Grayslake native praised for choreography at Hofstra

Submitted by Hofstra University

Two Hofstra dance majors — Caitlin Sheppard, 21, of Grayslake and Alexis Robbins, 19, of Wakefield, R.I., — received rave reviews for their choreography at the American College Dance Festival Association’s Northeast regional conference and were selected to perform in the conference gala.

Hofstra University was also the site of the conference, which took place March 25-28. In addition to Hofstra students, approximately 450 students from 25 other colleges participated. The program included 101 dance classes and produced six dance concerts, four of which were adjudicated by three eminent modern dance teachers/choreographers.

The festival’s adjudication process is completely blind: the judges do not know the names of the student choreographers or performers of each piece. They also do not know the school affiliations of the dances.

At the end of each “semifinal” dance concert, the judges give notes, which can be full of praise or scathing. In the end, they select only 12 of the dances to be performed at the gala. That the work of both participating Hofstra students was selected for the gala is an incredible honor, not only for Sheppard and Robbins, but for Hofstra Dance.

Sophomore Alexis Robbins is a dual major in dance and exercise science at Hofstra. One of the reasons she decided to attend Hofstra is because of its offerings in tap, which she says is rare on the college level.

For ACDFA, she choreographed and performed a contemporary tap solo titled “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,” which she performed to the John Mayer song of the same name. Hers was the only tap piece in the festival.

Alexis performed on the Hofstra stage again in April for the university’s annual Spring Dance Concert. She performed in a piece choreographed by guest artists Fritzlyn Hector and David Parker. Parker’s work, titled “Sam, Steve, Wolfgang and Us,” featured a finale with Alexis tap dancing to a vocalist singing a cappella.

Alexis’ future plans includes continuing her choreography work, but eventually she would like to go into physical therapy for dancers.

This year was Caitlin Sheppard’s second time participating in the ACDFA’s Festival and Gala. She choreographed “[under cover] of Darkness,” which was performed by five of her fellow dance students, including Alexis. Caitlin also collaborated with Hofstra alumnus and musician Jordan Chiolis on the musical accompaniment for the piece.

Caitlin describes the work as being about the other world a person’s mind enters when they are asleep.

Caitlin, a junior at Hofstra, has performed in five Hofstra Dance Concerts. For the April Spring Dance Concert, she performed in pieces by faculty choreographers Stormy Brandenberger and Maxine Steinman. Caitlin is also active in the student group Danceworks and is most interested in contemporary dance and jazz.

After graduation she plans to make her move to New York permanent and audition for various dance companies. Her ultimate goal is to start her own dance company.

For more information on the Hofstra Dance program, visit hofstra.edu/drama-dance. The annual Hofstra dance concerts take place in November and April.

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