From September 23 to October 4, COCA’s Pre-Professional Division dancers participated in a residency with Colin Heininger and Kaylin Maggard from Peridance Contemporary Dance Company (PCDC) to develop new skills through exposure to new artists and engage in the creative process. COCA dancers learned the “Oceans” (2021), choreographed of PCDC’s Artistic Director Igal Perry, which they will perform in the spring performance of Verve!
COCA dancers, JJ Jones and Adelaide Pollock, shared their experience with the PCDC residency. Over the nine-day residency, they had an exciting opportunity to challenge their typical approach and learn to embrace simplicity while delivering the story of the dances. The last day concluded with a masterclass.
“Some of our most important work at COCA is to bridge the gap between pre-professional and professional dancers,” said Kirven Douthit-Boyd, COCA Associate Director of Dance, at Studio STL on Fox 2. “They are getting to dive in with these company artists and perform Igal Perry’s work.”
Igal Perry’s “Oceans” (2021), set to original music by Amit Weiner, captures the ocean’s dual nature—its power to both separate and connect. The piece reflects the sea’s constant motion, blending turbulence with calm as the entire company fills the stage with fluid, wave-like patterns.
Verve, formerly known as Triumphant, is COCA’s pre-professional division end-of-year show. It highlights the dancers’ versatility across 12 dance works from three different dance programs. The performance also celebrates COCA’s graduating class, applauding each graduating dancer’s commitment to their arts education.
