At Shenandoah Conservatory, interdisciplinary collaboration provides students with unique opportunities to expand their experience across the performing arts. This spring, the Dance Division lends its artistry to this season’s main stage opera of Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Hänsel und Gretel” by contributing original choreography to the production’s “Dream Pantomime” and “14 Angels” sequences.

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dance Jessie Li, M.F.A., leads the choreographic development of this section, working with student dancers to integrate movement into the operatic storytelling. The process began prior to scheduled rehearsals, with early phrase development and musical study shaping the foundation of the work.

Inspired by the musical composition, the choreography reflects layered and evolving movement, with phrases building progressively and formations shifting to visually reflect the score’s textures. Gesture, timing and group dynamics convey the narrative moment in which the two lost and vulnerable children imagine protective angels.

For student dancers, the experience emphasizes not only technical execution, but also collaboration with musicians, directors and production teams, highlighting how dance functions as part of a broader interdisciplinary performance.

“This process allows students to engage with performance beyond the studio setting,” said Li. “They are learning how movement supports storytelling, and how to adapt their work within a larger collaborative structure.”

The production is directed by Candace Evans, with contributions from faculty, students, and creative teams across the conservatory. The Dance Division continues to support student involvement through interdisciplinary performance opportunities, providing both practical experience and artistic insight.

Often described as a fairy-tale opera with symphonic richness, “Hänsel und Gretel” blends lush orchestration with memorable melodies and timeless storytelling. Under Evans’ direction, the production emphasizes both the work’s magical atmosphere and its emotional depth, offering students the opportunity to engage deeply with a cornerstone of the operatic repertoire while refining their stagecraft and ensemble skills.

Performances of “Hänsel und Gretel” begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 26 .Tickets are available for purchase online 24/7 at conservatoryperforms.org. Tickets are available for purchase in person at the Shenandoah Conservatory Box Office located in the Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre lobby and over the phone at (540) 665-4569 during regular box office hours (Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.).