Photography by Emma Petersen.

The Senior Solo Showcase is a part of the capstone course for students pursuing a degree in Dance. Included in the course is a performance where students work with professional choreographers to learn a solo piece, as well as perform an ensemble group work.

According to capstone professor and artistic director Sarah Cullen Fuller, this is the fourth year dance seniors have performed solo works. Fuller explained that the showcase began as its own performance, and evolved into a capstone course over time.

The showcase provides Loyola’s dancers an opportunity to use Chicago as an extended classroom, an integral part of Loyola’s mission. According to Fuller, working with a professional in the field one-on-one is unique, because the dancers must confront their technique and their artistry.

“You can really see the arc of who that person has become, not only as a dancer but as an artist and as a vehicle for expression,” said Fuller. “There seems to be this really clear and beautiful shift that happens, where people take ownership of their work and in a really cohesive and generous way”

In the past, group pieces have been choreographed by Fuller; however, this year the group piece was choreographed by Hubbard Street Choreographic Fellow Alice Klock.

“I loved choreographing with the seniors of Loyola!” Klock said when asked about her experience creating the group piece.

Klock said the choreographic process was incredibly personal. Material was inspired by conversations with the seniors about their thoughts and emotions about life after Loyola.

“We then combined these solos to create a collage of their unique energies,” Klock said. “I had each of the dancers send me a song they wanted to dance to and from this I made a soundscape that captures a little bit of each of them. The end result is an eclectic representation of them individually and as a group”

Seniors Demi Agaiby, Sarah Fluegel, Nicole Golonka, Isabelle Taylor, Virginia VanLieshout and Gina Wrolstad all worked with professional choreographers in the field to learn solo pieces.

Agaiby worked with former River North company member Ethan Kirschbaum. The process was personal for Agaiby because she felt Kirschbaum understood her movement quality. This made the piece personal to her in multiple aspects.

“‘No Path to Follow’ explores the idea of not abiding by one specific path in your life trajectory,” said Agaiby. “Despite fear and uncertainty, the only way to embark on this new post-graduate journey is to continue with courage, boldness and confidence.”

Wrolstad has a similar experience, as her time working with Visceral Dance Chicago’s Noelle Kayser was a personal and intimate process.

“We worked together to create phrases surrounding my personal childhood memories as well as hers, so we really got to know each other through the movement,” said Wrolstad.

Last year’s performance was sold out and the box office offered patrons standing room tickets for at door sales. This year’s Dance Senior Solo Showcase will take place on February 16th and 17th at noon in Mundelein Palm Court. Tickets sell fast, buy them today at artsevents.luc.edu/dance.