As everyone in the Dean dance program knows a very much respected, talented, genuine, influential, artist, and professor will be leaving, Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp. I wanted to take the time to formally thank her for inspiring me as an artist. I first got a glimpse of what Joan Palladino School of the Arts was like when I attended the New England Summer Dance Intensive. I spent two weeks dancing everyday surrounded by talented people that challenged me to push my boundaries leaving me hungry for more. One of the talented people that was teaching at the intensive was Rose. At this time I was going into my junior year of High School. I was very shy, insecure, and was going through a lot emotionally. I found that the only way to cope with it was through improvisation. Everything changed for me the day I took an improv class from Rose because not only did I learn the different ways one can improv, but I also grew an appreciation for my body. I learned the anatomy of my body which I think is critical for all dancers because you begin to have an appreciation for this instrument that we have. That is what our bodies are: an instrument that we as dancers play all the time. I remember doing contact improvisation with someone and just letting go allowing myself to initiate my pelvis, use breath, and to lose tension in my shoulders. Completely letting go allowing all of the energy to extend from the ends of my finger tips allowing all the positive vibes to flow throughout. I was happy because in that moment I realized something that most people take a lifetime to figure out: I want to do this for the rest of my life. I want to teach dance to students with the same spirit and and wisdom that Rose has. I want them to say because of you I won't give up because that is what Rose has done for me. Towards the end of the intensive it came time for me to choreograph my solo. This was a really special experience for me because my best friend as well as violinist Taylor Payne (music major at Ithaca College), composed a piece of music for me, and I knew that I wanted to showcase something meaningful, something that mattered. Together Taylor and I decided to call the piece "Transcend". That title fit perfectly because "transcend" by definition means to "overcome", and ironically enough I realized Rose helped me overcome so many obstacles just by learning about how to move my body. You discover so much from that, and it truly gives you a different perspective. Because of her I chose to come to Dean College for the dance program. Because of her I fell in love with Modern dance, and the history of feminism that helped develop this art form. The gift of dance is so powerful, which is why I completely believe that through the arts we can change the world.
The first semester in my freshman year of college I was in Rose's modern class, and not only did we learn even more about the anatomy of the body, but here I was again in the same state of mind I was before: Rose makes me truly think and through her beautiful way of teaching me intellectually I was yet again learning more about myself than I could or have with any other teacher. Which leaves me in this space now in which I find myself feeling sorry for those incoming freshman who will not have the chance to learn from Rose . My world has been forever changed by her, and The College at Brockport is so incredibly lucky to be gaining a professor which such experience, intellect, talent, wisdom, and acceptance. Rose, thank you for sharing your light, passion for the art of dance, and wisdom on the world around us. I am eternally grateful.
I will conclude this letter with a final thought that I believe to be true about dancing and life: Dance allows for you to feel what others run away from. Dance brings happiness and spreads acceptance to all. Dance allows for you to meet others who share that embodiment of truth that most cannot. Dance holds the truth of beauty and within that beauty we find the dance that tells our story.
With Gratitude,
Bettina Mahoney
