FRESHLY SQUEEZED SHOWCASE
SpringUP 2026
April 26, 2026 | 3pm
PROGRAM
escapism
Choreography: Mallorie McIlwain
Music: Bon Iver
Performance: Lindsey Badeau, Margaret Bressler, Madison Cannon, Victoria Levan, Courtney Mackenzie, Mallorie McIlwain
Roslyn
Choreography: Courtney Kay
Music: St. Vincent and Bon Iver
Performance: Violet Hughes & Olivia Stoneback
Candle Flame
Choreography: Karla Avendano
Music: Jungle and Erick the Architect
Performance: Josephine Andreoli, Karla Avendano, Lucas Chladek, Margot Tuerk
An Evening I Will Not Forget
Choreography: Courtney Kay
Music: Dermot Kennedy
Performance: Natalie Papp
Gossip Girl
Choreography & Performance: Kiersten Frey & Jahniya James
Music: RAYE
From Now On
Choreography: Courtney Kay
Music: Hugh Jackman and the Greatest Showman Ensemble
Performance: Gabriella Berkhous, Loralei Callan, Gwen Calabrette, Cayla Droogan, Alexa Friedman, Olivia Gray, Violet Hughes, Brylie Kepner, Amelia Pollock, Zyrena Rotenberger, Quinn Wright
i don’t know you anymore.
Choreography: Zoe Pizzuto
Music: Patrick Watson, Tom Rosenthal & Edith Whiskers
Performance: Lily Courtney & Zoe Pizzuto
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Karla Avendaño Pocasangre has danced her entire life. In high school, she choreographed for her quinceañera surprise dance, William Allen Black History Month 2023 Showcase, and William Allen Homecoming Talent Show. Karla trained with Latinx Dance in the Bronx, New York, before moving to Allentown, where she joined the William Allen High School Dance Academy.
Her work blends Latin dance, hip hop, house, and modern, and is grounded in energy, connection, and musicality. Now studying history and dance at Muhlenberg College, Karla brings both perspective and intention to her craft.
Candle Flame, created for Muhlenberg's DanceWorks show, captures the joy of friendship and shared energy. Set in a house style, the piece leans into the genre's upbeat rhythm and deep-rooted sense of community.
Kiersten Frey (She/Her) is a junior forensic science and dance major at Cedar Crest College. She has been involved in theater since high school, and has 16 years of dance experience in ballet, tap, hip-hop, and jazz. Her previous performances with the college include Heathers (ensemble), Antigone X (ensemble), Puffs (2026, Danceworks ‘23, ‘24, ‘25, and Spring Dances ‘24 and ‘25.
Jahniya James is from Allentown, PA and currently attending Cedar Crest College as a SeniorDance and Psychology Major. Her previous performances include DanceWorks ‘22, ‘23, ‘24, ‘25, Spring Dances ‘23, ‘24 ‘25, Ruthless (Louise), Disenchanted (The Princess Who Kissed the Frog), Heathers the musical (Stoner Chick), the Wolves (#00), The wonderful wonderettes (ensemble), Antigone X (Greek Chorus/Soothsayer), and Puffs (Harry/Mytrle/Colin).
Mallorie McIlwain is a contemporary dancer and choreographer from Central Pennsylvania and a 2019 graduate of Cedar Crest College. Her work is expression-focused and driven by human experiences and stories of struggles with mental health and chronic illness; the queer existence; self-doubt; familial abandonment; and the fight for equity. She is a freelance choreographer and teacher and is currently setting pieces on dancers of all skill levels at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven in the contemporary, modern and jazz genres.
Zoe Pizzuto is a 23-year-old dancer/choreographer based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Muhlenberg College in May 2025, where she studied both Dance and Neuroscience. Her choreographic work has been previously shown in the Lehigh Valley Area. She has trained in all styles, performed with Earl Mosley's Institute of the Arts in New York, and worked with choreographers such as Earl Mosley, Ehizoje Azeke, Robert Redick, and Gregory Dolbashian.
Chris Connelly (lighting designer) is a Lehigh Valley based lighting, sound, video, and technical designer. His work has been seen in a variety of non-profit, educational, and professional venues, as well as corporate and industrial events. Chris received his Master of Arts in Theatre from Villanova University and currently is on the faculty at Penn State Berks, Alvernia University, Cedar Crest College and DeSales University. Chris also serves as resident lighting designer and “technical guru” at Berks and Alvernia as well as many theatrical positions with his full time job at Center Stage Lighting and Rigging. He is a member of IATSE Local 200 (Allentown) and is an ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician. When not participating in specific theatrical pursuits, Chris is an EMT, loves following his nieces and nephews around as they perform in their various musical and athletic events, and pursues his love of music as he conducts and sings with the Lehigh Valley Italian American band Thanks and love to his family, especially Mom and Dad for all their support over the years, and for his “kids” for always propping him up.
