BEYOND THE SOUND (2021) was local dance creators Bella Brown & Maddy Petz’s first event as collaborators. Set to the familiar sound of classic and contemporary rock music, both choreographers have set forth on a journey guided by the complexity of their sound score and inspired by its ability to be both paint and canvas. Featuring separate work by each choreographer, one cast comes together to present a show that will bring the audience on a unique journey through contemporary dance and its relationship with sound.

BEYOND THE SOUND Program

The first half of the BEYOND THE SOUND program featured Bella Brown’s Where My Body Stays –

Where My Body Stays aims to bring the viewer on a journey through a deconstructed state of mind. Inspired by a personal experience and informed by a collaborative process with the dancers, this work presents disassociation, discontent, and cognitive dissonance. With a sound score that acts as a structure in which the movement exists, Where My Body Stays experiments with the relationship between movement and music that inspires it.

The Sound

“The Star Spangled Banner” written by Francis Scott Key, performed by Jimi Hendrix; “Dispute” by Yann Tiersen

The Cast

Eric Blovits, Taylor Craft, Jessica Mossner, Maddy Petz, Hannah Rittmueller, Lena Granger, Shannon White, Amanda Zawisza

The Production Team

Gabby Heabeart – Stage Manager

Shannon White – Location Manager

Sophia Brown, Adam Al-Nsour, Leo Milesovic, Elsa Nijal, Alex Clegg – Front of House

BEYOND THE SOUND concluded with an excerpt from Maddy Petz’s “A ‘Pretty. Odd.’ Experience” –

Panic! At the Disco hit the nail on the head when titling their 2008 album, “Pretty.Odd.” Peculiar yet highly entertaining, the album offers the perfect sound score for an even more peculiar and entertaining production. Watch along as nine dancers traverse through what Entertainment Weekly could only describe as, “an admirable ambitious musical bonanza.” BEYOND THE SOUND will feature the first half of A ‘Pretty. Odd.’ Experience, a project that will eventually produce the complete choreographed story of Panic! At the Disco’s entire “Pretty. Odd.” album. Guided by lyrical narration, an energetic cast brings the music to life through athletic and liberating movement. Pop punk, folk, whimsy, and a dash of theatricality are remixed and reproduced in the form of contemporary dance, daring you to guess what will happen next.

This work portrays both the mundane aspects of life, as well as the intersection of these patterns in the natural world. Elements of nature become personified through human bodies, establishing whimsical and fantastical performance. With tendencies to be consistently “doing the most”, the piece reflects an individual’s journey through the rat race of our current culture. But what happens when external forces guide them reconnect with their juvenile spirit? If nothing else, A ‘Pretty. Odd.’ Experience will leave you artistically energized, visually stimulated, and, perhaps, dancing right alongside us in your seat.

Special Thanks to Our Donors & Sponsors

DGEN Energy Partners

Zahara Anesthesia

Eden Anesthetic

The Sound

Excerpts from “Pretty. Odd.” by Panic! At The Disco – “We’re So Starving”, “Nine in the Afternoon – Single Mix”, “She’s A Handsome Woman”, “Do You Know What I’m Seeing?”, “That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)”, “I Have Friends In Holy Spaces”, and “Northern Downpour”

The Cast

Eric Blovits, Bella Brown, Taylor Craft, Kayla Gonzalez, Jessica Mossner, Hannah Rittmueller, Lena Granger, Shannon White, Amanda Zawisza

AFC Strong

Brandon Koepsell

Jennifer Kirkland

The Creative Team

Bella Brown | Co-Director, Choreographer, Dancer

Maddy Petz | Co-Director, Choreographer, Dancer

Amanda Zawisza | Communications Director, Dancer

Nico Sedky | Lighting Designer

Kercheval Dance

Lesniak & Sons

Petz Pantry

All BEYOND THE SOUND images taken by Lady Red Photos

A Note To Our Audience…

After a period of intense darkness in the performing arts, we thank you for being a part of the light. As artists, dancers, and creators, nothing compares to the joy that comes from the subtle hum of a full audience minutes before curtain call, and we are incredibly grateful you chose to join in on welcoming us back to the stage. Thanks to our sponsors, all proceeds from BEYOND THE SOUND – ticket sales, donations, refreshment sales – are going directly to our dancers and designers. We thank you not only for being in this audience today and supporting our artists, but also for your efforts in helping our community rekindle and return to live performance. As always, thank you for your continued support of the arts.