Roxanne Gray’s ‘Nepantla’ Chosen for ACDA National Conference

School of Dance alum Leslie Jara in Nepantla. Photograph by Joshua Whitehead.

School of Dance MFA Candidate Roxanne Gray has been invited to present her work Nepantla at the ACDA National Conference in Washington D.C. this May! The work, choreographed and directed by Gray, also features U School of Dance students and alumni performers.

Roxanne Gray. Photo by Todd Collins.

Gray’s work went through a rigorous adjudication process, and was performed at the ACDA Regional gala, before being selected for the national conference. In their adjudicator statement, the ACDA wrote that the work was chosen “for its ferocious depiction of female power and sophisticated amalgamation of traditional forms.”

'“It was incredible to witness the response from other dance students and faculty in our region, especially those people of color who were touched by the piece on a personal level,” said Gray. “There were many emotions backstage, and I am so grateful for the experience of sharing this work and for the opportunity to let these dancers share a little of themselves with the collegiate dance community.”

Now, Gray gets to share her work on the national stage. “The piece shares important themes of cultural erasure, assimilation, and oppression,” said Gray. “These embodied messages should be shared nationally, especially during this tumultuous climate of arts performance and education.”

Nepantla performers at the Regional ACDA Conference. Photo by Roxanne Gray.

“The School of Dance is elated that Roxanne Gray’s work, Nepantla, has been selected to be performed,” said Professor Sara Pickett, ACDA Faculty advisor. “The six students dancers have brought so much heart and dedication to the work which was received with standing ovations on at the regional conference where the selection was made.”

Pickett added that Leah Cox, one of the regional adjudicators, said the piece was a “masterfully crafted tour de force of grit and power.”

Congratulations to Roxanne Gray and the performers, and thank you for representing the U School of Dance at ACDA!