“Etiquette,” a performance hosted by the Smith College Department of Dance, offers a striking, unconventional approach to performance.
The opening dance “Salute” was choreographed by Sheena Kuhn ’22. Dancers Jenny Huang ’24 and Natasha Toomey twisted and distorted their bodies, singing along to Lil Mariko’s “SIMP (feat. Rico Nasty)”. The strange movement combined with the blaring music gave the performance an unsettling feel. Kuhn’s rage over Asian fetishization showed in the disjointed movement of the second dancer, shadowed by the first, who smiled and sang along. The visual representation of the crushing distortion of fetishization concluded with a cathartic scream from the dancers and from Asian audience members.
“I think it’s important for white audiences to sit through something so uncomfortable and provocative,” Maya Altschuler ’25 said. “It’s cool to see activism in [the form of] dance.”
“Building a House,” choreographed by Nicoletta Consales ’22, was for “anyone who has ever been told they feel too much,” according to Consales. Five dancers gracefully followed traditional, ballet-like movements, breaking in sobs every few measures. Consales vibrantly expressed their emotional turmoil as the colorful dancers found themselves overcome with tears.
The third performance was “Flurries and Storms,” choreographed by Helen Danielson ’22. Five dancers in blue skirts twirled on ballet shoes in a performance that highlighted their impressive endurance. The synchronized movements showed off Danielson’s background in ballet and her dedication to her craft.
After a ten minute intermission, it was time for some comedy. “Elbows on the Table,” choreographed by Sophia Botrán ’22, was a humorous look at dinner rules from her childhood. Beginning with a careful arrangement of plates, forks and knives, the scene devolved when dancer Hazel Parker-Myers ’25 placed a plate on her head. The performance took on a jovial tone as the dancers traded jokes and stories while twirling with the silverware.
“It was interesting to see how Smith wants people to think about creating work,” Hazel Parker-Myers ’25 said. “There was a lot of time to play. Sophia’s attitude was like, we’re just going to try a bunch of stuff and see if it fits. The process was really different from dance [at my high school], and I think resources like costumes, props and set made it more unique and exciting.”
The last performance of the night was by Qingyang Gu ’22, titled “Us and the Many Before.” The piece recreated lost dance styles from ancient Chinese history using art and historical records. Gu’s dedication paid off as her dancers entranced the audience with their stunning outfits and graceful movements. “Us and the Many Before” was the perfect way to end the night, leaving viewers with a sense of calm.
