Expressing yourself proves difficult when unable to use words, but junior dance major Lalah Sanah Brown does that every time she steps onto the stage.

“I love dance,” Brown said. “It’s how I talk, it’s how I move and it’s how I feel real.” 

Movement makes sense for her. Being in dance means you must adapt to a busy fall schedule full of rehearsals, auditions and events. 

The Fall Faculty Concert, “Belonging,” which has performances from Nov. 22 to 24 in the E. Turner Stump Theatre, is highly anticipated this semester. The concert features work from faculty members Jennifer Black, Ambre Emory-Maier, Catherine Meredith, artistic director Jeffrey Marc Rockland and guest choreographer Kim Sulek. 

Auditions for “Belonging” have a quick turnaround time, which started the first week of the semester with rehearsals following behind. Auditions lasted one full day and ranged from ballet to musical theatre pieces.

“I cannot explain how excited I am for this year’s Fall Faculty Concert,” Brown said. 

Working with faculty and student directors is a positive experience for her and because she knows a lot about her professors, she said it makes her connection to dance stronger. 

The stage is somewhere Brown can fully be herself, and she said the best feeling is stepping onto the stage.

“All of your worries and all of the negativity just leaves,” Brown said. 

As she anticipates sharing dance with an audience, she will perform the pieces “Murmurs of a Stream,” choreographed by Michael Uthoff and restaged by Ambre Emory-Maier, and “Oy Me Genté,” choreographed by Jeffrey Marc Rockland for the Fall Faculty Concert. 

Visit College of the Arts calendar for more information regarding events for the fall semester. 

Maya Lee is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].