Spring 2019 Choreographers

Columbia College '19

This piece is my Orchesis bucket list, which means it’s exactly as off-the-wall as you think it is. Thank you so much to my ceiling-shattering, hard-rapping, booty-shaking, thoroughly lovable cast for all your work and dedication and for being unapologetically yourselves! So go as crazy as you like, but remember it’s a school night. Lights out by ten. Love, Mom

Watch Yaël's piece here!

Barnard College '22

To everyone in my cast, thank you for turning my vision into a reality and making my first semester choreographing in Orchesis so memorable! I hope you now know Maya Angelou’s words by heart, and if there’s one thing you’ve learned from this dance, it’s that just like her, you are a phenomenal woman :)   

Watch Xixi's piece here!

Xixi is also the incredible artist behind all the promotional materials (programs, posters, and t-shirts) for our Spring 2019 show, Bears. Beats. Battlestar GalactOrchesis.

Columbia College '21

I had an incredible semester building grooves on these talented dancers, and I’m so appreciative of the fearless energy and endless support they brought to every rehearsal. To my beloved cast, thank you for sharing your creative hearts and delayed bedtimes with me. Each of you are such uniquely stunning movers, and I ~oh wonder~ how I got so lucky every day.

Watch Sanjana's piece here!

Barnard College '20

My piece is a jazz piece to song, called “Done,” off my best friend Rachel Lachaga’s EP, “Can You See Me?.” It has been so much fun bring both my choreographic vision and Rachel’s song to life this semester. My cast has been so patient and energetic throughout this entire process and I cannot wait to see them absolutely kill it on stage!

Watch Olivia's piece here!

Barnard College '19 & Columbia College '19

To our beloved willow gang: 16 semesters and no one’s moved us like you do! Thanks for shaking and grooving with us, babies! Much love, the twins.

Watch Nadia & Melody's (Meladia's) piece here!

Columbia College '19

This piece was choreographed collaboratively between Marya and the other dancers involved. We talked and danced about the limitations we and society put on our bodies, and the things we are proud we can do. As you watch the dance we have created, feel free to ask and answer these questions for yourself, and cheer “Heck yeah!” for yours and others accomplishments.

Watch Marya's piece here!

Columbia College '22

To my incredible cast: thank you for sharing your Sunday nights moving and grooving with me. I sincerely apologize for the injured mess that is me, but I cannot imagine having my first Orchesis piece being danced by any other group. You all truly Breathe Life into me and push me to be a better dancer and choreographer every rehearsal. Thanks for all the laughs and all your hard work bringing this piece to where it is now!

Watch Lauren's piece here!

Columbia College '19 & Barnard College/Jewish Theological Seminary '21

Kosta and Sophie have spent the semester collaborating on the open level Orchesis piece and an upcoming evening-length show for CoLab Performing Arts Collective. For our open-level piece, the goal was to empower all the dancers, from beginners to advanced, to feel comfortable in their skin and to let their personalities fully come through on stage. Thank you to our gorgeous cast for every moment of dedication, professionalism and pure joy. We collaborated on the choreography with our dancers, and the result is a fierce, radiant celebration that we cannot wait to share with you all.

Watch Kosta and Sophie's (Sosta's) piece here!

Barnard College '21 & Barnard College '21

This semester we have teamed up to choreograph a fun, throwback lyrical piece to Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.”  It has been our pleasure and privilege to work with so many terrific dancers; they have filled our rehearsal process with so much love and laughter. To our cast: thank you for dealing with our chaotic, but exciting collaboration process... zoanna would have nothing without you all <3 (also thx mom- <3 gianna)

Columbia College '20

To my beautiful, sassy, lovely cast: thank you so much for making this semester of choreographing for Orchesis such a blast! My vision for this piece was to capture the feeling of moving on and the excitement behind what the future might hold, and I’m so proud of everyone for helping me bring this vision to life. Every rehearsal was so much fun, from me never knowing the lyrics to the songs to everyone laughing at how fast the tutting was - I’m so glad you all stuck with the piece, and I can’t wait to see it on stage!

Watch Emily's piece here!

Barnard College '19

To my amazing, fierce, beautiful, and extremely talented Broadway stars, thank you for fearlessly embarking on this theatrical, sassy jazz adventure with me. From your amazing ability to do any choreography (including our chair- eography) to your incredible stage presence, you never ceased to make my Sundays so bright with your energy, enthusiasm, humor, and kindness. You all win the Tony for Best Dancers in a Musical, and I couldn’t be more proud of how brightly you shine!

Columbia College '19

After three years of being on CU Generation, this semester on Orchesis is my first opportunity to choreograph an entire piece of my own, and working with my cast has been such a fulfilling experience—they’ve been so hardworking, attentive, and open to everything I’ve thrown at them. One of my main goals for this piece was to bring my urban/hip hop experience to the Orchesis community, and in return they’ve made me so proud to see them work together and help my ideas come to life.

Watch Chris's piece here!

Columbia College '19

For my last hurrah in Orchesis, I really wanted the audience and my cast to have an incredibly fun time jamming out to a true bop. I’d like to thank Japanese martial arts, Disney’s Jump In!, and Channing Tatum for inspiring some of the movement in this piece. As always, I am super appreciative of the Orchesis board for the opportunity to choreograph and my wonderful cast, especially this time for dealing with the entire slew of jumping animal names that I placed at the top of every email. You grasshoppers rock!

Watch Chelsea's piece here!