Year: 2025-2026
DanceForce Member: Cynthia Williams
Partnering DanceForce Member: Robin Collen
Artist: Doug Varone & Dancers
Community Partners: Boys and Girls Club, Geneva; Geneva Public Library; Hobart & William Smith Colleges Department of Dance & Movement Studies; St. Peter’s Community Arts Academy, Geneva; University of Rochester Program of Dance & Movement; West Street School
Audience: 634
County: Ontario
Three-week residency of the Doug Varone and Dancers company at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY January 12-31, 2026. The company conducted multiple outreach activities in Geneva and two in Rochester, NY including workshops in technique, choreography, and improvisation. Additional events included a lecture/demonstrations, a formal dance concert at HWS and an informal performance “Stripped” at the University of Rochester. Audience/artist talk-backs followed each performance. In total, 634 persons experienced activities and events in this 3-week residency.
The goals of the project were to provide workshops, lecture/demonstrations, formal and informal performances and community outreach to the Geneva and Rochester communities, as well as to provide creative time and rehearsal time for the company. All goals were met and the residency exceeded my expectations in terms of community engagement, artistic excellence, and efficient use of dedicated rehearsal and creative time by the company. They were a delight to have in residence, were generous and inspiring in their ability to work with multiple age groups and community settings with ease, and the artistic level of choreography was outstanding.
The company worked on average 8 hours a day in the studio on the creation of a new work and restaging of a repertory work, Boats Leaving. Jan. 14 they performed a lecture/demonstration at West Street School for 140 2nd graders and 16 teachers, showing excerpts from Lux (the kids oohed and ahhed every time there was a lift,) a duet with “funny faces,” and Varone’s “What Happens Next?” which gave the kids the opportunity to create a dance phrase. Audience engagement was great with supportive WSS staff. At one point an autistic boy was inspired to dance with his teacher/aide, clearly loving what he was seeing and wanting to dance. Jan. 15th featured an event at the Geneva Public Library, advertised as a glimpse into the creative process. It garnered a smaller than anticipated audience due to bitter cold and snow. The library posted a lovely thank you on their facebook page and at least one attendee came to the HWS performance the following week.
The second week entailed continued rehearsals, a technique and repertory class for HWS students, and preparation for the 1/23 concert, which included Varone’s masterpiece Luxe, a duet Maybe, and the 2024 monumental piece Restore. The quality of the choreography and performance was stunning and the lighting design for Restore reconfigured our theatre in extraordinary ways. A scheduled 1/24 community workshop in Rochester was postponed by a fierce snowstorm that halted all unnecessary travel for two days.
The third week included more creative time and rehearsals, a workshop for HWS choreographers and a workshop for Boys and Girls Club members. The B&GC kids participated eagerly and enthusiastically along with their staff aides. A workshop for dance students at St. Peter’s Community Arts Academy followed on 1/29. The residency ended with an informal lecture/demonstration “Stripped” at University of Rochester 1/30 and the rescheduled “Devices” workshop on 1/31.