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New dance collective is finding success
CamelTracks
2007

New dance collective is finding success - Download Article PDF

Maggie Bennett ’05, one of the members of Propel-her, performs in Motherland
Maggie Bennett ’05, one of the members of
Propel-her, performs in Motherland.

 

Several college friends move to the Big Apple in hopes of hitting it big doing what they love: dancing and performing.

It might sound like the plot of "Fame" or "A Chorus Line," musicals centering round struggling artists, but five Connecticut College alumnae are following their dreams together – and finding success as well.

The aspiring choreographers and dance majors from the Class of 2005 decided last year to form Propel-her, a dance collective in New York City.

“We were always encouraged, in particular by [Professor of Dance] Lan-Lan Wang, to collaborate with one another in our post-College lives,” said Cara Liguori ’05. “After moving to New York, it only took a few months for the five of us to settle and realize we were ready to get started.”

Currently, the Propel-her members are looking forward to working on six new dances for their upcoming production, "Domestic Flight," which premieres at the Merce Cunningham Studio in New York City Nov. 15-17.

Together, they create and present their own dances while still pursuing their individual careers. All five also teach dance to younger students at various studios, and members like Maggie Bennett ’05 are able to design their own show while also studying to become a Pilates instructor at the Kane School of Core Integration.

 “The five of us together have a much greater collective knowledge and broader range of areas of expertise than any one of us does individually,” Liguori said.

Each of the dancers brings something different to Propel-her. Betsy Miller ’05 is in charge of press and archiving, Liguori handles fundraising and grant applications, Amy Adams ’05 is the group’s treasurer, Bennett maintains their Web page, and Ani Javian ’05 is in charge of production.

“If one of us tried to take on all of these tasks, that one person wouldn't have time to actually create and rehearse dances while working her day job,” Liguori said. “By splitting it – sharing the administrative responsibilities five ways – we are helping each other move our artistic careers forward much faster than any one of us could accomplish on her own.”
A wide spectrum of dance styles is covered by the five women as well: ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern and hip-hop.

Their premiere performance, "Letters to the Editor," was sold out on both nights, and Propel-her is even starting to find fans who follow its members’ careers. “The response to our work and choreography has also been overwhelmingly positive,” Liguori said.
Since the first Propel-her performance, group co-founders have presented at numerous venues and festivals all around New York City including the d.u.m.b.o. Dance Festival in Brooklyn and The New York City Fringe Festival in Manhattan.

 “We work for each other and dance for each other with the understanding that we might not get paid, in order to support each others’ artistic visions,” said Liguori. “Together we reach more people with our art.”

To learn more about the group or to view a complete listing of Propel-her’s upcoming performances, please visit their website at www.propelherdance.com.