Success at ACDFA

"miles to the left" choreographed by Lori Teague

Emory faculty members Gregory Catellier, George Staib, Lori Teague and Anna Leo, along with 12 Emory students returned March 9 from the Southeastern American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA) conference held at Florida State University in Tallahassee. Of the 44 dance works adjudicated by a most prestigious panel of choreographic artists (Bebe Miller, Zvi Gotheiner and Mary Cochran), Lori Teague’s work “miles to the left” was one of nine pieces chosen to be presented on the closing gala concert. Also adjudicated was undergraduate student Lauren Kaplan’s solo “Closed In.” Adjudicators described Lauren’s performance as  “beautiful, vibrant, sensual.” For the first time in the history of ACDFA two schools presented a work for adjudication in collaboration. Agnes Scott College and Emory dancers performed together in Doris Humphrey’s “Shakers.” Adjudicators comments included: “Exquisite ensemble, as though a painting has come to life.” Emory dance alum Kathleen Wessel’s work “Quiet, you’ll cause an uproar.” was also chosen as part of the gala. Kathleen is currently on faculty at Spelman College. All four of the dances works were brilliantly lit by Gregory Catellier.

Accolades from the American College Dance Festival

Twelve Emory dance students and three dance faculty members spent part of their spring break earlier this month at the American College Dance Festival Association conference in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Students and faculty at the ACDFA conference.

Out of 47 adjudicated works from approximately 35 colleges and universities in the southeast, two pieces from Emory (one by faculty member George Staib and one by student Kaitlyn Pados) were chosen for performance as part of the gala, which highlights the close of the conference. There were only 12 dances selected for this performance, and Kaitlyn's work was the only undergraduate work selected.

The adjudicators described Kaitlyn's piece as "fluid, flawless, a truly sensorial experience" and George's piece as "creative, dynamic, inventive--in short, it was poetry in motion."

Three dances from the gala were chosen to go to the ACDFA national performance at the Kennedy Center. George's piece was chosen as first alternate should one of the three not be available.

Here are some images from the conference:

Kaitlyn Pados performing her solo.

Students rehearsing George Staib's piece.

George Staib taught a class for conference attendees.

Photos by Lori Teague