TDPS Graduate Students to Present Dance Work at Prestigious National College Dance Festival

“silent room echoing still” was choreographed by Javier Padilla in collaboration with Gerson Lanza, Christina Collins and Kevin Clark.

This week, four graduate students from the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) are heading to the national stage—that is the American College Dance Association’s (ACDA) National College Dance Festival—where they will be presenting their piece “silent room echoing still.” 

Choreographed by Javier Padilla (MFA Dance ’24), in collaboration with Gerson Lanza (MFA Dance and Performance Studies '24), Christina Collins (MFA Dance ’25) and Kevin Clark (MFA Dance ’25), “silent room echoing still” was selected by a panel of nationally recognized dance professionals at ACDA’s Mid-Atlantic regional conference in March. The work, which explores the theme of memories and the sounds they create, was one of only two chosen from the region for outstanding artistic excellence to move forward to the national festival in California. 

Since March, the dance piece, which is Padilla’s thesis and was still a work-in-progress during the showing, has undergone some significant changes.

“Over the past few weeks, our graduate students have continued working on the piece and creating alterations before the national showcase,” said Adriane Fang, associate professor of dance. “It’s a testament to their high level of ability, malleability and creativity.”

During the Mid-Atlantic regional conference in March, the TDPS dance community showcased that they’re “at the forefront of investigating new ways to approach dance,” added Fang. UMD students presented three works in total: “silent room echoing still,” “To Conquer Me Home” by Keith Johnson (MFA Dance ’24) and “Velocity” by Christina Robson ’22 and Collins. Fang and Assistant Artist-In-Residence Kate Ladenheim also joined students at the conference and taught classes, participated in discussions and performed.

The national conference, slated for May 26–28, offers an important opportunity for TDPS students to build community with dancers from all over the country. It is also a tremendous honor to be able to showcase new work to a national audience.

Padilla, whose work also debuted at the national conference when he was an undergraduate student at Maryland, said, “I never thought it would happen again. It’s such a huge validation, and I am so glad I stuck with what I love.”