Playbill | June 5, 2024

The Woods Dance Project

Directed by Nichele Woods

Presented by Repertory Dance Theatre’s LINK Series

June 5-6 + 8, 2024 | 7:30 pm
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
Leona Wagner Black Box
Salt Lake City, Utah

Welcome to REDUCER.
Thank you for joining us for this inaugural production by The Woods Dance Project. We hope you enjoy this evening of dance.

Reducer... a noun.

a person or thing that reduces. Photography: an oxidizing solution for lessening the density of an exposed negative. a developing agent.

In a telescope, a focal reducer takes the light cone from a slower optical system,

f/10 for example, and focuses it to a smaller area, effectively reducing the focal length and speeding up the focal ratio.

We are reducing to see more clearly. Lessening... to expand.

THE TEAM

Direction: Nichele Woods

Choreography: Nichele Woods, with vital artistic contribution by the performers

Project Dance Artists: Natalie Border, Jonathan Kim, Tara McArthur, Morgan Phillips, and Melissa Younker

VAMP Productions LLC:
Lighting Designer: William Peterson
Stage Manager: Samijo Kougioulis

Sound Design for all works: Nichele Woods

Technical Director: Becky Dawson

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Nichele Woods is a dance artist based in Salt Lake City. She worked as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher throughout the San Francisco Bay Area before relocating to SLC in 2016 for graduate school at the University of Utah. While in the Bay she had the honor of working with choreographers Christine Cali, Kristen Daley, Joe Goode, Nancy Lyons, Virginia Matthews, and Mo Miner, among others.

Nichele turned her creative focus toward choreography in 2011. Her work has been presented on the west coast by RAWdance, SoCo Dance Theatre, WAH Fest, Sonoma State University, SAFEhouse Arts, HATCH Devised Theatre, and more, and in NYC through Doug Varone’s DEVICES program. In Salt Lake City, Nichele’s work has been performed by Repertory Dance Theatre, UVU’S Contemporary Dance Ensemble, Westminster University, and Ballet West Academy. Nichele launched The Woods Dance Project this year as a way to support dance artists in SLC while simultaneously developing her choreographic work.

Thank you for your presence today.

PROGRAM

Clear... as a burnt-out match in a dark room.

Wednesday, June 5th only

Choreography by Nichele Woods in collaboration with the original cast.

Performed by: LEAH AHLANDER, McKAYLA BROWNING, AUBREY FISHER*, KAARINA GARLICK, ZACHARY MARSHALL*, GRACE MESSENGER, HEATHER MORLEY*, ETHAN PITCHER, RICHELLE RINDLISBACHER*, MANNY SANTOS*, OLIVIA STEWART*, ASHLEY WILCOX*, GABBY WILLIAMS*

(*) Original cast members. Original cast members not performing: LILLY BARRINGTON*, EMMA CROW*, CIERA EREKSON*, EMERY NIELSON*, MAILE YUKIKO*

Music: JAN JELINEK; Jóhann Jóhannsson performed by Echo Collective; Anne Müller

Costumes: Nichele Woods w/ UVU Costume Shop (Costume Manager: Amy Whipple, Costume Supervisor: Carla Summers, Shop Assistants: Mallory Goodman, Janessa Law, and Rachel Peugh).

Commissioned for Utah Valley University's Contemporary Dance Ensemble. THANK YOU to Monica Campbell and Melissa Younker, Co-Directors of CDE, for making this collaboration and tonight’s performance of Clear... possible. Thank you Zach for your help with costumes!

- Brief Pause -

Volcano

Choreography by Nichele Woods in collaboration with the performers.

Performed by: NATALIE BORDER and JONATHAN KIM

Music: Michael Wall

Costumes: Nichele Woods

- 10-Minute Intermission -

For Scylla

Performed by: NATALIE BORDER, JONATHAN KIM, MORGAN PHILLIPS, TARA McARTHUR, and MELISSA YOUNKER

Music: BALANESCU QUARTET, PHILIP GLASS, JAN JELINEK, and JOSIAH PUGMIRE

Costumes: Nichele Woods

Program Note: In the novel Circe (2018), readers learn that Scylla—the Greek monster with multiple dog heads emerging from her thighs—was once a beautiful sea nymph. When Circe turned Scylla into her true, inner self, a beast emerged. In other myths and fantasy novels, the hero often must face the beast within in order to ultimately face their nemesis, but that inner beast belongs to them... as it should. This dance is for the Scylla in all of us. It questions authenticity, in both private and public spaces, and it says YES—over and over again—allowing desire to drive the reality of the work.

MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO...

The Woods dancers for your dedicated investigation throughout these creative processes, as well as for your generosity, trust, and friendship. The UVU dancers for your enthusiasm to keep Clear... alive—what a treat it has been to spend this time with you. Satu Hummasti for your early eyes on Volcano. William Peterson for helping me bring my vision of For Scylla to life. Melonie Murray, Carly Schaub, Meghan Wall, and Stephanie Perkins for your genrosity. Jacob Hansen. Mom and Dad. Jason Rabb and the late Paul Reynolds at 12 Minutes Max, a program of the SLC Public Libraries. Jonathan Kim, Heather Morley, and Aubrey Fisher for stepping in to teach. The RDT staff for continuing to support local artists through the LINK Series. ZAP and the Salt Lake City Arts Council for supporting RDT’s LINK Series, and the SLC Arts Council for its generous support of tonight’s production. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS! And thank you to YOU for being here to witness the work.

A special thank you to these generous donors who dove in to support The Woods Dance Project at the “Avid Supporter” level or higher. We couldn’t have done this without you:

Orny, Odette, Bill Arthur, Sue Borgeson, Cabin Boy, Jeff Boyette,

Ralph + Joanie Carlson, Lauren Curley, Kristen Daley, Ann DiFruscia,

Brian Gerke, Sarah Griffith, Jacob Hansen, Rich + Lee Ann Hansen,

Julie Klein, Keith + Carly, Nancy Lyons, Mo Miner, Andrew Merrell,

Jen Norris, Jan + Lloyd Schneider, Tyler Schnese, Mercy Sidbury,

Jared Wiltse + Aimee Otterson, and other anonymous angels.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Woods Dance Project holds its classes and this production upon the ancestral homeland and unceded territory of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes. The Woods acknowledges the privilege and benefit of residing upon this land. Even as a small arts organization, the Woods is committed to continuing to learn how we can empower Native communities and people of the region through future programming. We welcome ideas and conversation. Contact us. To learn more about the people whose land on which you reside, visit native-land.ca.