The Department of Dance marks its return to live performance at Musco Center for the Arts with a thrilling program that includes live music, sections of Paul Taylor’s masterpiece Esplanade, and premieres by guest composers, alumni and faculty.

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Esplanade premiered in 1975 and was immediately recognized as groundbreaking in its use of "found movements" from everyday life. Today, the work is regarded as an American dance classic that has influenced the course of dance history.

Staging of this performance of Taylor's piece is by former Paul Taylor Dance Company member Rachel Berman with rehearsal direction by Chapman's Professor Liz Maxwell. Eleven Chapman dance majors are accompanied by the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music's Temianka Quartet, under the direction of Professor Robert Becker, which perform Violin Concerto in E Major and Double Concerto for Two Violins in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach.

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Chapman Presidential Fellow Ido Tadmor and Department of Dance Chair Julianne O’Brien both present new work with original music composition. Tadmor’s piece with composer Connor Lemon explores the effects of quarantining under the pandemic, and O’Brien’s work with composer Brian Field is inspired by Einstein’s directive to believe in miracles.

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Chapman dance alumni Lauren Johnston, Mara Hancock, Ali Esposito, Morgan Goodfellow, and Azuki Umeda present works on topics ranging from climate change and travel to identity and the process of thought in a wide range of styles influenced by hip hop, ballet, and contemporary genres.