finlay said. “We always have so much fun!” Camila adds.
Maddy McCarthy, a senior dance captain and another key contributor to the show, has high hopes for the concert and its message.
“I hope the show helps the audience connect the dots between history and art,” she said. “The challenge for us is to take powerful historical moments and express them through dance. It’s a unique process, and I hope the audience feels moved by the work we’ve put into it.”
Maya agrees with Maddy and adds the possibilities for interpretation that she hopes the audience takes away.
“I hope that the audience sees historic events in a different light,” Maya said. “I hope that they get to see how different people interpret different events and how dance can be really powerful in bringing a message across.”
Tickets for this year’s show are now available on www.williston.com/dance.
