Bella Donatelli ’25 and Andrew Solomon ’27 have been selected to represent New England at the American College Dance Association’s National College Dance Festival taking place May 2-4 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Donatelli will perform a solo in the adjudicated national gala concert, and Solomon, who was chosen as a gala alternate, will perform a solo in the informal studio showing series. Professional adjudicators selected Donatelli and Solomon out of more than 44 regional choreographers who auditioned.

Donatelli, a dance and classics double major and computer science minor from Aurora, Colorado, who is a scholar in the Museum Studies Certificate Program, began dancing in a variety of styles when she was 10 years old. At Conn, she began focusing on choreography, and has worked with guest artists including Jennifer Archibald, Ronald K. Brown, Bebe Miller, Kendra Portier and Christina Robson.

“Conn, specifically the Department of Dance, has been instrumental in the development of my artistic voice, performance ability and willingness to push boundaries,” Donatelli said, adding that she has become more confident expressing herself in another way, as well.

“Public speaking is a skill I greatly struggled with when I arrived at Conn, but through the creation of this solo and with faculty encouragement, I've become more comfortable speaking on stage and while performing.”

At the ACDA conference, Donatelli will perform a solo titled it was... that she initially created for an assignment in “Choreography IV,” a course taught by Professor of Dance David Dorfman ’81. She said the piece incorporates spoken word, floor work and improvisation and cycles through three different narratives, ranging from a conversation with an unknown figure to casual anecdotes with an altered sense of time. The dance is completely accomplished on the floor with sounds of rain and text intermittently strewn throughout.

Unlike Donatelli, who has danced since childhood, Solomon only began practicing the art form when he arrived at Conn in 2023. A Posse Scholar from Chicago, Illinois, Solomon is an environmental studies and dance double major and Italian studies minor who also interns with the David Dorfman Dance Company, Conn’s company-in-residence.

“Conn has helped hone my skills by being the start of my skills,” Solomon said. “I didn't dance before Conn, so all the opportunities I have had to speak with professors, participate in faculty and student work and get feedback on my own work has created the foundation for any dancing that I want to do in the future. I am hoping to be a part of a company.”

Solomon describes his ACDA conference solo, titled burning to desire, as “dramatic and emotionally structured.” He said, “When creating this piece, I wanted to capture my desire to be as passionate as my fellow dancers. I realized that I often focus more on the audience and less on my own enjoyment. In the piece this is represented by a spotlight I eventually break out of as I recognize and find my own passion for movement in a way that considers the audience but doesn't prioritize catering to the audience's expectations.”

He added that half the piece is improvised. “I wanted to keep the human aspect within the piece, so forcing myself to make stuff up as I go helps maintain that.”