The Haas Center for the Arts hosted the 14th Annual Dance Minor concert Sunday, May 4, and Monday, May 5, to showcase “Storms of Refusal,” a student-choreographed production.
The production consisted of five original performances and one timely remount, exploring themes prevalent in today’s society.
The music and audio flowed naturally with the dancers’ movements.
The opening number, “In Ruth We Trust,” captured women’s empowerment and centuries-old societal standards.
During the performance, dancers held cleaning supplies and cleaned the stage intermittently. One dancer snapped a broom in half, shocking the others. Another dancer followed suit, breaking hers in solidarity, symbolizing their united stand.
The performance included a tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, featuring audio from her podcast interview while dancers focused on the screen.
Student Kaylee Chappell’s solo performance stood out. The beautiful piece addressed concerns about book banning and freedom of expression. It drew inspiration from Donna Tartt’s The Secret History.
The staging incorporated a physical book with red gloves between its pages. The first glove appeared at the start, with a second revealed later, symbolizing the story’s central murder. The choreographer explained, “It’s always there behind him. He tries to escape it, he tries to run from it, it’s always right back at him and consumes him as a being.”
The program included a quote reflecting the show’s themes: “Reading gives you freedom. It gives you power like no other. It gives you the ability to think beyond imagination.” — Megha Soni.
Audience members consistently praised the performance.
After intermission, the next piece proved spine-tingling. Choreographer Muriel LaMassa shared their inspiration: “A lot of people are really worried about the future and the state of the world right now.” They transformed personal anxieties and stress triggers into dance.
Props enhanced the performance’s impact. Sashes symbolized attempts to silence women. Three dancers wore distinctive costumes, while others dressed in white to represent resistance. Performers and costume designers spent hours perfecting each visual element’s symbolism. This powerful group number stood among the strongest.
Professor Julie Pentry choreographed the final routine, “Synthetic Urgencies,” addressing modern pollution issues. Discussing dance’s role in social and political discourse, Pentry reflected on choreographic intent. “It depends on the content in the show and what the choreographers are doing,” she said. “You can attend a show and just appreciate the beauty of the piece. It might be like watching a kaleidoscope. It might be about design, and maybe the choreographer just intends for you to walk away with a tone or a feeling, not necessarily a message. Similar to Moe Cunningham, a famous choreographer who made abstract work, he didn’t want messages. He did plenty of weird work, and that’s what turned it into a message.”
Pentry explained the piece’s timeliness: “Even in the title, urgency is right there. I felt it was urgent in 2019, and now that I have a daughter, it’s even more pressing. It’s about thinking of the generations coming after me that want a clear Earth to exist. It’s very politically scary right now, and I wanted to create a work that speaks to that — a piece that feels current and necessary.”
Throughout the piece, dancers scattered trash across the stage, representing growing landfill waste. The chaos intensified gradually, making the transformation undeniable.
Midway through, dancers re-emerged wearing trash bags, metaphorically suggesting society’s potential consumption by its own waste.
The choreographer intended the shocking effect, which succeeded. The piece ended with dancers collapsed in a heap as pollution statistics and environmental warnings flashed on the screen behind them.
Overall, the production delivered a powerful, thought-provoking execution. Through themes of protest, pollution, censorship and identity, it highlighted art’s vital role in reflecting and challenging society. Storms of Refusal transcends mere talent showcase to become a call for awareness.
