College of Fine and Applied Arts

The love of dance at App State will never FADE

by: Willow Brookshire and Lauren Sharpe

BOONE, N.C. - The 35th anniversary season of the Appalachian State University Department of Theatre and Dance (T&D) continues with the 2024 Fall Appalachian Dance Ensemble (FADE) with eight original works choreographed by five university students and three Dance Studies faculty members. This event is a staple in the T&D season serving as a semi-annual concert showcasing their talents in choreography, design, and performance.

FADE '24 takes place in the Valborg Theatre on the university campus at 7 p.m. from Wednesday, November 20 through Saturday, November 23 with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, November 24, 2024. Ticket prices are $17 for adults, $15 for faculty and staff, and $10 for students. For more information, call the Schaefer Center box office at 800-841-ARTS (2787), stop by in person at the Schaefer Center for the Arts box office, or visit the T&D department website.

Sherone Price

Associate Professor of Dance Studies Sherone Price is the coordinator of the entire showcase. A 16-year veteran of the Department of Theatre and Dance, Price also serves as Dance Director of the Diyé African Dance and Drum Ensemble. About FADE '24, Price noted that over half of the works are choreographed by Appalachian students and said the best thing about the showcase is seeing, "the wide array of emotions displayed by the many pieces created by students." Regarding the creative efforts by the all-student cast of "exceptional dancers," Price said their "eagerness to bring dance to the community through a variety of genres is inspiring," noting that they, "are challenging themselves through every step of the choreography process."

Student pieces on the FADE '24 program are choreographed by Madeline Cefalu, Lauren Martin, Sarahann McIntyre, Avery Smith, and Maggie Talton. The original works by faculty members whose choreography is included in the showcase are Emily Daughtridge, Sherone Price, and Chris Yon.

Professor in Dance Studies Emily Daughtridge co-coordinates the spring dance showcase and has seen students grow from continuing their journey as dancers in the department. She stated that, "seeing students push boundaries and explore who they are as artists in our program is what makes FADE such an anticipated event every year."

Dancers: Megan McCraw, Hannah Runkle, Abigail Minor, Brooke Starets, Olivia Jones

Price agreed, saying, "It's exciting to see the wide genres of dance students represent" during FADE '24 and credited Dance Studies Assistant Professor Chris Yon with mentoring students in his choreography classes as they developed their talents as emerging choreographers.

The lighting design for the showcase is being created by students Hadley Brickman, Savannah Carter, and Marshall Hadsall, along with theatre faculty member and T&D Chair Mike Helms. Faculty choreographed pieces are designed by faculty costume designer Saloni Mahajan. Costume design for student choreographed pieces is courtesy of the costume collection of the Department of Theatre and Dance.


Dancers: Megan McCraw, Anna Bryant, Mack Marrow, Marielle Bumgarner, Sarahann McIntyre, Matalin Blumfield, Kylie Venticinque, Mattie Miller, Abigail Minor

Stage management is by student Alexa Trotter, assisted by classmates Lucy Lloyd and Matisse Notte, with technical direction and sound design by Matt Tyson and costume shop supervision by Kristin Grieneisen, both department staff members.

For directions to the Valborg Theatre and information about campus parking during FADE '24, please see Visitor Parking.

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About the Dept. of Theatre & Dance
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Theatre and Dance's mission is to facilitate transformative experiences for students and the public, which cultivate compassionate, creative, and collaborative communities through theatre and dance. The department also offers coursework for integrated learning through the arts to the general university student population. Its dynamic co-curricular production program provides exemplary theatre and dance experiences to departmental students, the university community, and the region, www.theatreanddance.appstate.edu.

About the College of Fine & Applied Arts
Appalachian State University's College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at https://cfaa.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls 21,570 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

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• Theatre and Dance