Emory Dance Company: Meet the Program B Choreographers

Photo by Lori Teague

The Spring 2025 Emory Dance Company Concert April 16-19 features new work by students in our Choreography II course. Read about the choreographers in Program B, April 17 & 19, below.

Choreographer: Pia Lopez-Morton

About the work: I am exploring the concept of how people in our lives impact us. I find it very thought provoking how we are always surrounded by people whose stories we will never know but only see glimpses of and how much our families, friends, or mentors end up contributing to who we are. 

Choreographer: Nadia Piecyk

About the work: The inspiration for my piece stems from my personal and familial experiences living with rare and invisible disabilities. Some of the themes I’m curious about are the cohabitation of the self and the disability, the interplay between spontaneity and hyper-attunement, and the constant tradeoff between the nurtured and the nurturer.

Choreographer: Jaeda Samuel-McKnight

About the work: My piece explores the interconnected themes of sensuality, sexuality, and spirituality. It seeks to challenge societal constructs—such as the stigma around desire and the notion that sexuality and purity are mutually exclusive—while embracing the empowerment that comes from fully embodying one’s sensual and spiritual self. The work also reframes sensual and sexual expression as acts of worship, allowing for a deeper spiritual connection through the body.  

Choreographer: Samantha Stevens

About the work: My work aims to invite the audience into the inner worlds of the dancers by showcasing moments of introspection on each dancer's journey toward self-discovery and confidence. It will highlight the points where individual paths intersect, reflecting how personal growth can enrich relationships with others and foster a sense of community.

Choreographer: Justyna Tarniowa

About the work: My piece is exploring themes of fright, the uncanny, discomfort, and contrast. I am drawing inspiration from thriller novels and their most common tropes. I want the audience to feel a little uneasy, to sense the tension still ruminating in the room after the piece is over, finding both comfort and discomfort.  

Choreographer: Max Walkow

About the work: My work explores themes of potentiality and self-actualization. I want the audience to feel the way I first felt watching some of my favorite films which include Midsommar, Fight Club, and Saltburn.

Thank you choreographers! Click here to learn more about Emory Dance.

Emory Dance Company: Meet the Program A Choreographers

 

Photo by Lori Teague

The Spring 2025 Emory Dance Company Concert April 16-19 features new work by students in our Choreography II course. Read about the choreographers in Program A, April 16 & 18, below.

Choreographer: Selah Curran-Blakely

About the work: My work delves into the journey of spirituality and the inner conflict we go through with morality, love and lust, and self-growth. Through a fusion of modern, contemporary, and sultry movement styles, combined with jazz, bossa-nova, and alternative music, the piece explores the beauty and tension of spiritual warfare and transformation. 

Choreographer: Gab Crum

About the work: At its core, my work serves as a love letter to the people, the experiences, and the opportunities that have brought me to this chapter of my life. I want people to see and resonate with the love and care woven throughout the work.

Choreographer: Genevieve DeBell

About the work: With my work, I hope to provide a glimpse into the various emotions associated with the work of self-improvement. I hope that the joy, euphoria, destruction, and obsession that are tied to these behaviors are evident through the choreography.  

Choreographer: Deena Goodgold

About the work: I am exploring themes of competition and survival in nature and am exploring mechanisms humans have evolved to survive. I hope to highlight each dancer's individuality and demonstrate the ways each person interacts with another. I want to create a cohesive work that transports the audience into the world of the piece.

Choreographer: Lydia Hamby

About the work: Artistically, I aim to create a piece that fluidly explores the impermanence of relationships while capturing both the tension and beauty in letting go. Through the interplay of music, movement, and dancer interactions, I hope to craft a work that is both visually compelling and emotionally resonant, allowing audiences to engage with the themes of nostalgia, unity, and remembrance.

Choreographer: Brandon Herron 

About the work: I am exploring themes of finding one’s self - that the outcome that everyone desires in life is less important than the journey and appreciating that. We form relationships with so many people throughout our lives; those some closer than others. For those that go, it’s sometimes easy to not understand why they left, but it is important to appreciate that it happened rather than be sad it’s over. 

Thank you choreographers! Tickets for the Emory Dance Company Spring 2025 Concert are on sale now. Click here to purchase yours!