Spring Dance Concert Highlights Identity, Culture, and Transformation
Photo credit: Jayleen Maldonado
By Arlin Rodriguez
On April 22, the Spring Dance Concert at Lehman brought together 16 student choreographers who presented performances that explored identity, cultural pride, and the body in society through a mix of contemporary, street, and Latin dance styles. Developed through a choreography course, the concert featured both new and returning student artists, with performances emphasizing how dance can be used to communicate ideas about culture, identity, and personal transformation beyond words.
“Culture and community were the most important factors in my piece,” said Keany DeLeon, student choreographer and performer. “Growing up in New York, we see all kinds of ethnic groups, and I wanted to highlight the importance of coming together, regardless of where we all come from, because at the end of the day, we come from the same motherland.”
DeLeon also emphasized the importance of connection across differences. “I hope the audience resonated with my piece even if they speak a different language. The whole point is to come together and bring out the joy in each other.”
Other choreographers focused on broad social themes and the state of the world today. Hazel Avila, a student choreographer, described her piece “ThE anthology of uNbounD souls” as a reflection on both brokenness and growth. “This world at times can be bitter and filled with hatred and brokenness,” Avila said. “However, we can take that brokenness and turn it into something new.” She emphasized the importance of unity and collective care, adding that she hopes audiences understand that “if we choose to love each other and stand united…we can break free from all the world imposes upon us.”Gabriela Moore, a student choreographer, explored personal and spiritual themes in a reflection on transformation and growth. Moore explained that their piece focused on “humans being God’s earthen vessels where Jesus takes us through all the processes of refinement whether through deep waters or blazing fire.” The piece highlighted the idea that individuals go through challenges but come out “filled with life and life more abundantly.”Moore also hoped audiences would take with them the idea that “each individual on earth has access to something very precious from within,” describing a journey of “transformation, molding, and refinement” that begins with personal surrender.
“The whole point is to come together and bring out the joy in each other.” --Keany Deleon, student choreographer and performer
These ideas connect to the broader conversation about how dancers experience both their physical bodies and societal expectations. According to Dance Data Project, dancers often navigate pressures related to appearance, identity, and representation, which can shape both
performance and opportunity. Several pieces in the concert reflected these tensions by challenging traditional movement styles and presenting diverse perspectives on the body.
The concert also explored how performance elements such as lighting, costuming, and staging contribute to how identity and culture are presented on stage. Mx. Cooper, the artistic director, explained that these elements are carefully considered to reflect real-life experiences.
“While developing elements that support choreography, we spend time considering how cultural values and perspectives are reflected in aesthetics. All of these elements reflect underlying values, and making performances for the stage is a way to highlight those values as living, embodied truths.”
Cooper discussed the value the concert placed on supporting student voices and choreographers’ creative development. “The most important thing for me is supporting each choreographer in discovering what they want to say with their artistic voice and having that intention reflected in their design choices.”