New York City Ballet Choreographer Joins BFA In Dance Fall Showcase

Students in the Alonzo King LINES Ballet/BFA in Dance program at Dominican presented two BFA Fall Showcase performances on campus in Angelico Concert Hall on November 12-13, and they were lucky again to have Sidra Bell working with them.

Sidra, who this year became the first African American woman to choreograph a work for the New York City Ballet, is an artistic director who came to Dominican with rave reviews. She created a piece for senior class members of the BFA in Dance program.

“The dancers in the BFA Program possess a beautiful combination of technical rigor, sensitivity and curiosity,” says Sidra, who was joined by fellow choreographers Gregory Dawson, Dexandro Montalvo, and Carmen Rozestraten in creating works for the Fall Showcase.

“This is my third work for the program and each time I work with them I am impressed by the breadth and depth of their work. It is a processed-oriented program and it's always a pleasure to experiment with the dancers.”

Sidra’s work for the BFA seniors’ performance was entitled “make enough space without rippling the line.”

“I have been using this process to explore causation and shape,” Sidra explains. “I approach dance making by developing systems of movement ideas. I have been coaching and guiding the dancers in their interpretation and execution of the form. They have been collaborating with me both virtually and in person to structure the timeline of the work.”

General admission to the Fall Showcase performances was $10 (cash only). Dominican faculty, staff, and students with a valid University I.D. were admitted free of charge.

For more information, visit bfa.linesballet.org/events.

BFA in Dance photo above by Steve Disenhof