ELYSE GRIECO
Life & Arts Editor
Fredonia’s senior Bachelor of Fine Arts dance majors held their senior dance projects this past weekend.
“The BFA senior show is pretty much our senior capstone project,” said BFA musical theatre and dance double major K Morgan Prikazsky. “We all had to propose an idea at the end of last Spring semester. We have been working on them ever since.”
Prikazsky has been dancing since she was four years old.
Hailing from Endicott, NY, she originally came to Fredonia with plans to solely pursue a theatre degree. But after encouragement from her older cousin and faculty, she decided to audition for the dance program and become a double major.
Applying for the BFA dance major does not just consist of a high SAT score and a letter of recommendation.
Unlike many majors, students have to undergo an audition process to gain admission into the program.
“You go through a series of auditions and pre-screenings and in-person interviews,” said BFA musical theatre and dance double major Jacquelyne Ambrosio. “It’s a very personal audition. They want to see who you are as an artist.”
Over their college careers, BFA dance majors offered a wide amount of classes and training that help strengthen their technique and make them better dancers.
“This show has given each of us the ability to demonstrate the artists we have become, and we get to share that with an audience who has watched us for four years,” said Prikazsky. “The growth we have made here is incredible.”
In past years, the recital was held in Bartlett Theatre, but this was the first year the senior show was hosted in Merrins Dance Theatre. It was held as a full length concert and featured designed lighting.
All BFA dance seniors are in charge of creating their own piece for the show.
“Students can either choreograph or perform in their senior projects,” said Ambrosio. “If you are a choreographer, then you are in charge of everything: the material, the costumes, the dancers and the choreography.”
Ambrosio performed an original dance that was inspired by and dedicated to her mother.
“My piece, ‘Dear Mom. . .’ is about my mom and our relationship and how it’s evolved over time,” said Ambrosio. “I wanted to do something special for her so I choreographed my own piece.”
Prikazsky also shared an emotional connection with her dance.
“My inspiration came from a quote I came across about vulnerability and human connection,” she said. “That’s what my piece is about. It’s about humanity and making connections with people even though it’s terrifying because in order for it be real you have to be vulnerable.”
After graduation in May, both dancers plan to start auditioning for potential roles.
Although their opportunities are endless, Fredonia will always play a special role in their careers.
“I’ll miss so many things about Fredonia. I’ll miss the accessibility to learn something new everyday . . . but most of all I’ll miss the community of the theatre and dance department,” said Prikazsky. “It’s so easy to walk into RAC and feel at home. The real world isn’t always like that.”
Although Ambrosio was originally attracted to Fredonia for her major, she admitted that the sense of community on campus helped her make her decision.
“From the faculty to the students, I am always being supported and encouraged to try new things and to fail and learn from my failures,” she said. “I’m going to miss the people here the most.”