Come one, come all, to the annual Chelonia dance concert. Chelonia is a three night and one day event of beauty and grace as our very own Beloit peers take to the stage to dance their hearts out. Thursday, Feb. 12 through Saturday, Feb. 14, catch a performance at 7:30 p.m., or attend on Sunday, Feb. 15 for a 2 p.m. matinee! Tickets are free for students. Make sure to reserve your tickets for the time you want to go by emailing or calling Beloit’s box office.
Visiting professor Adanya Gilmore’21 and Vivian Kopka’27 agreed to an interview with The Round Table in anticipation of the show.
Being back at Beloit has given Gilmore an opportunity to reflect on the ways the college has evolved since their graduation. “Campus culture has changed because of the migration to the different needs of students,” they said. “Some traditions faded during my four years, and organizations that have transformed because of money or people leaving, or maybe because of the government and its turn to fascism, which always means the arts suffer.” They also added, “I’m happy to see that things like The Round Table still exist, and C-Haus, and I’m glad that I was able to be a part of making Chelonia happen.”
Gilmore, who directed Chelonia and choreographed a piece, described their style as, “Soft, intimate, but also bold and dramatic. I love to harness little details in my dances that show a person’s personality or character. I see my choreography as a mode of communication that can be unusual, sometimes balletic, and often shines a light on people who might not fit in. Black femmehood is a huge motif in my work.”
Gilmore is not the only alumnus whose work will appear in this year’s performance. “The music was created in collaboration with Beloit alum Ahnika Franklin’22 and her creative partner Ahmad Garib,” Gilmore revealed. “They are a Chicago DJ duo called 250 Split. Go see them perform if you can. The other song in the dance is “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes, which feels apt for what the dance is addressing, a kind of questioning of business as usual.” These descriptions are making me beyond excited to see this dance and to see Gilmore’s choreography in action.
One of the final questions I asked Gilmore was how their experience is different as a visiting professor rather than a student. “I am seeing all the things that I saw as a student, but more behind the scenes, and it’s like, well, duh. But I think I never appreciated just how much of a full-time professor’s job is admin. … I feel like I’m just in an actual position of authority because I very much felt like I ran the school when I was a student here. It’s also cool to have some distance from this, in my experience, so I can approach problems with a cool head, but also I can empathize with how passionate people are about what they’re doing.”
I asked Kopka about her time learning from Gilmore as one of the dancers in their piece. Kopka really liked the mashup made for the dance. “It’s really interesting and cool to see creatives working together,” she said.
Since the closing of the Neese Theater in 2024, dancers have had to adjust to holding performances in the Hendricks Center. Kopka says that it is “a lot different being in a smaller and less professional venue.” I agree with Kopka here. I used to be a dancer in my younger years, and part of the performance is the stage. Still, Kopka is happy to see the continued interest in performing arts. “It’s just really great to see people coming together every year, even though it feels like we’re losing resources and people. But the people who are still involved are amazing.”
Now, if that wasn’t enough to convince you to come down and support the performing arts, I asked both Gilmore and Kopka one final question: Why should people come to Chelonia? Kopka says, “It’s a great way to show up for your community and see what community can do for yourself and others. Art is beautiful, and it always will be. … It’ll inspire you. So keep interacting with the arts.”
“Chelonia is an extraordinary Beloit tradition and a part of the history of the college. It’s been going on since the ‘70s. You are a part of history by participating,” Gilmore added. “Dance at Beloit, in general, goes back even further. Keeping traditions alive is just as essential as keeping the lights on. …. Every Chelonia is unique and special because every year they are created basically new from beginning to end.” They ended their pitch with a final endorsement of dance and performance, “[d]ance is exciting, it is ephemeral, and some things can only be explained through performance.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. So please, if not for me, for the dancers and your community.
Image credit: Beloit College PART Instagram
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