Guest artist brings movement, music to GV dance students – Grand Valley Lanthorn

This past week, dance students at Grand Valley State University were given the unique opportunity to work with, and learn from guest musician, dancer and choreographer Alison Clancy. Clancy is a New York-based performer, currently acting in 16 productions at the Metropolitan Opera, and was the 2022 recipient of the New York State Choreographers’ Initiative Award.

The Department of Music, Theatre and Dance (MTD) invited Clancy to share her artistic experience with students and teach them her unique style of ballet, contemporary and modern dance. In addition to teaching dance students, Clancy created choreography and hosted auditions for a musical and vocal number that will be used at the dance program’s upcoming fall showcase.

Chloe Schram, a GVSU dance major, said that working with Clancy provided unique insight into the multi-performative world of music and dance. 

“(Clancy) is skilled in several different areas,” Schram said. “The piece that we’re doing, it’s her music. She’s singing in it, so she’s a musician and dancer. I don’t believe that I’ve ever done that, learning a piece from a choreographer and then dancing to their music (singing).”

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On her website, Clancy describes her solo performances as having been defined as haunting, both in their movement and vocally. Her genre is broad and has helped to expand her profession across live stages, films and teaching opportunities.     

Schram said that Clancy’s piece for GVSU dancers reflects her different and unique style, introducing a movement that many of the dancers hadn’t encountered before.

“(Clancy’s piece) incorporates a lot of contemporary, but it’s kind of somber (and) a little eerie,” Schram said.

Haley Rosendale, another GVSU dance major, said that Clancy is one of the sweetest and calmest choreographers who has taught at GVSU. 

“Her piece is very pretty and slow,” Rosendale said. “The music is really beautiful.”

Rosendale added that there are many different styles within ballet and described Clancy’s piece as neoclassical, which showcases more abstract movement than classical ballet traditionally does.

“(Clancy) kind of combines contemporary and ballet,” Rosendale said. “You’re very flowy and moving your whole body through everything.” 

Both Rosendale and Schram said that Clancy’s mix of ballet and contemporary style took some getting used to, as it was a new creative process to learn and explore.

“It’s challenging in a positive way to really take on the movement and the vibe of the piece,” Schram said. “(We) really have to be in our movement and not speed anything up because it is a slower piece.” 

MTD invites guest teachers like Clancy to provide students with a broader range of education and dance experiences. Rosendale said it is very helpful for dance students to have the opportunity to work with guest choreographers and dancers, as it helps guide them into the professional world of dance and performance after graduation.

“Any guest artists we have (at GVSU) share their past experiences and their professional time,” Rosendale said. “Getting to hear their stories, tips and different styles (is) honestly very impactful on all of us because we strive to go into the professional world once we graduate.”

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