Associate Professor of Dance Catherine Cabeen and senior Bella Mittenthal ’23 each presented work at the New York State Dance Education Association’s 2023 Winter Conference: Dance & Pride.
Cabeen presented “Remixing Repertoire,” a 60-minute workshop exploring pedagogical interventions she uses when teaching Martha Graham’s legacy to “break up the binary gendered constraints of the technique and repertoire.”
“In teaching the Martha Graham Technique, I am always seeking to integrate craftsmanship and critical thinking with our ever-changing cultural climate,” Cabeen said. “All movement in Graham’s technique originates from the pelvic floor, and as we continue to see in American society, for women, trans, and non-binary folk to control their own pelvis is a contentious issue. Graham’s work is also consistently heteronormative, which is problematic in a contemporary teaching context.”
Bella Mittenthal ’23 also presented “LOLA,” her piece from MMC’s fall student choreography showcase Dancers At Work (DAW), featuring an amazing cast of dance students.
NYSDEA aims to strengthen dance educators locally and nationally, providing professional development and networking opportunities, arts advocacy, and annual conferences. For more information about the organization’s events, visit its website.