Matthew Neenan Works with a Blend of Ballet and Modern Dancers in Gala Creation
As the School of Dance GALA rapidly approaches, preparations are being made across both Ballet and Modern programs. As part of a two-week residency, Matthew Neenan – former Pennsylvania Ballet dancer and co-founder of BalletX – has created a new work for the annual performance, combining the talent of both divisions of the School of Dance. This new piece features an integrated group of eighteen dancers, nine from each program. In Neenan’s work, students have the opportunity to shed their stylistic monikers and identify as simply “dancers.”
Neenan does not typically create on university programs but was inspired after visiting the U last spring and witnessing the diversity of movement styles the dancers inhabit. “You [have to] know how to get down. You [have to] know how to do it all,” he said in a recent interview; and these University of Utah artists can. Neenan also remarked that during the audition process, he observed “some of the most talented freshmen [he’d] ever seen.” Coordination is his most valued aspect of technique – how one can process getting from one movement to another – and he has been inspired by the sensorial aptitude these artists have demonstrated.
The blend of Ballet and Modern Dance students has been a rewarding tool in Neenan’s hands. The cast has fully committed to the process, jumping in with both feet and surrendering to the work. Neenan has created in collaboration with the dancers’ creativity, giving each of them liberty to take possession of the movement. His desire for precise ensemble work is beautifully balanced with an emphasis on individuality. The piece is grounded in community, where members are united in purpose but contribute unique details. There is respect amongst the cast members. There is a palpable desire to prove oneself, not only to fellow cast members but also to the community.
Neenan can be heard exclaiming phrases like “make it shine, make it known” in rehearsal. As dancers slide across the Marley floor and audibly stomp the ground, he continues to inspire them to push harder, to dig deeper. He encourages everyone to let life inform the process, to bring their personal experiences into the studio and allow them to flourish.
By School of Dance Ballet Program undergraduate student Victoria Holmes
The School of Dance GALA will be held at Kingsbury Hall on March 16 and 17 at 7:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased for $12 at tickets.utah.edu or at the box office. This is an ArtsPass event, so University of Utah students can gain free admission with their U Card. Students from other colleges or universities can purchase discounted tickets.