Eastern Theatre Student Sinque Tavares of West Haven Choreographs Dance for "Dance Here!"

2016 May 13

Several talented dance students in Eastern Connecticut State University's theatre program choreographed and performed original dances for "Dance Here!" The 2015-16 academic year-end showcase featured the vision of eight student choreographers, performed by their dance and theatre classmates.

Sinque Tavares '16 of West Haven, who majors in Theatre, was among the student choreographers showcased. Tavares's two performances were titled "Deborah Ann" and "The Mizfitz."

"'Deborah Ann' is about the thoughts that had taken place in my head when my grandmother Deborah Ann 'Pinky' Harris, passed away on Mother's Day, May 10, 2010," said Tavares. "I love you Grandma and I hope I'm making you proud."

"My vision for 'The Mizfitz' was to demonstrate that women in hip-hop can be just as powerful as men," said Tavares, "that they don't need to be oversexualized, and can dance just as forcefully."

Tavares has concentrations in both Acting and Dance and Global Performance. He has been dancing since he learned to walk. Tavares is the team captain and president of the Fusion Dance Crew, and this semester he choreographed "Out of Our Fathers House," directed by fellow student Caitlin McDonough for the main stage production of "Power Plays." He has also appeared in "Johnsnville" and "Simon Stephens' Pornography."

The choreographers' pieces were brought to life by the participation of their dancer-classmates, and were accompanied by music - in some cases, by Eastern faculty and student musicians. Students and faculty also assisted the choreographers with behind the scenes tasks, such as costume work, lighting and sound design.

"Dance Here!" was the Performing Arts Department's first spring semester dance showcase, as well as the introduction of the theatre major's new concentration Dance and Global Performance.

The event highlighted the work of emerging student choreographers developed in the course Dance Composition (DNC 445). "I think you will agree that the students have succeeded not only in creating meaningful work, but also in learning how to collaborate and transmute process into product," said Theatre Professor Alycia Bright-Holland.

"As an art form of unparalleled immediacy and visceral quality, dance has a unique ability to heal, to celebrate, to expand and elevate our collective worldview, to address pressing issues of social justice, and to both imagine possibilities and re-pattern actualities," said Bright-Holland. "Such appraisals speak to an art form that is both ancient and contemporary, which unifies diverse genres and styles, and which brings together performers from many different majors to enthusiastically explore a common medium."

"Dance Here!" occurred in proscenium theatre of the new Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC).