SHU Dancers Win Top Awards at International Competition

Videos of solo and group performances stand out in virtual event

Sacred Heart University’s dance program stood out in a number of categories at this year’s World Dance Movement (WDM) International Virtual Competition in early May. More than 700 dancers from 34 countries participated.

The SHU dancers’ achievements in the competition were impressive.

• SHU Inception Dance Crew won first and second place in the senior street dance category.
• SHU Mo(ve)ment Pro Track Dance Company won second and third place in the senior dance film category.
• Four dance performances placed in the top 10 of the formation category.
• SHU senior Ryan Solorzano’s solo performance placed seventh out of all senior jazz/lyrical category and 10th for overall solos.
• SHU junior MaryCate Cassidy placed in the top 10 of all senior modern/contemporary category

“Our students were up against top-notch dancers from around the world,” said Kari Williams, director of SHU’s dance program. “Placing as high as they did is a very big honor.”

In previous years, SHU’s dancers have traveled to Italy to participate in WDM’s dance workshops, events and performances, Williams said. This was the first year they offered a virtual competition. Last year, however, there were no in-person workshops because of the pandemic.

She submitted videos of a performance called Sounds that was filmed pre-pandemic in SHU’s Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts and two dance films from the show de/STRUCT/URE, filmed last fall. Other submitted pieces were choregraphed, performed and filmed during the spring semester. Final submissions were entered in early April, said Williams, who thanked the video company, Sunny & Soul Productions, for all its efforts on the dance program’s behalf.

In the beginning of May, WDM live-streamed the competition for three days. Dance videos were shown, and renowned judges announced winners live. Though SHU’s dancers did not view the streamed performances together, Williams said the group was watching and texting throughout the three days.

Dance program continues to grow

Williams said she has seen exponential growth in the dance program since first arriving at SHU over five years ago. The awards and international recognition that resulted from this year’s WDM participation is a testament to that. “It has been absolutely incredible to watch this program evolve to its status today,” she said.

Solorzano, a 20-year-old exercise science student, said the competition was atypical, due to its virtual nature. “But World Dance Movement really did the most they could to keep the competition alive, considering the obstacles the pandemic presented,” he said. “I was very pleased that I was able to tune in to the competition wherever, whenever I wanted, because I would watch while waiting in line, going for a walk, or even eating dinner. Finding out about my award afterwards was also very cool to see, because they made the award ceremony accessible to the audience live and even posted it afterwards for people who couldn’t tune in to see it.”

Solorzano said dance teacher Grace Buckley, who choregraphed his solo piece, tried to emphasize his strengths as a dancer while ensuring he had fun onstage.

“I really enjoyed the experience of competing in the World Dance Movement competition, and I hope in the future our program can take a trip to Italy and compete in it in person once the pandemic is under control,” Solorzano said. “Luckily, I already had the opportunity to go to Italy and attend the World Dance Movement International Workshop, where I took classes with dance choreographers from all over the world. I would love for others in the dance program to have that experience.”

For more information, visit the SHU dance program website.

Pictured: Ryan Solorzano