The lights dimmed, the curtain rose, and for 75 minutes, the CSN’s Spring Formal Dance Concert took the audience on a journey of movement, culture, and emotion.
Presented by the Dance Program, this year’s concert was more than a performance — it was a full-bodied celebration of expression. Featuring new works by faculty, students, and guest artists, the evening spotlighted a range of dance styles from ballet to Afro-fusion, and honored legends like Katherine Dunham, Pina Bausch, and Paul Taylor.
“Through beautifully curated dances that showcased a wide variety of styles and cultures, the entire night was breathtaking,” said Charlene Gibson, professor in the Department of Communication. “The whole audience, myself included, was moved from start to finish.”
Each piece told a story. Faculty choreographer Carrie Lee Miles drew inspiration from her time at the American Dance Festival, weaving Paul Taylor’s technique into the poignant “Walking on a Tightrope,” which featured guest artist Alexandra Swaim from Meraki Dance Theatre.
Denise Darnell’s tribute to Pina Bausch, “Pina: A Love Story,” pulled on the heartstrings of those familiar with Bausch’s avant-garde fusion of theatre and dance.
“The Search,” choreographed by Pendu Malik, brought the legacy of Katherine Dunham to life with rich cultural pride and historical depth. Malik also joined forces with Liezel Marie Guzman to choreograph “Roots and Rhythm,” an Afro-Fusion and hip-hop collaboration that advanced to the second round in the World Cultural Dance Competition in Los Angeles.
Ballet specialist Dolly Kelepecz’s “Divertissements” brought elegance and classical precision to the stage, featuring UNLV alumna Brooke De Soto in a special cross-campus collaboration.
The evening also highlighted guest dancers from Somerset Losee Academy. Monica Armstrong, a strong supporter of local dance talent, brought student performers Emily Gastelum and Mia Ledezma to debut their original work, “Statius Achilleid.”
From the student side, CSN choreographers Aaron Sullivan, Gonzalo Castro Barbosa and Natalia Richard shone with fresh, innovative pieces that had the audience on their feet.
“For me, the piece that really impacted me the most would have to be Carrie’s ‘Echoes of the Deep,’” said Sullivan. “Everything from the dancers, costumes, lighting awakened my senses and helped me connect to the moment. It was truly unforgettable.”
Senior dancer Gonzalo Castro Barbosa added, “From this concert I discovered that dance is more than movement — it’s expressing your feelings to the world.”
Robert Bonora, chair of the Department of Fine Arts, captured the magic of the evening perfectly, “As I was witness to the final curtain at multiple shows with the entire cast hugging, dancing, yelling, laughing… it brought joy to my heart,” he said. “It is an amazing group of people that we are able to put on stage, and it showed wonderfully at all the performances.”
This year’s Spring Formal Dance Concert reaffirmed CSN’s place as a creative force in Las Vegas’ dance community.
