Ansley Tillman, Arts and Entertainment Editor
Music pulsed through the campus with irresistible rhythms that had every head turning towards Guerry Auditorium, all asking the same question: what divas could possibly be causing such a vibe? To answer this question, we must turn towards our own student body and to the stellar dance community at Sewanee.
Every year, students who crave dance have the opportunity to display their art in a showcase titled “Perpetual Motion” (PMo). It is a completely student-led event that shows just how vibrant and creative the dance community is. The dances are diverse in genre and energy. This year’s program included jazz, contemporary, K-pop, Brazilian funk, and others that had the audience on the edge of their seats and socks thoroughly knocked off.
Kate White (C ‘25), a choreographer and dancer for this year, had two dances in PMo 2025. In describing her experience with PMo, she stated “I see it as our baby. We all come together and bring different parts of ourselves, and it accumulates into this beautiful show. It’s a chance to run things without professors and a chance for us to show our stuff.”
One of her pieces was a funky trio to “A Commotion” by Feist. This piece was a pulsating, funky dance that showcased Kate’s style. She said, “I wanted it to be more fun… a culmination of my time here and I wanted to showcase my vibe. I always like to make things that are off putting, and Nico (C ‘28) and LG (C ‘27) [other dancers in the piece] have done such a beautiful job bringing the choreography to life.”
Her other piece was a passionate duet titled “Inevitability” to “Dido and Aeneas/ Act 3 ‘Thy Hand Belinda.’” Starting with a concept of blue, sorrow and melancholy, she further developed it to encapsulate “the feeling of longing for something that you shouldn’t have, but you have it and even though it’s bad for you, you want to keep it with you because you’re so comfortable with it. And how that cycle of grief within a relationship perpetuates itself and you always come back to that one person even if they’re not good for you.”
This duet was originally a project for a Dance Composition class (DANC 224) and evolved to be brought to the American College Dance Association this past Spring Break. Out of the 42 dances submitted to the conference, “Inevitability” was one of the 12 selected pieces for a second performance at the Gala.
One of the most unique aspects of PMo is that it is open to anyone. “It’s people coming from all levels and styles of dance and they’re getting to showcase their unique dance ability,” White said. “That’s what makes it different is how unique it is in the fact that everyone is coming from different backgrounds but we still made this whole cohesive show.” The diversity of PMo gives students the opportunity to engage with dance in a way they might not have before, or to share their experiences with others.
PMo is an incredible work of artistry and student involvement. The energy it sends across campus is undeniably irresistible, and forges unforgettable friendships. White said, “Dance is an art that requires collaboration and friendship because you’re moving as a collective… I’ve made my best friends through the dance program.”