Alicia Tafoya (MFA Performance and Pedagogy, 2006) did not always dream of becoming a performer; in fact, as a child, she dreamed of becoming a scientist. She was never involved in the arts growing up, but in high school, when she had completed required electives, Alicia suddenly found herself backstage for her high school play.
The dance faculty have been busy this year with their research and creative work both on and off campus. I am dedicating this month’s article to discuss some of their amazing work.
Melanie Frasca, a graduate student in the Performance & Pedagogy program, has spent the last three years working with The BurkTech Players, a collaboration of students from the School of Theatre & Dance and the Burkhart Center for Autism Education & Research. Providing performance opportunities for people on the autism spectrum is one emphasis of many for the group.
Theatregoers are familiar with traditional plays and musicals; most audiences find the stories told through these mediums engaging, entertaining, and inspiring. Justin M. Krall, a third-year MFA student studying performance and pedagogy, will introduce audiences to another form of theatre—devised action theatre—with his thesis-show "Cycle(s)."