A Choreographer’s Gallery - A Deno Dance Company Performance 

Title: Dust to Dust

Choreography: Andrea Ridge

Dancers: Christy Carr and Bird Thurman

Music: “A Calling Home” by Amy McDonald

Costume Design: Andrea Ridge

Title: Daily Grind

Choreography: Nina Deno

Dancer: Nina Deno

Music: “Clock Gears” by Michael Wall

Costume and Prop Design: Nina Deno

Program Note: An exploration of a prolonged state of being overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands as a result of being overworked and undervalued. ‘Daily Grind’ was developed as part of National Choreography Month (NaChMo) 2024.

Title: Reverie

Choreography: Kendalyn Fruehauf and Bird Thurman

Dancers: Kendalyn Fruehauf and Bird Thurman

Music: "Angelic Arpeggios" - drseq, "Church Organ" - Music_for_Videos

Costume Design: Kendalyn Fruehauf and Bird Thurman

Program Note: 

Title: "your favorite song" : a lesson in liberation

Choreography: Laura Hayden

Dancers: Laura Hayden

Music: N/A

Costume Design: Laura Hayden

Program Note: Integrate, feel, observe, and change.

Title: “You’re too [adjective] to be [mental health condition]”

Choreography: Nina Deno, Brianna Johnston, Rachel Yurek

Dancers: Brianna Johnston and Rachel Yurek

Music: “Ritual, Reverence, and Confessions'“ by Michael Wall

Costume Design: Nina Deno

Program Note: Women of all ages and backgrounds are constantly being judged and silently questioned about their mental state. This piece explores feminine experiences with various states of mental health that continue to face stigma. The truth is that we build a convincing facade to shield the reality of mental health struggles. What happens when those barriers are broken? This piece was developed as part of National Choreography Month (NaChMo) 2024 and recently debuted at the annual NACHMO show in Louisville, KY.

Title: 3:00 AM

Choreography: Sara Satterly

Dancer: Sara Satterly

Music: N/A

Costume Design: Sara Satterly

Program Note: 

Title: MERDE! A kick on the butt and a kiss on the cheek

Choreography: Nina Deno

Dancers: Christy Carr, Kayla Marvel, Elizabeth O’Brien, Andrea Ridge, Faythe Rush, Bird Thurman

Music: “Hidden Beauty” by Conti Music

Sound and Costume Design: Nina Deno

Program Note: This piece is dedicated to the memory of Michele Rusinko, former Department Chair of Theatre & Dance at Gustavus Adolphus College. May your strength, love of dance, and mission to build a genuinely supportive dance community live on. “You can do it like it’s a great weight on you, or you can do it like it’s part of the dance.” - Ram Dass