Dance Presents ‘Temporary Beings’
October 22, 2018
Webster University’s Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts Department of Dance presents Temporary Beings. The concert showcases original choreography of senior BFA candidates Stephanie Borcherding, Alyssa Perez, Josiah Gundersen, and Rachel Tegtmeier.
Temporary Beings runs Nov 8-9 at 7:30 p.m., as well as Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. The performance is held on Webster’s Stage III, located in the lower level of Webster Hall, 470 E. Lockwood Ave. The concert is free and open to the public, however, donations are accepted.
Stephanie Borcherding states, “Sometimes our pain causes us to disconnect from the moments that are meant to connect us with the ones we love and the passions that liberate us from ourselves. I drew inspiration from these external and internal battles and shaped my choreography to display the possibility of accepting the pain we endure, as opposed to running from it. I think there is beauty in vulnerability.”
Borcherding, a Chicago native, fell in love with the stage while competing with Motion Express in St. Louis, Missouri. While at Webster, Stephanie had the opportunity to study abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, this past summer of 2018 with Estelle Bovay, Bertolli Vittorio, Ramon Moraes, Luciana Reolon, and Graciela Acedo.
Alyssa Perez was raised in Miami, Florida, and trained with Hannah Baumgarten, Karin Bejerano, and Corey Colfer. Apart from the faculty at Webster, she has had the pleasure of working with Amanda Tae, Nicole Casanova, Janelle Delgado, Estelle Bovay, Bertolli Vittorio, Ramon Moraes, Luciana Reolon, and Graciela Acedo.
“I have a collage of thoughts racing through my mind daily. I want to highlight bold and rapid movement that covers the stage to illustrate this collage. Insanity can sometimes lead us to sanity," said Perez. She follows through her pieces with either struggles or accomplishments she's had in her past life and current life. She explores the use of space with herself and others within her pieces. She asks, “What is comfortable and what is not?”
Josiah Gundersen grew up in the city of Olympia, Washington, where he began his dance training at Studio West Dance Academy with Stephanie Wood and Sarah Shepler. Since coming to Webster University as a dance major, Josiah has worked with Alicia Graf-Mack, Monica Newsam, Beckah Reed, James Robey, Michael Uthoff, Heather Sultz, Cleo Parker Robinson and many others through classes and performances with the Webster University Dance Ensemble.
“I’m especially interested in crafting, formulating, and organizing movement that imparts to the viewer a design based experience,” said Gundersen. "I’ve always been curious, so exploring concepts and pushing to create a meaningful experience without forcing a direct meaning is how I shape my work. I find it important that the dancer lives within the movement rather than puts on a show."
Rachel Tegtmeier grew up in Kentucky where she trained in all styles at Barbara Ann’s School of Dance under the direction of Clemmy Ann Bastin. Outside of Webster, she has had the privilege of working with Karen de Luna, Andrea Weber, and Angel Arambula.
Tegtmeier explains, “I’ve always preferred developing concepts for dance based on the human condition. My pieces for this concert explore familial relationships and a wide range of beliefs regarding death. I’m interested in using identifiable gestures as well as abstract movement to convey narratives and ideas.”
Performance and Department Information
For further information, call the Fine Arts Hotline at 314-968-7128. For more information on the Department of Dance: call 314-246-7747, email dance@webster.edu, or visit the department website at www.webster.edu/dance.
Artist Biographies
Stephanie Borcherding, originally from Chicago, Illinois, began dancing at the age of three. She fell in love with the stage while competing nationally with Motion Express, a school of dance and acrobatics in St. Louis, Missouri. She trained in classical ballet, jazz, and contemporary lyrical dance techniques, and furthered her education and passion for dance at Webster University. Stephanie will be graduating from Webster with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis on Modern dance, this December, 2018.
Alyssa Perez was born in Miami, Florida, and grew up with dance surrounding her life. She started dancing at a young age and took all styles growing up, including ballet, tap, hip-hop, and jazz. She loved ballet most, because of the confidence it gave her as a young woman. Alyssa discovered Webster University at a high school dance convention where dancers were given the opportunity to take classes from dance professors to receive scholarships for summer intensives. She applied and left Miami to attend Webster University for a BFA in Dance, with an emphasis in Ballet. After graduating from Webster University, Alyssa plans to join a professional company to continue dancing and expressing herself.
Josiah Gundersen grew up in the city of Olympia, Washington, where he began his dance training at Studio West Dance Academy with Stephanie Wood and Sarah Shepler. Since coming to Webster University as a dance major, Josiah has worked with Alicia Graf-Mack, Monica Newsam, Beckah Reed, James Robey, Michael Uthoff, Heather Sultz, Cleo Parker Robinson and many others through classes and performances with the Webster University Dance Ensemble. This May he will receive a BFA in Dance with a modern emphasis.
Rachel Tegtmeier grew up in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, where she began dancing at the age of three. She trained in all styles at Barbara Ann’s School of Dance in Lexington, Kentucky under the direction of Clemmy Ann Bastin. Though proficient in many forms her preferred style is classical ballet. As a dance major at Webster University, Rachel progressed her passion for dancing while emphasizing her studies on ballet. She will graduate this May with a BFA in Dance.
