Boston Conservatory at Berklee presents FORWARD: Contemporary Dance Showcase, featuring graduating contemporary dance BFA students. This concert culminates and celebrates the students’ journey over the past four years and highlights a diverse program of works choreographed by Hope Boykin, Norbert De La Cruz III, Catherine Coury, Ali Cederholm (BFA '25), and the 2025 graduating class.
Industry representatives (including agents, casting directors, talent managers, directors, and producers) interested in attending the Boston dance showcase should contact Ryan Braaten at rbraaten@berklee.edu to reserve tickets.
Meet the performers
Program InformationLuza
Choreography: Catherine CouryMusic: Raquel Andueza, Jesús Fernández Baena,Tarquinio Merula (“Folle è ben che si crede”); Ensemble Artaserse, Philippe Jaroussky, Alessandro Tampieri (Antonio Vivaldi: Filiae maestae Jerusalem, RV638: II. Sileant Zephyri)Costume Design: Christine MeyersOriginal Lighting Design: Linda O’BrienPerformers: Pandora Bassett, Kanella Benavides, Ali Cederholm, Ana G. Delgado Cruz, Molly Jane Dunne, Hailey Flemming, Ekko Greenbaum, Sarah Hughes, Swathi Maddi, Macy McCain, Dafna Melamoud, Hannah Morris, Mia Nolte, Mar Rivero-Carretero, Aja Simms, Bridget Suchar, Madison Wagaman, Emily Winkelbauer Forward Visions I
Choreography: graduating dancersMusic: Maynard Ferguson (“Birdland”); Peggy Gou (“Starry Night”); Morita Vargas (“Deysa”); Frank Sinatra (“That’s Life”); Joey Anderson (“Press Play”); Tinariwen, Four Tet (“Tenere Taqhim Tossam—Four Tet Remix”)Performers in Order of Appearance: Amanda FitzGerald, Giovanna Ward, Tamia Jauné, Mia Pereira-Mendoza, Alyssa Lucas, Kimberly Vasileva, Hannah Bilodeau, Emily Winkelbauer, Samantha Blanton, Cara Breeding, Hannah Laski, Uma Roberts, Justine Schmaltz, Amber Lew, Yazmine Akamine, Suriya Allain All at Once
Choreography: Hope BoykinAssistant Choreography: Amina VargasRehearsal Direction: Brian McGinnisMusic: Bill Laurance (“Bloom,” “All at Once”) with spoken word written and performed by Hope BoykinCostume Design: Penney PinetteCostume Design Assistance: Liv CurnenPerformers: Kanella Benavides, Hannah Bilodeau, Ana G. Delgado Cruz, Molly Jane Dunne, Amanda FitzGerald, Hailey Fleming, Tamia Jauné, Alyssa Lucas, Swathi Maddi, Macy McCann, Dafna Melamoud, Hannah Morris, Mia Pereira Mendoza, Mar Rivero-Carretero, Bridget Suchar, Kimberly Vasileva, Giovanna Ward —INTERMISSION—
Landline
Choreography: Ali Cederholm (BFA '25, dance)Music: Charlotte Adigery, Bolis Pupul (“Bel DEEWEE”); Fleetwood Mac (“Stand Back (Live on PBS in Boston 2004)”); h hunt (“C U Soon”)Costume Design: Ali CederholmPerformers: Yazmine Akamine, Suriya Allain, Hannah Bilodeau, Tamia Jauné, Samantha Blanton, Cara Breeding, Amanda Fitzgerald, Hannah Laski, Amber Lew, Alyssa Lucas, Mia Pereira-Mendoza, Uma Roberts, Justine Schmaltz, Kimberly Vasileva, Giovanna Ward Forward Visions II
Choreography: graduating dancersMusic: Caleb Arrendond (“Echo Sax End (Looped)”); Dylan Henner (“The Peach Tree Next Door Grew Over Our Fence”); Glass Beams (“Mahal”); Bendik Giske (“Adjust, Cruising”); Samaran (“Paris Madness”)Performers in Order of Appearance: Pandora Bassett, Ali Cederholm, Sarah Hughes, Mia Nolte, Aja Simms, Madison Wagaman, Ekko Greenbaum, Swathi Maddi, Macy McCain, Hailey Fleming, Dafna Melamoud, Mar Rivero-Carretero, Ana G. Delgado Cruz, Molly Jane Dunne, Kanella Benavides, Hannah Morris, Bridget Suchar The Closest to the Sun
Choreography: Norbert De La Cruz III in collaboration with the dancersRehearsal Direction: Marissa ParmenterMusic: Robbie Robertson (“Remembrance”); Johann Johannsson (“The Stairs”); The Comet Is Coming (“The Universe Wakes Up”)Costume Design: Penney PinetteCostume Design Assistance: Liv CurnenPerformers: Yazmine Akamine, Suriya Allain, Pandora Bassett, Samantha Blanton, Cara Breeding, Ali Cederholm, Ekko Greenbaum, Sarah Hughes, Hannah Laski, Amber Lew, Mia Nolte, Uma Roberts, Justine Schmaltz, Aja Simms, Madison Wagaman, Emily Winkelbauer Production Credits
CREATIVE TEAM:Artistic Director – Brian McGinnis, Associate Professor of DanceAssociate Artistic Director – Marissa Parmenter, Interim Chair of DanceExecutive Producer – Andy Chau, Assistant Dean of Career EngagementProducer/Industry Relations – Ryan Braaten, Manager of Industry RelationsDean of Dance – Tommy NeblettChair of Dance – Mila ThigpenAssistant to the Dean – Isabella Qiubo S. Wang and Margaret Falcone (BFA '19, contemporary dance)PRODUCTION STAFF:Lighting Design, New York – Al CrawfordLighting Design, Boston – Paul MarrStage Manager, Boston – Miguel FloresStage Manager, New York – Alexandra StrauseProduction Manager/Assistant Stage Manager – Margaret FalconeSound Supervisor, New York – Atticus MulkeyCostume Coordinator – Roisin Daly Special Thanks
The 2025 graduating dancers would like to thank Brian McGinnis, Marissa Parmenter, Andy Chau, Ryan Braaten, Tommy Neblett, Mila Thigpen, Isabella Qiubo S. Wang, Margaret Falcone, Joy Davis, Norbert de la Cruz III, Hope Boykin, Ali Cederholm, Catherine Coury, Ian Travis Barnard, Roisin Daly, Al Crawford, Paul Marr, Atticus Mulkey, the Boston Conservatory at Berklee faculty, the 52nd Street Project, and their supportive families.
Boston Conservatory thanks audience members for viewing this program information online. This paperless program saved 200 sheets of paper, 21 gallons of water, and 18 pounds of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.
