It Made Me Cry Again: An Evening of Dance Reviewed

The Mill Theatre does it again. Nov. 23 and 24 saw the Elmhurst University Dance Program members present their fall showcase featuring 25 distinct performances across academic ensembles and individual and small group numbers.

While the performances were all of high quality, one in particular stuck out to me. Choreographed by senior Jessica Sanderson, “Icarus” made me cry.

Inspired by Greek mythos, and the titular tale as a starting point, Icarus (Eve Hvarre) and Daedalus (Kaitlyn Thoms) live, dance together, and fly together. With long, flowing costuming, and Icarus dressed in an innocent white layered dress, the two play together and work as one.

Much like the Greek tragedy though, Icarus is stopped by fate. Daedalus gracefully leaps off-stage and Icarus is unable to follow, being stopped by two of the three Fates (Regan Bobich and Jessica Sanderson). They pull Icarus away from his father and torment him as he tries to go free.

Eventually, the Fates have their way, and Icarus is killed.

I saw the program twice. Once on Friday, to take photos for The Leader during dress rehearsal, and once again on Sunday. Friday’s performance featured junior Madison Hagerman playing the role of Daedalus and the third fate, but after a bad landing off a leap in a later piece, she injured her knee and was unable to perform for the showcase. Kaitlyn Thoms took her place for Saturday and Sunday’s performances.

In a way, Hagerman was her own Icarus. She spent countless hours working on this dance, in addition to choreographing two other pieces (including a solo dance she would be unable to perform).

Hagerman was incredibly excited to perform, and yet, much like the Greek myth, was ripped away from her performance by fate. By a bad fall- ironically.

Friday night, Dance Program chair Amy Lyn McDonald made a point to the rest of the ensemble that Hagerman and the pieces she was a part of would not be cut until it was absolutely determined she could not dance. She continued rehearsal and made it clear that they would support Hagerman’s recovery and do everything in their power to make the performance happen safely.

Hagerman spoke with me Saturday night. When bringing up the piece, she said “if I can miraculously get better that would be slay… I have to see an orthopedic surgeon.” She did not get to perform at all that weekend.

After a doctor’s visit, Hagerman was given a pair of crutches and told to sit out the weekend’s performances. The piece would now feature Thoms, who, on account of less than a day of rehearsal, performed excellently in the role of Daedalus.

That’s the part that made me cry. The piece itself is beautiful, but the story surrounding it, the myth’s reality occurring over a day, a day of unrest and uncertainty over someone’s health, over whether or not the performance would happen at all, the weight of what had happened struck me mid-piece and I had to wipe my tears as the performance ended.

I can’t imagine the emotions going through the minds of the performers and Hagerman as the piece was performed, but I can hold the utmost respect for everyone involved.

There will be another Evening of Dance performance and showcase near the end of Spring Semester, featuring new music and new performances.