Webster University’s Department of Dance Presents Echoing Forward

Webster University’s Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts Department of Dance presents Echoing Forward. The concert showcases the original choreography of senior BFA Dance candidates Lexie Hoehn, Taylor Lee, Sarah Faith Peterson, Reuben Thomas, and BA Dance candidates Zoe DeYoung and Emma Kovacs. Echoing Forward runs Oct. 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. The performance will take place at Stage III, the lower level of Webster Hall, 470 E. Lockwood Avenue. The concert is ticketed at $15 for adults; $7 for seniors, Webster alumni, and non-Webster students; $2 for children 12 and under; and free for Webster students, faculty and staff. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited.

“My work explores the raw human connections that life has granted us with. Through my art, I hope to evoke a sense of empathy and reflection, encouraging viewers to pause and consider the depth of their own relationships,” said Hoehn.

Hoehn (she/her) is from the small town of Farmington, Missouri, where she worked with The Dance Project and trained in acrobatics, contemporary, jazz, tap and hip hop. She continued her training with Webster University's Dance Department where she is pursuing a BFA in Dance with an Emphasis in Modern. This past summer, she had the opportunity to present a self-choreographed solo at the Resilience Contemporary Dance Festival. She was also fortunate to be a part of the Space Station Residency this past summer as well. 

Lee said, "In both movement and choreography, I am drawn towards investigating individual limitations, the process of grief, the disability community, and the balance between connecting and disconnecting the mind and body.”

Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, Lee (she/her) started dancing at the age of 13.  She danced with Lawrence Arts Center School of Dance, where she participated with the Lawrence Ballet Theater, and Point A School of Dance, where she danced with their competition team. This past summer, Lee had the opportunity to attend AXIS Dance Company's Summer Intensive in the Berkeley, California.

Peterson describes her work as deeply personal. “It’s about change, how growth can be good but painful.” She said, “In all of my pieces, I have found myself thinking about acceptance of self in all forms. I have been trying to find comfort in the lack of clarity.”

Raised in the foothills of Kentucky, Peterson (she/her) grew up admiring the arts from movies and she participated in theatre any chance she had. At age 14, she took her first dance class and fell in love immediately. In her time at Webster, she discovered a passion for graphic design, which she plans to use to design for dance companies in the future.

Thomas said, “My work revolves around the ideas of perception, showcasing what is perceived to the outside realm while exploring what lies beneath the surface. Embracing a sensual style throughout, my works aim to portray a dimensionality of character through performance. I hope to find freedom and connection from embracing the entirety.”

Thomas (they/them), born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, began their dance training at The Studio Inc. While continuing to train at The Studio Inc., Thomas also hones their skills through dance classes taught at University City High School. During their time at Webster, Thomas got the opportunity to work with Dance Works Chicago, as well as dancing overseas in the first dance intensive for the Trentino Music Festival in Trentino, Italy.

DeYoung's piece, "Why aren't you clapping too?" explores the pull toward distracted striving and its antithesis, contented pleasure. DeYoung is curious about how the spectacular becomes normal, and how the normal can become spectacular.  

DeYoung (she/her) is from St. Louis, and at age 3, began her dance training at Briscuso Dance Studio, where she danced competitively for seven years. DeYoung is pursuing dual degrees in dance and journalism and is Editor-in-Chief of The Webster Journal. DeYoung has trained at the Big Muddy Dance Company's Winter Dance Intensive and has studied and performed Isadora Duncan's work independently with Dawn Karlovsky and Alice Bloch. Her training has been further informed by independent exploration of Qigong and Continuum movement under Beckah Reed. 

Kovacs shared that her work was focused on the marriage of math and movement as well as pushing personal limits in choreography. “I wanted to do all of the things that challenged me in the past with creating a dance. These include the use of props, making my own sound score and the interpretation of subject matter.” Additionally, this work serves as a culmination of everything she has studied during her time at Webster. “Dance, math and philosophy are more connected than we first realize; there is movement and reasoning in all.” 

Kovacs (she/her), a St. Louis native, began her dance training as a toddler at the local YMCA. She continued dancing with Miss Kristen at Dance Experience. Then she tried her hand at competitive gymnastics, but ultimately returned to her love of ballet at Saint Louis Ballet School. Emma now works as an administrative assistant for the Saint Louis Ballet School. Emma will graduate from Webster University with a BA in Dance, Minors in both Mathematics and Philosophy, and a Certificate of Leadership.

Echoing Forward runs Oct. 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. The performance will take place at Stage III, the lower level of Webster Hall, 470 E. Lockwood Avenue. The concert is ticketed at $15 for adults; $7 for seniors, Webster alumni, and non-Webster students; $2 for children 12 and under; and free for Webster students, faculty and staff. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited.

Tickets are currently available for purchase. For more information on the Department of Dance: call 314-246-7747, email dance@webster.edu, or visit the Department website.

Artistic Biographies:

Lexie Hoehn (she/her) is from the small town of Farmington, Missouri, where she trained with Triplett and Propst Dance Company, Jane Mannion School of Dance and The Dance Project and trained in acrobatics, contemporary, jazz, tap and hip hop. Continuing her training at Webster University, she got the opportunity to work with Maggi Dueker, Xi Zhao, Monica Newsam, Dawn Karlovsky, Tayler Kinner, Lorraine Stippec, Kirven Douthit-Boyd and Michael Uthoff through classes and performances. She also has gotten the opportunity to perform works by Ballet Hispánico and Abby Z and the New Utility. For six semesters, Lexie has choreographed and performed in the student choreography showcase, Creations Concert. In addition, she has performed in BFA Concerts, The Dare to Dance Festival, American College Dance Association Regional Conferences and the New Works Concerts. Lexie has recently performed a self-choreographed solo in the Resilience Contemporary Dance Festival and performed in Jacob Henss’ summer residency, Space Station. Upon graduation, she will receive a BFA in Dance, with an emphasis in Modern.

Taylor Lee (she/her) is originally from Lawrence, Kansas, started dancing at the age of 13. She danced with Lawrence Arts Center School of Dance where she participated with the Lawrence Ballet Theater and Point A School of Dance where she danced with their competition team.

Taylor is pursuing her BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Modern from Webster University. She has worked with Michael Uthoff, Maggi Dueker, Xi Zhao, Taylor Kinner, Dawn Karlovsky and Jennifer Cudnik through classes and performances. This past summer, Taylor had the opportunity to attend AXIS Dance Company's Summer Intensive in the Berkeley, California.

Sarah Faith (she/her) was raised in the foothills of Kentucky and grew up admiring the arts from movies and she participated in theatre any chance she had. At age 14, she took her first dance class and fell in love immediately. She began her training through A Different Drummer Dance Academy in Campbellsville, Kentucky. Throughout her junior and senior years of high school, she started taking dance classes and private lessons with Kristen Dowdy at Campbellsville University. She has worked with Michael Uthoff, Dawn Karlovsky, Monica Newsam, Beckah Reed, Maggi Dueker and more in the classroom and onstage. In her time at Webster, she discovered a passion for graphic design, which she plans to use to design for dance companies in the future.

Reuben Thomas (they/them) was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri and began his dance training in 2005 at The Studio Inc. under the direction of Amanda Feder and Kim Swanson. As a child, they performed multiple times over many summers at the Muny in St. Louis. Upon entering high school, their training continued under the direction of Heidi Morgan and Nicole Thomas, and in 2021, they received the Dance St. Louis Career Award. After graduating high school, Reuben chose to attend Webster University and had the opportunity to work with Michael Uthoff, Maggi Dueker, Dawn Karlovsky, Beckah Reed, Xi Zhao, Tayler Kinner and Kirven Douthit-Boyd. They also have had the opportunity to perform works by Ballet Hispanico, Prince Lyons, Rain Stippec, Tyne Shillingford and Jennifer Welch-Cudnik. In their time at Webster, Reuben has performed in BFA Concerts, New Works Concerts, Creations Concerts, and the Webster University Dance Ensemble. They have also attended DanceWorks Chicago summer program Dance 360, under the instruction of Julie Nakagawa. This past summer Reuben had the opportunity to dance internationally at the Trentino Music Festival in Trentino, Italy, there they studied with Miki Orihara, Stephen Pier and Cesar Faria-Fernandes. Upon graduation they will receive a BFA in Dance, with an emphasis in modern.

Zoe DeYoung (she/her) is from St. Louis, and at age 3, began her dance training at Briscuso Dance Studio, where she danced competitively for seven years. DeYoung is pursuing dual degrees in dance and journalism and is Editor-in-Chief of The Webster Journal. DeYoung has had the opportunity to train with Xi Zhao, Michael Uthoff, Dawn Karlovsky, Maggi Dueker, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Jennifer Cudnik, Betsy Brandt, Eve Mason and Beckah Reed, among others. In addition, she has performed in residency works by Abby Z and the New Utility and Prince Lyons. DeYoung has trained at the Big Muddy Dance Company's Winter Dance Intensive and has studied and performed Isadora Duncan's work independently with Dawn Karlovsky and Alice Bloch. Her training has been further informed by independent exploration of Qigong and Continuum movement under Beckah Reed. 

Emma Kovacs (she/her), a St. Louis native, began her dance training as a toddler at the local YMCA. She continued dancing with Miss Kristen at Dance Experience. Then she tried her hand at competitive gymnastics, but ultimately returned to her love of ballet at Saint Louis Ballet School. During her eight years there, she studied under many teachers and was promoted to a trainee during her final two years. She performed in several productions, including those featuring original choreography by Gen Horiuchi. Emma now works as an administrative assistant for the Saint Louis Ballet School. Kovacs will graduate from Webster University with a BA in Dance, minors in both Mathematics and Philosophy and a Certificate of Leadership. While at Webster, she served as the Treasurer for Dance Club, a member of the Student Advisory Council for the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, and worked as an Orientation Leader and Peer Mentor for the office of First Year Experience. Emma has learned from many dance faculty members including Michael Uthoff who recommended her for a position as a Festival Assistant for Dance St. Louis’ Spring to Dance concert. Additionally, she participated in dance residencies by Fiona Lundie and Benjamin Roach (of Abby Z and the New Utility), Jamie Rae Walker (of Paul Taylor Dance Company) and Tyne Shillingford.