COVID-safe dance show faces challenges

Due to COVID-19, countless sporting and fine arts events have been canceled. Some students were at a loss of what to do and yearned for a sense of community. At the beginning of last December, NCC’s fine arts program knew they could prove otherwise to overcome this struggle and started creating a dance show that was COVID-safe. “Surrender” is one of those shows. Through dance, “Surrender” tells the struggles of living through a pandemic.

Rehearsal process

Rehearsals are completely online. They also have individualized recording sessions to create virtual a dance show, which lead to stress during the first few weeks of rehearsals. Jenna Grissom, ‘24, described the rehearsal process as a “creative way to pull us all into one space to make a show almost completely virtually.” The cast met for a couple of hours in the evening, three times a week until mid-February to create the choreography.  

Dyanna Daniels, a co-choreographer and co-director of “Surrender,” graduated with a Master in Fine Arts in Choreography from Jacksonville University and started teaching at Aurora University, Dominican University and NCC in 2018. She and her team brainstormed how to make this show the most fulfilling and interactive experience for students.

“Not having everyone in the same room was so challenging, but also so fulfilling as I watched the work come together. Seeing the bond everyone shared and the commitment to this was so inspiring,” said Daniels.

Creative choreography

Learning choreography and staying together during a dance was challenging for the choreographers and cast, but they eventually overcame the struggles. The dancers even created their own choreography that can be seen in “Surrender.” Nikki Zimmerman, ‘20, said that her “favorite part of the process was working through the text-based choreography. My partner and I both had similar positive experiences in 2020. We added the choreography to our journal entries and that made the experience come to life.”

The dancers had to tap into their vulnerability to portray what they went through during the pandemic. This includes depression, isolation and a lack of motivation.

 “You can still create beautiful and unique pieces even with the roadblocks of technology and Zoom fatigue. You can still form an amazing bond with a cast, even if you haven’t met in person,” said Danye Hennenfent, ’22.

Daniels said that she is excited for the audience to see, “All of it! The heart, the joy, the struggle, the sadness, the hope! I want anyone that is watching to connect to it and know they have not been alone in anything they have felt during this pandemic.”