Dance is more than performance—it’s a way to tell stories, express ideas and build community. At Rowan University, members of RU Dance Extensions brought those elements together during their annual showcase, featuring original choreography, diverse dance styles and student-led artistic collaboration.
Rowan University’s Dance Extensions Provides Stage for Student Voices, Movement & Meaning
Both dance majors and dancers pursuing other majors express themselves creatively and keep up with their dance training through our on campus contemporary dance company, RU Dance Extensions.
A student-run contemporary dance company, RU Dance Extensions promotes dance as art, with assistance from advisor Melanie Stewart. As an audition-based company with about 25 members, each September the company hosts auditions for the academic year. Members have the opportunity to choreograph and dance in student work performed each spring semester.
This year Dance Extensions hosted their second annual Dance Extensions Showcase in Pfleeger Concert Hall. This year’s showcase featured 19 student-choreographed pieces, ranging in styles from contemporary, modern, jazz, improvisation, tap and Bollywood.
From pieces as small as solos, to groups as large as 20 people, the diversity in the performances allowed for the audience to experience many sides of dance. The showcase started with an encapsulating full company piece titled All For Us, choreographed by President Tyler Benson, and Secretary Tara Tucci. Inspired by the hit American TV series Euphoria, they welcomed audience members to the performance.
Original Student Choreography
E-Board members choreographed pieces throughout the show. These include: President Tyler Benson, Vice President Jordyn Dauter, Secretary Tara Tucci, Treasurer Valentina Giannattasio, Historian Sophie Creed, Fundraising Chair Emma Margolies, and Senators Bella Campo & Isabella Castells. Company members Jackson Brown, Caitlyn Crompton, Aniyah Gandy, and Bryce O’Donnell had work featured as well.
Some of the pieces in the showcase include a beautiful contemporary piece titled Dear MaryLou… to the song Above the Clouds of Pompeii by Bears Den, which utilized a bouquet of flowers, choreographed by Secretary Tara Tucci.
Vice President Jordyn Dauter opened act II with an eight-person contemporary piece titled You Will Smile Again, performed to the song Train Wreck (Acoustic Version) by James Arthur.
Treasurer Valentina Giannattasio challenged her cast of eight dancers with her upbeat contemporary piece, Echoes of the Vanishing World, performed to Radioactive by Imagine Dragons. Each dancer wore a gas mask to portray the consequences of peoples’ actions on the planet and the importance of environmental stewardship.
Historian Sophie Creed took the song Lost by Dermot Kennedy (sung by Luz) and created a contemporary piece about the struggles of time constantly moving, emphasizing the importance of living in the moment.
Guest Performances and Collaboration
In addition, the showcase featured guest performances from the RU Hoofers Tap Club and the Rowan Rangeela Bollywood club. RU Hoofers hit the audience with an upbeat tap number to the song Airplane Mode by Cory Wong, choreographed by their Vice President, Tara Tucci. Rowan Rangeela Bollywood club shared a piece of their culture with the audience in a piece choreographed by Trina Basu, Reeya Kale, Tulika Khanna, Umali Patel, Purva Shah and Emily Soobryan. Along with that, Dance Extensions welcomed four outside performers, Makenna Boesenhofer, Jacqueline Casazza, LisaMarie Casazza, and Brittany Sylvester to dance within their company’s pieces.
Bringing the Performance to Life
To close out the show, Vice President Jordyn Dauter, along with Treasurer Valentina Giannattasio and freshman company member Allison Tedeschi, choreographed a dynamic closing piece to the song Run Boy Run by Woodkid. The piece titled Earth vs. Air vs. Fire vs. Water, inspired by zodiac signs elements, explored what happens when their elemental energies collide with each other. All of the dancers wore blue, green, orange or gray to symbolize their elemental sign. A crowd favorite, it left the audience with a lasting impact of what Dance Extensions was capable of.
All of this magic was made possible with the help of Rowan alumni Stephen Minder, the lighting designer of the showcase. He worked with each company member to help bring their visions to life, with over 300 total lighting cues during the entire performance.
Dance Extensions offers open classes every week. Please visit ProfLink for up to date information on open classes and upcoming auditions.
Written by: Jordyn Dauter, senior double major in dance & elementary education
Photos by: Joshua Bradley, senior accounting major
About Rowan’s Dance Major
Students studying Dance at Rowan University combine technical training, creative exploration and performance experience to prepare for careers in the performing arts. Coursework includes contemporary dance, choreography, improvisation, performance, dance history and movement studies while encouraging students to develop their own artistic voice.
Through performances, student dance companies, guest artists and collaborative productions, students gain hands-on experience both on and off the stage. Graduates pursue careers in performance, choreography, arts education, dance therapy, arts administration and related creative fields.
Internship & Experiential Learning Stories
Learn how Rowan Profs go beyond the classroom to grow professionally, as well as personally, through internships and other experiential learning. Experiential learning includes hands-on learning opportunities provided through research, student clubs, campus leadership, student worker jobs, service-learning projects and volunteerism. In addition, Rowan’s Career and Professional Development Services Office provides career support that’s more than just advice – it’s events, connections and real guidance to help students thrive after college.
About Rowan
Since its founding in 1923, Rowan University has evolved from a teacher preparation college to a public research institution ranked among the top 100 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Rowan University offers bachelor’s through doctoral degrees and professional certificates in person and online to nearly 25,000 students through its main campus in Glassboro and its eight other locations in southern New Jersey. Rowan focuses on practical research at the intersection of health care, engineering, science and business, while ensuring excellence in undergraduate education. The University has earned national recognition for innovation; commitment to high-quality, affordable education; and the development of public-private partnerships. A Carnegie-classified R2 (high research activity) institution, Rowan is the fastest-growing public research university in the Northeast and among the nation’s top 10 fastest-growing, as reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education. In 2025, Rowan opened New Jersey’s only veterinary school and is one of only two universities in the nation to offer M.D., D.O., and D.V.M. medical degrees.