Photo by Lucy Wimmer (C’20).
By Julianna Morgan
Staff Writer
Dynamics is Sewanee’s newest, completely student-run performing arts show. During the second annual show, a packed room greeted performers in the Studio Theater at the Tennessee Williams Center. From dancing, to singing, to acting, there were a lot of layers to this 35-minute show.
Dynamics was created last year by then-Sewanee freshman Robin Kate Davis (C’21). When asked why she created this show, Davis said, “The dancers of Sewanee wanted to create something that was relevant to college students. Something that they could relate to.”
The show was originally planned to only include dancing, then changed to include songs and monologues “to get all aspects of the arts,” Davis said.
The dances were beautifully performed. Each dance had choreography that complemented the music very well. The dance moves themselves were technical while also adding a true artistic value. The first dance performed to the song “Down” by Marian Hill, which was choreographed by Izzy Klitzke (C’22). There were three dancers in this contemporary piece.
Photos by Lucy Wimmer (C’20).
The second dance performed to the song “Cheers Darlin’” by Damien Rice, choreographed by Caroline Gurek (C’22). There were three dancers in this contemporary piece as well. The third dance performed was “Little Wing,” choreographed and danced by Annie Corley (C’20). This was a solo ballet, lyrical dance. Wilder McCoy (C’20) performed alongside Corley, playing the guitar as the music of the piece.
The final dance was performed to the song “White Flag” by Bishop Briggs and was choreographed by Davis. There were four dancers in this contemporary, jazz fusion. Each dance had its own unique twist. The music choice for each of the dances helped shape the show and made them all their own piece of work.
There were three singing performances in the show. The first was by Julia Peacock (C’20). She sang “Superman” by Taylor Swift, accompanying herself on the piano. The second singing performance was Victoria Kunesch (C’21). She sang “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles, accompanied by Peacock on the piano. Kunesch did a great job at tailoring the song to her voice and reaching each high note.
“I really enjoyed getting to participate in this performance since it was put on by students for students and other faculty,” Kunesch commented.
The last performance was from Sewanee a capella group Cambiata, which sang “Honeymoon Avenue” by Ariana Grande. Peacock’s rendition was beautiful.
The last element to the show was the two monologue performances. Lydia Klaus (C’19) performed “Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls” by Naomi Iizuka. This was a comedic monologue that had the audience laughing as loud as they could. Sara Mixon (C’21) performed Helena’s monologue from A Midsummer’s Night Dream.
Once the performances concluded, the audience and performers joined together with pizza, and everyone chatted for a few minutes. This happened last year and will happen again in the years to come. Not in every performing arts show do audiences get to be so close to the performers and then talk with them afterwards about their performance in such a relaxed environment.
Audience member Caroline Deane (C’19) said, “The pizza ending really lightened the formality that usually comes with arts performances, and I think that was a wonderful way to frame the night: just talented friends doing the things they love for the people they spend so much time with, who may have never seen them perform before!”
Dynamics was a great show with many aspects of the arts shining through.