“Exultant Existence” – Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Senior Concert

The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance and the Department of Dance present Exultant Existence, a Bachelor of Fine Arts senior dance concert featuring works by Cristina Benn, Reina Kitasato, and Annabella Vidrio.

Free tickets are available at the door starting one hour before the performance.

Cristina Benn’s piece Gratitude follows a journey in self acceptance, thanking all those before who have guided her to where she is today. Thyself, continues the journey of self-acceptance, celebrating the beauty of accepting oneself and embracing all of who you are. The piece is lively and fierce, incorporating elements of Afro-Caribbean styles with hip hop and femme dance.

Reina Kitasato’s I Offer Prosperity and Eternal Life, focuses on the concept of the self in relation to others through the lens of nature. The different stages of life and the evolution of one’s self is shown in the dance. Kitasato’s solo, Unseen, explores her multicultural background and the difficulties posed by having to navigate two communities while maintaining a sense of self. This is conveyed through a unique storyline and detailed movements.

Annabella Vidrio’s Reasons I Now Understand explores themes of cross-cultural communication, systems of love, and acceptance of the unknown. This piece, comprising both her solo and her group choreography, is largely inspired by her upbringing in a vibrant Mexican-American household and throughout the dance, Vidrio incorporates modern techniques and traditional Mexican folkloric dancing. The work is supported in part through the School of Music, Theatre & Dance’s EXCEL Enterprise Fund and the Arts Initiative’s Student Mini Grant.