Alums explode dance conventions with VaBang!

As the year comes to a close, the daunting question "What comes next?" is undoubtedly pervading the minds of many seniors. The answer for Vassar alumnae Jessie Feller '05 and Julia Sabangan '05 was the creation of their bi-coastal contemporary dance company, VaBang!. VaBang! will perform at Vassar on Wednesday, May 6 at 8 p.m. in Kenyon Hall's Frances Daly Fergusson Dance Theater.

Two years at the London School of Economics after her Vassar graduation left Feller "yearning to get back to the VRDT [Vassar Reperatory Dance Theater] community" that she was a part of in her four years at Vassar. Inspired by her yearning, Feller proposed the idea of starting a dance company to longtime best friend Sabangan. The two promptly crafted a mission statement and business plan, and the company held their first performance in September 2007.

Feller's counterpart, Sabangan had worked with the Harkness Dance Center at the 92nd Street Y, the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and Merce Cunningham Dance Studio. Together, the two have worked with notable choreographers such as Paul Taylor and Martha Graham. "I couldn't imagine dancing without her," said Feller of Sabangan.

The two Vassar grads knew that in order to start a successful dance company they couldn't fall back on the tried and true. "We wanted to start a company that brought something new to the U.S. modern scene," said Feller. They tackled this task with the idea of a bi-coastal company. "I am from San Francisco, and Julia is from New York," explained Feller. "With this bi-coastal scene we were able to bridge two worlds of contemporary dance."

This bridging has had a profound effect on the dancing itself. "California and New York are the two epicenters of dance in the United States—aesthetically, politically and culturally. Dance is certainly affected by these factors," said Feller. "People really think it's innovative. In New York, we get a lot of ‘oh, this so West Coast' and in California we get ‘oh this is so New York.' People like to think we're exotic."

Feller also said that they want their audience to question their stances on certain political and social issues. "We want to emphasize that dance is not just robotic, not just about the mechanics," he added. Two of the company's pieces, "Under my Thumb" and "Imagined Communities," address feminism and transnationalism directly.

In addition to its social commentary, VaBang! will bring with it a model for "making it" in the dance world. "We are proof that it's possible for any Vassar alum to make dance work. I think this is in part because of the intellectual rigor and work ethic we learned at Vassar," said Feller. "It will be great to share what we've done with them just as it was nice to see professionals when we were in VRDT."

The experiences Sabangan and Feller had in VRDT played a major role in the development of VaBang!. "We have drawn a lot of influences from VRDT," said Feller. "We learned from amazing classical and modern masters, and we have so many fond memories." These memories have left Feller very excited to see "where VRDT is in their evolution."

Dance professor Jean Czula stressed the importance of bringing alumnae/i dancers back to the college. "Having alumni dancers come is certainly a resource for current students, but even more than that an example. They show how to make it in the dance world. They show, especially Jessie with her time at the London School of Economics, that there is more than one way to live a life," said Czula.

"It's so exciting. We've been planning this since last year. I haven't been back since graduation. I haven't even seen the Kenyon renovations yet," said Feller. "I'm also excited to meet all of the current VRDT members."

—Correction: This article previously stated and states in print that VaBang! is performing on Friday, May 6. The correct date is Wednesday, May 6.