Adeline Williams ’26 had never danced before coming to The College of Wooster. She had no sewing experience, either. Yet, the Denver, Colorado, native went on to major in theatre & dance and global media & digital studies and spent four years working in the College’s costume shop. She credits her professors with giving her the opportunities that led to her Independent Study, which examined how choreographers and directors can manipulate time, space, and energy when creating dance made for film and how this process compares to choreographing for live performance.
Williams: After conducting research on modern dance choreographers and studying dance films for reference and inspiration, I created my own dance film, titled “Threshold.” I choreographed a three-minute piece that was made into a seven-minute film, which I directed and shot. I was in charge of every level of production from start to finish, including costume design, casting, lighting, sound design, and more.
Williams: The project helped me understand how elements of time, space, and energy are shared between both dance and film. I hope my research will serve as a resource for other dancers, choreographers, and directors who want to engage in the thrilling medium that is dance film.
Williams: My advisor and dance professor, Emily Baird, gave me constructive feedback while also motivating me to try new things. She empowered me to think critically about dance and how art is constantly changing and interacting with the world. In class, she encouraged me to focus on the process and less on the end goal, which helped me grow out of my perfectionist mindset. I could not have asked for a better advisor.
Williams: Professor Naoko Skala has always believed in me and encouraged me to try new things. I had the opportunity to travel and study in Kyoto, Japan, last year to train in traditional Japanese theater thanks to her recommendation. Professor Suwatana Rockland was one of the first professors I met at the college. I worked under her supervision at the College’s costume shop all four years. She entrusted me to design for a dance concert when I was still a first-year student with little to no sewing experience. It’s that trust in her students that makes her such a wonderful professor.
Williams: Throughout this process, I have affirmed my love of dance and film and recognized that the two are not opposing forces. Choreographing for film has the same merit as choreographing for the stage and brings the art form to more viewers.
Williams: I would like to travel more, dancing around the world, and continue to make more dance films, possibly creating musicals or music videos as another way to look at a dance film through more narrative-based pieces.
Featured image: Williams prepares for the opening shot of her film, “Threshold,” with friend Katie Koeppl ’26.