In the Works 2025
By Nichola Monroe 鈥�27
Every fall semester, student dancers at the 5Cs present their own choreographed pieces during In the Works, the annual concert produced by 糖心TV and Pomona College.
Performed this year at Pomona鈥檚 Pendleton Dance Studio, the pieces are not yet complete but are the culmination of a semester鈥檚 worth of work on a year-long thesis project dedicated to the power of movement. This year鈥檚 showcase featured 14 choreographers across three campuses.
鈥�In the Works lets students choreograph with their peers in a professional environment with support from faculty advisors,鈥� says Kevin Williamson, professor of dance and chair of the Department of Dance at Scripps. 鈥淭he process鈥攆rom choreographic proposals and auditions to feedback showings and tech week鈥攅ncourages them to generate art as imaginatively as possible while gaining invaluable career skillsets.鈥�
Building community through student choreography
Kristen Taylor PO 鈥�26 did not have a background in formal dance training before college鈥攂ut she fell in love with the joint dance program after arriving at the 5Cs.
After taking classes at Pomona and Scripps鈥攊ncluding studying dance composition under Williamson鈥攕he added dance as a second major alongside philosophy. Her In the Works performance will debut the first half of her dance thesis.
鈥淚鈥檓 interested in the body and physical experience from a philosophical perspective,鈥� Taylor explains. 鈥淟ast year, I choreographed a dance for my philosophy final and wrote about the experience of being a Black female dancer. I love finding ways to weave dance into other branches on my education.鈥�
Now a senior, Taylor has danced all four years at the consortium and choreographed the last two. Composing works for others has added a new dimension to her work.
鈥淎s a dancer, it鈥檚 more relatable when you know that the person choreographing for you is also a busy student taking a full course load,鈥� Taylor says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 special to recognize how they show up every week to create something really beautiful with and for you and your peers.鈥�
Dance and the liberal arts
Dance will continue to take center stage at Scripps. Thanks to a generous donation from Scripps alumna Carolyn Lake 鈥�54, the College will complete construction on a new state-of-the-art dance center in 2027.
The building will create a centralized space for public performance, rehearsing, and connecting with other departments, ensuring that one of the College鈥檚 most beloved programs鈥攁nd events like In the Works鈥�remains bold, bright, and strong into the future.
鈥淲e celebrate and learn how to dance through 鈥榮teps,鈥欌�攊nroads to examining how we express ourselves, listen to others, engage with bodily autonomy and storytelling, and engage with our community,鈥� adds Williamson. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why dance plays a crucial role in the liberal arts environment at Scripps. It鈥檚 where interdisciplinary research comes alive in the mind and body.鈥�