Contact Bronte Hopkins at bronte.hopkins@gmail.com
BYU Dance Alumna is Seeking Assistant Ballroom Dance Coach at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah
Congratulations to all the BYU Dance Graduating Seniors! Class of 2020!
December 2019
- Taylor Moani Buck, BA in Dance
- Mackenzie Lee Cruz, BA in Dance
- Megan Suzanne Kitchen, BA in Dance
- Carli Treu Ralph, BA in Dance Education
- Brayden Lynn Singley, BA in Dance
April 2020
- James Adamson, BFA in Dance
- Lindsey Christensen, BA in Dance Education
- Roman Gabriel Curiel, BA in Dance
- Autumn Dawn Hawkes, BA in Dance
- Bronté Elizabeth Hopkins, BA in Dance Education
- Aubrie Joy Hutchings, BA in Dance
- Lauren Lacie James, BA in Dance
- Rebekah Sandstrom McConkie, BA in Dance
- Kiersten Robertson, BA in Dance
- Eliza Hoffman Robinson, BA in Dance
- Kathryn Arnett Rogers, BA in Dance
- Mckenzie Rucker, BA in Dance
- Natalie Van Wagoner, BA in Dance
- Skylar Moore Wardle, BA in Dance
- Jennifer Anna Zackrison, BA in Dance Education
June 2020
- Brenna Bartholomew, BA in Dance
- Diana Birgitta Elisabeth Brewster, BA in Dance
- Hanna Ashton Brockbank, BA in Dance
- Katia George, BA in Dance
- Veronica Lee Harvey, BFA in Dance
- Kaila Rachelle Bradley Podzikowski, BA in Dance
August 2020
- Kira Brooke van Dyk, BA in Dance
- Fallon Michelle Fristoe, BA in Dance
- Lesley Laura Gee, BA in Dance
- Lauren Justine Halversen, BFA in Dance
- Ryan Michael Hatch, BFA in Dance
- Sarah Kay McClure, BA in Dance
- Kyra Michelle Morgan, BFA in Dance
- Caitlin Elizabeth Shill, BFA in Dance
Check out the video montage of Class of 2020 BYU Dance Graduates!
New Advanced Writing Class to Focus on Dance!
Dance 317: Advanced Writing for Dance – MWF, 8:00-8:50 a.m.
**This course fulfills the Advanced Writing and Oral Communication GE requirement** Co-taught by Shelli Spotts (English) and Marin Roper (Dance).
Unless dancers can write and speak effectively about what it is we do, our best efforts to ‘move’ the world often fall flat. The goal of Dance 317: Advanced Writing for Dance, is to prepare dance majors with specific writing skills needed in your work as artists, educators, scholars and advocates out in the world. This class focuses on similarities between the creative processes used in writing and dancing to help you become more articulate and embodied writers and dancers. Units such as Dance Criticism, Dance Research, Dance Advocacy and Technical Writing for Dance will equip students with the tools to get funded, to get published, to get hired and to create change in the world.
Paired with the new Dance 317: Advanced Writing for Dance course, the Department of Dance is also excited to reinstate the annual “Writers’ Symposium” in Winter 2021. The Writers’ Symposium is a department event that recognizes, celebrates and rewards excellent student writing. The Writers’ Symposium will be directed by Professor Amy Jex.
Questions? Contact <marin_roper@byu.edu> with questions.
Thank you, BYU Dance DMSRs ~ Dance Major Student Reps ~ 2019-20
Sasha Chopelas, 2019-20 President 
Ryan Hatch, 2019-20 Secretary 
Ryan Hatch with Theatre Ballet
2019-2020 DMSR Officers
President – Sasha Chopelas
VP & Dance Ed – Tera Taylor Egbert
Secretary – Ryan Hatch
BA Rep – Lauren James
Ballroom Rep – Saidi Cordon
Contemporary Rep- Victoria Raimondi
World Rep- Natalie Van Wagoner
Student Dance Education Organization (SDEO) Rep – Mac Braithwaite
The BYU Dance Majors are a tight group around the RB! These student leaders above have served for a full year as DMSRs, doing various projects from planning activities and organizing events to designing and ordering group T-shirts and swag!
“The DMSRs provide an important service to the dance majors and to the department,” said Associate Professor of Dance Shani Robison, who is faculty advisor over the student leaders and new dance majors. “They help with dance major meetings, preview day, student orientations, major fairs, and more. They set up socials and serve the dance majors in any way that they can.”
“I am so blessed to have made life-long friends that have changed my life,” said Ryan Hatch, class of 2020, BFA in Dance and DSMR secretary this past year. “My time on BYU Theatre Ballet has shaped me into the person that I am! I am so grateful for the amazing directors Shayla Bott, Ashley Ivory Parov, Hilary Wolfley and all of the other amazing faculty I have worked with!
“The DMSRs are excellent students, strong contributors and an invaluable part of the Department of Dance,” Robison said. “I thoroughly enjoy working with them and know that as they graduate they will provide great leadership and service to the dance field for many years to come! Thank you for all of your work and congratulations to the graduates this year!”
Tribute Dance Video, Vanish, Honors BYU Class of 2020
BYU Contemporary Dance Theatre (CDT) dances to Vanish, a piece exploring isolation, loneliness, support, friendship, togetherness and hope.
Visiting from NYC, choreographer Jesse Ombreski created the piece as a spiritual journey for all involved. It was shot and edited by Scott Cook Films. BYU Assistant Professor of Dance Keely Song, who is also Artistic Director of CDT, produced the film.
BYU graduating seniors from the Class of 2020 share their thoughts about Vanish, working with Jesse and dancing at BYU.
In their own words:
Bronte Hopkins, Dance Education Major, Class of 2020 ~ It was such a wonderful experience working with Jesse Obremski, as he is a talented choreographer and such a generous human being. It felt like a journey. “It’s all about the humanity,” is what Jesse would often remind us throughout the entire process working with him. Read More…
Jenni Zackrison Humphrey ~ Class of 2020, Dance Education Major ~ I feel like this piece and our dance community in general is all about supporting one another. In this dance, we focused on supporting Ben but it works the same way for anyone and everyone else. It was a special experience to be a part of this dance as part of my final performance at BYU. Read more…
Vanessa Redden, Dance Minor, CDT President, Class of 2020 ~ The creative process with Jesse Obremski was a memorable and unique experience. I’ve never worked with someone who puts so much heart into their work and also creates a space of individual self-discovery for his dancers. Read more…
Taft M. Robinson, Class of 2020, MDT Major ~ I was humbled and inspired after working with Jesse [Obremski]. Seeing and experiencing the collaborative process between his vision and us dancers was a real treat. The movement in Vanish explored the intricate experiences of connection among people; loneliness, a warm embrace, peaceful solace, seeking others, and community. Read more…
Keely Song, BYU Assistant Professor of Dance, CDT Artistic Director, Vanish Producer ~ This week we celebrate the flight of seniors and reflect back on those who have impacted our lives for good. As a tribute to the vitality of human connection and a hope for the day when we can one day physically connect to each other again, we are releasing Vanish, a screendance choreographed by Jesse Obremski and filmed by Scott Cook with music by Jarom Hanson. Performed by the CDT company, Vanish reminds us of our humanity and the power of lifting others on this journey called life. Congratulations to the class of 2020. Read more…
Keely Song, BYU Assistant Professor of Dance, CDT Artistic Director, on Vanish
In Her Own Words:
Today my little boys released the butterflies that they have been observing and nurturing since the caterpillars first arrived at our doorstep in a small jar. The temperature warmed up to 60 degrees and as their wings were exposed fully in the sunlight, I could sense the energy within their stillness. They were about to take flight.
This Friday marks what would have been the convocation & commencement at BYU. We would have basked in the sunlight and accomplishments of the students in their caps and gowns as they prepared to fly. However, that has all vanished and we are left with only the imagination of what might have been. We are left in a stasis of stillness remembering warm embraces, genuine greetings, and welcoming smiles.
Reflecting back on my first year overseeing the responsibilities of the BYU Contemporary Dance Theatre, I feel blessed the company members were able share experiences and memories well before this day of isolated graduation. However, like many performance groups, there were opportunities and performances left undone leaving the company in a state of unfinished closure.
Like a butterfly, dance is an art form that is evanescent. It leaves only the memories of invisible traces that permeates the air and the pathways on the ground. Because the physicality transforms into ephemerality, dance pushes us to fully live in the present. It begs us to live in the present, and perhaps it is that begging that drives us to seek human connection and share that with others. How grateful I am then, to have witnessed these connections transpire over the course of the year through the daily grind of rehearsals and performances.
This week we celebrate the flight of seniors and reflect back on those who have impacted our lives for good. As a tribute to the vitality of human connection and a hope for the day when we can one day physically connect to each other again, we are releasing “Vanish”, a screendance choreographed by Jesse Obremski and filmed by Scott Cook with music by Jarom Hanson. Performed by the CDT company, “Vanish” reminds us of our humanity and the power of lifting others on this journey called life. Congratulations to the class of 2020.
~ Keely Song
Taft M. Robinson, Class of 2020, MDT, on Vanish and BYU Dance
Taft M. Robinson, Class of 2020, BYU MDT ~ In His Own Words:
I was humbled and inspired after working with Jesse [Obremski]. Seeing and experiencing the collaborative process between his vision and us dancers was a real treat. The movement in “Vanish” explored the intricate experiences of connection among people; loneliness, a warm embrace, peaceful solace, seeking others, and community. I loved the opportunity to experience this dance anew in each rehearsal and performance: this piece, to me, is a living and breathing piece of art.I count myself lucky, blessed, and shaped by the opportunities I’ve had as a member of BYU’s MDT program and dancer on CDT this past school year. I love BYU Dance’s focused combination of art and spirituality; and my opportunities to feel God’s influence in performing firsthand. I’m so grateful for my professors and my peers who have cheered me on and allowed me to cheer them on. Thank you to BYU Dance, CDT, and MDT for setting the bar of excellence high and providing the journey to who I am today.
~ Taft M Robinson (MDT ’20)
Vanessa Redden, Class of 2020, Dance Minor, on Vanish and BYU Dance
Vanessa Redden, Class of 2020, Dance Minor, CDT President ~ In Her Own Words:
The creative process with Jesse Obremski was a memorable and unique experience. I’ve never worked with someone who puts so much heart into their work and also creates a space of individual self-discovery for his dancers. He made it very clear that each gesture, each interaction and each moment had meaning — meaning that added to the overall piece. Much like Vanish, my dance experience at BYU has become more meaningful with time, experiences and growing relationships with many dancers, professors and professionals. Each time we ran this piece I found deeper meaning and a deeper connection to the movement and my fellow dancers. This was a perfect finale to my college dance career. The final time we performed this piece I truly felt immersed in the movement, the music and the people. The range of human emotion that I felt in that 11-minute piece was an experience I never want to forget. The most important emotion, however, was unconditional love. I have immense love for my CDT dancers, I love BYU Dance, and I love the all the experiences that have added such great meaning to my BYU education. While my final season was cut short, these memories that dance has given me will never vanish. It was a perfect unexpected ending. Thank you Jesse for reminding me that dance is only an extension and expression of something much bigger than ourselves. Thank you, BYU Dance for letting me be a small piece of something so transformative.
~ Vanessa Redden
Vanessa minored in Dance and majored in Business in BYU’s Marriott School of Management. She looks forward to an exciting career ahead, using her creativity from dance to enhance her business skills and training.
Jenni Zackrison Humphrey, Class of 2020, on Vanish
Jenni Zackrison Humphrey, Class of 2020, BA in Dance Education ~ In Her Own Words:
I feel like this piece and our dance community in general is all about supporting one another. In this dance, we focused on supporting Ben but it works the same way for anyone and everyone else. It was a special experience to be a part of this dance as part of my final performance at BYU. I felt the love of my fellow dancers every time we performed this dance. I felt like this movement allowed me to share my emotions and love with those around me. At the end of the dance we had the opportunity to say goodbye to Ben. I always felt like this moment also allowed me to say goodbye to this chapter of my life and look forward to a new one, knowing that I would always keep these people and these memories with me. This dance and this community testified of the great love we have for one another and I’m grateful to have been a part of it.
~ Jenni Zackrison Humphrey
Bronte Hopkins, Class of 2020, on Vanish and BYU Dance
Bronte Hopkins, Class of 2020, BA in Dance Education ~ In Her Own Words:
It was such a wonderful experience working with Jesse Obremski, as he is a talented choreographer and such a generous human being. It felt like a journey. “It’s all about the humanity,” is what Jesse would often remind us throughout the entire process working with him. This was a defining period of time for us, as a company, to come together to show our love and resilience—to really become a community. I think that is what BYU DANCE has meant to me. Even and especially when our show week came in February and one of our dancers was injured, this piece was a through-line for the show that pulled us even closer. We stepped up and showed ourselves the importance of caring for one another—which only augmented and crystallized this dance for me. “To see and be seen by others” is how I would describe what Vanish means to me. Those moments in our lives when we all feel so small and insignificant, but are reminded moment by moment that we matter and our worth is much greater than we can understand. My experience at BYU has been a longer journey than most students, but it has also afforded me such life-changing opportunities. What’s interesting about the dance form is that while visual artists work in oil, acrylic, watercolor and ink, our medium is people. People matter most and it is the art that exposes their spirits and connects us to our Father in Heaven. I have so much reverence for the sacred space and time I have shared here at BYU. I LOVE these people. They have changed my life. I am full of gratitude for an ever-expanding family that I’ve come to know through dance. I will carry them with me as I move into the future.
~ Bronte Hopkins
Bronte begins a new job in August 2020 as the dance teacher at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah. She is excited to share her knowledge and love of dance with her new students!
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