Celebrating Dance at GustavusAll Class Dance Reunion | April 15, 2023
Seventy years ago, Dean of Students Melva Lind cautiously lifted the ban on dancing at Gustavus. Join us on Saturday, April 15, 2023 for a day-long celebration of the explosion of dance
we've seen for seven decades, culminating in an evening performance of the spring dance concert -- which includes an alumni piece!
This event will also be a time to celebrate Michele Rusinko’s 34 years of invaluable, visionary contribution to the Dance Program, Department, and College. After 34 years, Michele formally retired in the spring of 2022 and this event is also a time to honor this milestone. If you cannot attend the event, but would like to send a card to Michele, please send it prior to April 15 and address it to:
Kristi Borowy
Department of Theatre & Dance
Gustavus Adolphus College
800 West College Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
Registration is now closed for the event. If you have questions, please contact Kristi Borowy at kborowy@gustavus.edu.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Because Michele's immune system will be very compromised due to her cancer and treatment, you will need to wear a mask when you are around her. We will have KN95 masks available at the registration table if you need one. A mask will not be required for most parts of the day, but we ask that you wear one when in proximity to Michele. Thank you so much.
Schedule for the Day
If you are bringing older children who are dancers, they are welcome to attend master classes!
- 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Registration (Theatre Lobby/Cunningham Family Atrium, Schaefer Fine Arts Center)
- 9:15 a.m. & 9:45 a.m. Rob and Judy Gardner Laboratory Theatre Guided Tours
- 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Master Class with Brian Evans ‘07 (Gardner Lab Theatre). See class information below.
- 12:00 p.m. - 1 p.m. Lunch with Alumni & Current Students - "Dancers Who Eat (Lynn Hoffman Lambert '01)" (The Market Place / Three Crowns Room)
- 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Master Class with Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner (Lund 277 New Aerobics Room). See class information below.
- 2:15 p.m. Fika & Frost-Your-Owns (Theatre Lobby/Cunningham Family Atrium, Schaefer Fine Arts Center)
- 3 - 5 p.m. Rehearsal for Alumni Piece (Gardner Lab Theatre)
- 5:30 p.m. Cash bar opens in Alumni Hall
- 6:00 p.m. Dinner and Program will start promptly at 6:00 in Alumni Hall
- 8 p.m. that single fleeting moment: The Gustavus Dance Company in Concert
Throughout the day there will be costume exhibits, videos of past dance pieces, time to explore renovated spaces, as well as opportunities for reflection and celebration. Thank you for your presence as we reach this important milestone together!
Locker Rooms
Partipants will have access to employee locker rooms in Lund as well as dressing rooms by Anderson Theatre.
Master Classes
Brian Evans '07 (10:30 a.m.)
Embodying My Body: Theatre Dance Class - All Levels
We will journey together through several embodiment tasks and unpack our collective and individual experiences. Sinking into many forms of expression (moving, speaking, vocalizing, witnessing, drawing, & writing), this dream shop will offer a space for community care and individual awareness of the body: your body, my body, our bodies embodied.
Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner (1:30 p.m.)
Jazz Technique - Intermediate Level (adaptation welcomed)
Gutierrez-Garner was raised in the tradition of classic American concert jazz dance, that which embodies and celebrates the rich history and musicality that makes it unique among others styles being taught today. This class will explore concert jazz dance at the intermediate level and exposure to the eclectic range of jazz styles (Blues, Swing, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, etc) from its roots to the fusion styles of today. Students have the opportunity to explore their own jazz dance background while infusing it with classic jazz vernacular.
Unable to Attend the Event? No worries!
The dinner program and alumni piece will be recorded for later viewing. A link will be distributed soon after the event.
T-Shirt Design and Styles ($15) A small number of shirts will be available for cash purchase at the event.
Watch this page for more information to be posted as we get closer to the event!
If you are a Facebook user, please join our Facebook group, Celebrating Dance at Gustavus.
If you need to update your contact information with the Gustavus Alumni Office (so you will get all our future communications), please use this form.