Class of 2021 Dance Majors Present ‘Persist / Persevere’ and ‘Meraki’

August 15, 2021

The Shenandoah Conservatory senior dance class of 2021 produced “Persist / Persevere” as its final stage performance before graduating. Faculty cheered on as the only live audience members as the senior dancers took the stage for the final time. A performance of it was filmed at Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre on Friday, May 14, 2021.

The film was choreographed and edited by Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dance Tiffanie Carson, M.F.A., with creative contributions from the performance artists. Music was by Tristan Barton, Delicate Beats and Francesco D’Andrea.

Persist / Persevere

https://vimeo.com/591178669

The senior dance class was also featured in the film “Meraki.” Carson created this film to honor the resiliency of the senior dance majors who were graduating in a pandemic. The outdoor setting allowed the dancers to honor their dual themes of water and ‘Meraki,’ which means to put your heart and soul into what you are creating.

Meraki

‘Meraki’ was choreographed and edited by Carson with creative contributions from the performance artists. Music was by Tristan Barton, Delicate Beats and Francesco D’Andrea. It was filmed at Lake Holiday Country Club, Inc. in Cross Junction, Virginia, on Saturday, May 15, 2021.

Performance artists for both films include Maddi Boone ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), Ashayla Byrd ’21 (Bachelor of Arts in Dance, Bachelor of Arts in English), Lily Farrar ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), Erisa Flewell ’21 (Bachelor of Arts in Dance), Kati Freeman ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), Rachel Hock ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), Jeneane Kraft ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), Berkley Lipscomb ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), Donovan Mellon ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), Maggie Pekala ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), Nicolette Peron ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), Ashley Rivette ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), Cara Thomas ’21 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance) and Emily Tuck ’21 (Bachelor of Arts in Dance).