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Four dancers sit on the floor during a performance, each placing their right arm on top of their head.

Photo Gallery And Recap: Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival

The art of storytelling through dance took center stage at the Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival on Sept. 8 and 9, hosted by the Texas A&M School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts’ Dance Science program.

Both shows attracted a full house at the Dance Black Box Theater at the Physical Education Activity Program Building, with seven live performances and two screendance video productions.

The festival was created in 2007 by Carisa Armstrong, dance program director and associate professor, and Christine Bergeron, associate dean for academic affairs and clinical professor, to create a space for contemporary dance.

Texas A&M students Terra Fiedler and Madison Calvez performed “Intertwined,” which was choreographed and costumed by Armstrong and Diane Cahill Bedford, clinical associate professor and section chair for the dance program.

Jam Martinez, stage manager for the School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts, worked with A&M students behind the scenes on production, lighting, props and costumes.

  • Two dancers leap through the air.
    Texas A&M Dance Science students Madison Calvez and Terra Fiedler performed “Intertwined,” which was choreographed and costumed by Armstrong and Diane Cahill Bedford, clinical associate professor and section chair for the dance program. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Two dancers perform, each with one hand on the floor and one in the air.
    Texas A&M Dance Science students Terra Fiedler and Madison Calvez performed “Intertwined,” which was choreographed and costumed by Armstrong and Diane Cahill Bedford, clinical associate professor and section chair for the dance program. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • A dancer has one knee on the floor, while supporting a second dancer by placing her hands on her shoulder. The second dancer has one leg in the air and both arms stretched toward the sky.
    Texas A&M Dance Science students Terra Fiedler and Madison Calvez performed “Intertwined,” which was choreographed and costumed by Armstrong and Diane Cahill Bedford, clinical associate professor and section chair for the dance program. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Six dancers stand close together with arms outstretched during a performance.
    “Roots,” choreographed and costumed by Sarah Tran. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Four dancers sit on the floor during a performance, each placing their right arm on top of their head.
    “Roots,” choreographed and costumed by Sarah Tran. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • A dancer in a white dress reaches her left hand up toward the sky.
    “Roots,” choreographed and costumed by Sarah Tran. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • A dancer performs, with arms curled upward.
    “To-Gather,” choreographed by Tobaric Atkins-Montana. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • A dancer reaches her left arm outward.
    “To-Gather,” choreographed by Tobaric Atkins-Montana. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • A dancer performs with his left arm stretched upward and his right pointing back toward the left.
    “Illusory Motion,” choreographed and costumed by Heather Samuelson. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Two dancers perform with outstretched arms.
    “Illusory Motion,” choreographed and costumed by Heather Samuelson. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • A dancer lays on the floor with his arm outstretched.
    “Illusory Motion,” choreographed and costumed by Heather Samuelson. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Two dancers perform. Each has their hands on the flor and their legs in the air.
    “Illusory Motion,” choreographed and costumed by Heather Samuelson. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Two dancers perform, one cradling the other in his arms.
    “Until Death Do Us Part,” choreographed and costumed by Richard Oaxaca. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Two dancers perform on stage.
    “Until Death Do Us Part,” choreographed and costumed by Richard Oaxaca. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Two dancers perform, one cradling the other in his arms.
    “Until Death Do Us Part,” choreographed and costumed by Richard Oaxaca. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Two dancers perform, one lifting the other in his arms.
    “Until Death Do Us Part,” choreographed and costumed by Richard Oaxaca. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Two dancers perform.
    “Until Death Do Us Part,” choreographed and costumed by Richard Oaxaca. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Seven dancers perform, with one in front looking out toward the crowd while the others crouch behind her.
    “Look!” choregraphed and costumed by Melanie Diaz. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • Dancers surround one performer, while holding a book, briefcase and phone toward her face.
    “Look!” choregraphed and costumed by Melanie Diaz. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • A dancer seated on the floor looks up toward the sky.
    “Look!” choregraphed and costumed by Melanie Diaz. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • A dancer performs with his back to the camera.
    “Aesthetic Pressure,” choregraphed, performed and costumed by Andrew Robert Smith. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.
  • A kneeling dancer lifts his arms toward the sky.
    “Aesthetic Pressure,” choregraphed, performed and costumed by Andrew Robert Smith. Dress rehearsal photo by Emily Caroline Sartin/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications.

Six visiting artists presented their work during the show.

  • “To-Gather,” choreographed by Tobaric Atkins-Montana. Performed by Andrea Oregon, Courtney Sherman-Allen, Hannah Dunning, Morgan Leanne, Eryn Marie, Adam Castaneda and Atkins-Montana. Costumes by Atkins-Montana. Music by Louise Schroder, Ludovico Einaudi and Erykah Badu.
  • “Aesthetic Pressure,” choregraphed, performed and costumed by Andrew Robert Smith of Huntsville. Lighting by Neal Petz. Music by Bach, BBC Newsbeat and Sigur Ros.
  • “Look!” choregraphed and costumed by Melanie Diaz of Denton. Performed by Audrey Derbyshire, Kara Hawkins, Alexandria Joyce, Anela Kindle, Iman McGee, Kyrstin Mickle, Kiri Palmer and Jaide Chavez. Lighting by Nikki DeShea Smith. Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto.
  • “Until Death Do Us Part,” choreographed and costumed by Richard Oaxaca. Performed by Yidi Lin and Oaxaca. Lighting by Martinez. Music by Sarah-Jane Bradley.
  • “Illusory Motion,” choreographed and costumed by Heather Samuelson of Nacogdoches. Performed by Hannah Bryant, Savannah Bunn, Brooke Lauw, Grant McGee, Kenzi Payne and Kailynn Smith. Lighting by Samuelson. Music by Astor Piazzolla.
  • “Roots,” choreographed and costumed by Sarah Tran of Dallas, founder of TranScend Motion. Performed by Sofia Leal, Krysta Ortiz, Surayya Raheem, Payton Stansbury, Hadley Voss and Tran. Lighting by Tran. Music by Salt of the Sound and Naski.

Video productions:

  • “No Rescue Needed,” choreographed, directed and costumed by Tran. Performed by Lindy Foster. Cinematography by Tony Lee. Music by Yenoh Sounds.
  • “Kinesthetic Gathering,” choregraphed by Martinez. Performed by Abby Reuhlen, Aubrey Morris, Gabrielle Jackson, Kaylee Phipps, Kira Starr, Ryan Taylor, Seth Abkemeir and Tyler Orcutt. Costumes by Aniya Wingate. Lighting by Tran. Music by Victor Lundberg, Michael Rothery, Year of the Deer and Lotus.

Crew members for the festival: Catie Incardona, assistant stage manager; Karli Mason, lighting technician; Rachel Wilde, sound technician. Stage hands: Campbell Brickley, Gillian Brown, Kelly Colpoys, Rylie Heath, Sydney Lovett, Karli Mason, Annie Rabel, Victoria Rivera, Brannon Russell, Emily Segers and Karis Taylor.

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