George Mason dance students perform alongside Limón Dance Company

This fall, George Mason University's dance studios buzzed with excitement as School of Dancestudents prepared for and performed José Limón's 1958 original composition Missa Brevis, alongside professional dancers from the Center for the Arts artists in residenceLimón Dance Company.

"We're thrilled to welcome one of the most prestigious modern dance companies to George Mason," said Victor Adebusola, assistant director of programming and engagement in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. "Their residency gives our School of Dance students the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with incredible professional artists."

More than 80 George Mason students participated in an intense audition process, led by Limón company members Kurt Douglas and Logan Francis Krueger, and 13 were selected to perform the piece.

Junior dance major Avery Nank said that these auditions can get pretty intense. Nank had previous experience with the dance company, participating in two Limón summer intensive sessions in Colorado and New York City, but auditioning still made her nervous.

"I had previously learned some of the choreography, but I was still really nervous because I wanted it so badly," she said.

After winning a spot in Missa Brevis,the students then worked with Douglas and Krueger to learn the choreography and prepare for the company's November Concert Hall performance.

Guest artist residenciesare intense learning opportunities and a chance for George Mason dance students to make connections that are invaluable to their careers. After the guest artists choose their cast, a challenging 10-day rehearsal periodbegins that parallels a professional work schedule. These long days result in a finished work that is performed before a Center for the Arts audience.

Limón Dance Companywasfounded in 1946 by José Limón and Doris Humphrey. The pieceMissa Brevistakes place during World War II and was inspired by Limón's tour of Europe, organized by the U.S. Department of State. The choreography is meant to reflect resilience and hope amidst devastation.

"When [Limón] went to Poland, he saw how ruined it was, but also how uplifting the people were," said sophomore dance major Robert Harris. "He wanted to carry that and show the world that even though something can be torn down, the fight against adversity is higher and that you can achieve what you want to with your community."

The guest artist program lets George Mason dancers learn to perform the piece and gain insights into the lives of professional dancers.

"It was cool to hear about the dancers' experiences that led them to Limón," said Harris. "They were very open withus, answering all ofour questions and being very patient with us. It was a very eye-opening experience because it showed me that there really is a possibility of me being able to do this in the future."

"As a young student, it's not often that you get to work with a professional company as a learning opportunity. I'm very thankful knowing that I was able to be a part of this. It was once in a lifetime," said Harris.

Nank said her biggest takeaway was the possibility of growth when working as a team.

"We can all grow immensely if we're doing it at the same time and we're doing it together. It just takes patience, discipline, and taking the time to care about the people around you," she said.