Winter Dance Performance Celebrates Webb’s Centennial and Alumni Composers

Webb presents its Winter Dance Show 2022 at 7 p.m. February 4 and 5 on the steps of the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology. The show is entitled “Centum,” in honor of Webb’s Centennial Celebration. The show choreographically references hallmarks of Webb’s history, mission and unbounded philosophy. Using contemporary dance influence, the show thematically explores past, present and future, considering the nature of perspective and progress. 

This year’s show features music from Webb alumni Felicity Doyle ’04, Summer Swee-Singh ’07, Jarel Hill ’08, Nathan Turczan ’09, Ben Davis ’11 and Drew Hersch ’19, movement video from Andrew Waas ’92, Bailey Scherer ’16 and Christina Dong ’18, as well as text from students Madeline Lilley ’22, Nicholas Lee ’22 and Hunter Lange ’22.  

See the full poster designed by Eunice Lau ’23.

Webb’s dance program is led by Dean of Faculty Michael Szanyi.  

“I was interested in doing something that celebrated this historic moment in Webb’s history, as well as more broadly considering the nature of memory and reflection and the passage of time and how that can be a springboard for new perspective and new opportunities and new futures,” Szanyi said. 

“I wanted to incorporate many aspects of Webb. So choreographically, you’ll see phrases and pieces that use the mission statement and there is a section where you can see the chapel and museum being built.” 

Szanyi included alumni to honor their part in getting Webb to this moment. 

“I reached out to several of them and had wonderful conversations about dance and art and music and they all shared pieces that we could use for the show,” he said. “In some cases, I choreographed to their music — trying to both listen to what the music was telling me, as well as considering how it would fit into the larger narrative we were creating. And, in some cases, senior dance students got to choreograph the music. This was a real treat!” 

Tickets can be reserved at www.ticketsource.us/webbarts All are welcome! All off-campus guests must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 48 hours. 

The dance performance live stream and recording are here: