TDPS Spring 2014 Graduation - BA Dance, BA Theatre, MFA Dance, MFA Theatre Design, PhD Theatre & Performance Studies
June 05, 2014
Learn more about the accomplishments and the promising futures of the Spring 2014 TDPS graduates.Read the empowering speeches of two undergraduate students.
52 students graduated from the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at the University of Maryland. Learn what TDPS graduates are doing with their degrees by clicking on the link for each degree program. Read what TDPS students have accomplished and where each is headed.
Read below the speeches of two undergraduate students, one with BA in Theatre, Vaughn Midder, and another with BA in Dance, Ashley David. Their passion and gratitude for their experiences and their chosen degrees are inspiring.
Vaughn Midder - BA Theatre:
Good morning to my fellow graduates, professors, faculty, friends and families,
There’s a quote I value very strongly written by The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he was just an undergraduate himself, and it reads, “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” I firmly believe that we are one of the few, if not, the only department on this entire campus that actively attempts to accomplish this goal, because we are performing artists.
That means our bodies are our instruments. We have a class taught by a very valuable faculty member and mentor for many students, Leslie Felbain, titled “Character Development,” but choosing to major in theatre alone is choosing to major in character development, because so much of the work we do is personal. Studying the technique and the craft of how to embody a character on stage, it’s inevitable for us to be continually reflecting on our own sense of self and unique character. Not only that, we’re taught how to become intellectual individuals as a part of a larger community. Literally stepping into the shoes of a character we learn how to be more open-minded, how to think more critically; we learn how to judge with a much more sensitive and understanding eye. Not to mention the fact that whenever we do step on stage as actors and actresses we accept the responsibility of opening the minds of countless audiences, softening their hearts, and hopefully impacting them enough so they think twice about their role in their own communities.
I am fine with admitting to you all that I am very scared for this day to end. For the past 21 years I have never not been a student. At the same time, I know without a doubt, that out of all of the University of Maryland students, we are the most prepared to go out into the world. I know this because we have received a true education, intelligence plus character.
Our director Leigh Wilson Smiley does an incredible job of reminding us that we are a generation of “like”. Meaning, like we don’t really like take the time to like articulate what it is we’re like really thinking. There are many people under the impression that we do nothing for four years straight here. I tell them that I have done nothing except learn, learn how to walk boldly into a room full of people, stand in complete confidence, speak with conviction, connect with my community, open my mind and my ears, and to be utterly unapologetic for every thought and feeling I have along the way. For four years I have learned how to stand up and say, “my name is Vaughn Ryan Midder and I give you permission to judge me however you like” because I am confident enough to know that what I think of myself is all that matters; we’re more than ready.
There’s another quote our director loves to proclaim that I know many of you have heard, and that is, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” So my only worry isn’t whether we’re ready or not, it’s if the world is ready for us, because today we graduate and we’re not afraid of our own power. We’re not wasting any more time tip-toeing around, and whispering our words, and diluting our thoughts like the rest of our generation. We are products of a true education, and we are ready!
Ashley David, BA Dance:
My name is Ashley David and I am—I still can’t believe I’m saying this—graduating with a bachelor of arts in dance today. I have the privilege of completing the bachelor’s program with five other beautiful dancers and I’ve had the joy of dancing with and watching the four MFA graduates through their explorations as well. Especially Jessie—thanks for believing in me enough to cast me in your thesis the semester after I had a broken foot! You are all truly inspiring and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of this department with you.
Honestly, how did I even get here? I swear my first modern I class with Adrian Fang was just yesterday! I walked into class as a sophomore…anxious, intimidated and unsure of the decision I had made to add dance on as a second major to communication-public relations. I’ve been dancing my whole life, but decided upon entering UMD my freshman year that it was simply a hobby. However, after one year, I knew that something needed to change, but I was a studio-bred, competition dancer. I knew nothing about modern dance, and frankly at the time, anything that I had seen that was dubbed “modern” kind of scared me.
So what changed? I went to the Maryland Dance Ensemble Concert spring of my freshman year for ballet to write a performance report (one of many, many, many to come). I was bracing myself for the “weird” modern, but honestly, after the concert, I just felt inspired and motivated to explore and create, and I knew the dance major would get me there.
Now, cue the nerves and Adriane’s modern I class again…I constantly had to think about my pelvis…why in the world was my pelvis so important all of a sudden?! And that head-tail connection…um hello…I was a ballerina, I was supposed to be poised and upright at almost all times, but in modern dance…oh no… I spent just as much time on the floor (if not more) as I did standing up….And if I got told to BREATHE one more time I swear... but Adriane drilled me until I carried my pelvis with me, found that head-tail connection and breath, and felt the floor as my friend. Finally, I got through the class, as well as my very first improv class, that first semester. I was itching for more and could not wait to see where the next 2 ½ years could take me. I’ll let the following paint a picture of time spent with this department:
I was blessed to receive a scholarship my senior year. I’ve had four amazing internships in the arts and will be starting my fifth in the Dance Programming office this summer at the John F. Kennedy Center. And the humble, yet brilliant faculty in this department have surrounded my fellow dancers and I.
Taking class with Alvin Mayes meant that you learned the essentials of choreography and the importance of musicality. He also gave me the opportunity to be in one of his works, which meant that I was a part of “Alvin’s school of dance.” Oh and I learned that no one loves costume changes as much as Alvin throughout the day.
Karen Bradley has become my life coach, who is always willing to listen to my crazy rants. She taught us all the importance of making connections, building community and that you don’t need to regurgitate the teaching style of past instructors when teaching dance. You can be your own person.
Isaiah Johnson’s training class helped us all discover our inner rhythm. I don’t think those patterns will ever leave my muscle memory.
Miriam Phillips awakened our interests in dance history and lineages.
Anne Warren gave me a chance the semester I broke my foot to still take her Laban class in a chair—highly unconventional—and for that I am forever grateful. And Anne, those of us in your project based learning class, we will never think about form and expression in the same way.
Then there was Sharon Mansur, who encouraged us to overcome our insecurities with contact improvisation. She is also the reason I am obsessed with Somatics and alternative healing practices…especially Rolfing. Sharon, I promise I will move to Boulder, Colorado and get Rolfing certified at some point in my life.
Bob was always a smile, wave and conversation we could count on in the dance wing…in addition to his amazing drumming skills.
Paul, the dance theatre is truly yours. Our shows would never be as seamless and professional as they are without you overseeing the lighting and sound. And where would all of the years of the dance department have gone without your constant videoing and archiving?
And Sara and Patrik, while I never had the opportunity to take class from either of you, your support, guidance and positivity was a light in the dance department that made everyone’s experience here that much better. And Patrik, no one can ever thank you enough for being the most committed and generous faculty advisor to the dance fraternity!
Lastly, my fellow dancers in this program—those who are graduating today and those who still have time to explore, breathe and groove. Thank you. Thank you for sharing your bodies, your movement, your creativity, your memories, your frustrations, your happiness (especially with choreography break throughs) and for making my decision to be a dance major, the best decision I could have made at UMD. I will sorely miss this department and the community and support it provides me, but the connection will always be there. Everyone always says the dance world is so small anyways, right? You can’t get rid of me, even if you tried!
I’m going to be completely cliché and leave you all with a quote, but I don’t care because it’s the best and it’s from Hanya Holm: “What you are capable of is so marvelous that it is almost impossible to imagine what you could do if you achieved it. Don't say you can never get there. Get as far as you can with a full heart and with full conviction, then try to drive on a little further. To achieve something takes strength. You are not born with that strength, you have to gain it.” Congratulations again to all of the graduates today and know that you all have truly gained the strength for this great achievement.
Thank you!