The Hotchkiss Dance Company presents its annual performance Feb. 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Walker Auditorium. The company is directed by dance instructors Lynn Peterson and Allesandra Rinaldo. The program contains a piece by Kate St. Anand re-staged by by Ms. Peterson, three new pieces choreographed by Ms. Rinaldo, and one piece by guest choreographer Rivkins Christopher. Additionally, there are musical interludes performed by Hotchkiss students as well as an appearance by the Hotchkiss Step Team. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend. 

Lynn Peterson is Co-Artistic Director of SYREN Modern Dance, a NYC based company currently in its 16th season. With SYREN, Lynn has performed and taught dance in classrooms, in theaters, churches and temples, in the grass, in art galleries, in libraries, and in museums in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Indiana, Maryland, Washington D.C., Texas, Rhode Island, and Paris, France. Ms. Peterson has enjoyed being on faculty at Mark Morris Dance Center, as well as Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. She has worked with students at Purchase College, Yale University, Anderson University, The Hartt School, IONA College, Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, Center for Creative Youth, The Ethel Walker School, Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, Jordan Academy of Dance, Broad Ripple High School, Ballet Theatre of Carmel, Academy of Dance Arts, and New American Youth Ballet, among others. syrendance.org

Allesandra Rinaldo began her dance training at the Cazenovia School of Ballet in upstate New York. In 2012, she continued her training at The Hartt School, University of Hartford and received a BFA in Ballet Pedagogy. Allesandra has had the privilege of studying with Nashville Ballet, Charlotte Ballet and the Nutmeg Conservatory during her training. In the course of her time at the Hartt School she has had the opportunity to work with world renowned teachers and choreographers including, Stephen Pier, Nina Watt, Hilda Morales, Betsy McMillan and Debra Collins Ryder. Allesandra was a recent guest artist with Vivid Ballet and is currently teaching at several different schools around Connecticut.

Rivkins Christopher was born and raised in Miami, FL where he began his training at the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet under the direction of Ruth Wiesen. He is a graduate from New World School of the Arts where he received his BFA in dance. His professional experience includes dancing with Momentum Dance Company, Peter London Global Dance Company, Gaspard & Dancers, and he spent one season as an understudy with Miami Contemporary. In addition he has attended intensives such as Ailey, Deeply Rooted, the American Dance Festival and the Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Workshops. He has had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Darshaun Bhuller, Kyle Abraham, Jamar Roberts, and performed works by José Limon, Robert Battle, Rennie Harrris, Kevin Iega Jeff, and Bill.T.Jones. He recently presented his first professional work entitled “Self M.A.R.C” at Miami’s Open Stage presented by Dance Now Miami. Rivkins recently completed an international tour with Vissi Dance Theatre in Japan. This is his fourth season with SYREN Modern Dance.

Kate St. Amand is a native of Connecticut and received her B.F.A. from SUNY Purchase. While at Purchase, she found immense inspiration performing in works by Shen Wei, Lin Hwai-Min, and Mark Morris. Kate trained at the Nutmeg Ballet, The Erick Hawkins School, The Limon School, and The Kirov Academy. Ms. St. Amand is Co-Founder/Artistic Director of SYREN, a New York City based modern dance company currently in its 16th season.  SYREN has performed internationally in New York, Washington DC, and Paris, and has been presented at Symphony Space, Jacob’s Pillow, Purchase College, New Haven Ballet, The White Plains Performing Arts Center, The Ethel Walker School, Westminster school, The Nutmeg Conservatory and Riverside Church among others. Ms. St. Amand has also been a guest speaker at Yale University, the Metropolitan Museum, and Cité Universitaire in Paris. Her thoughts on beauty, creativity and healing have been published (Peter Lang Publishers, 2014). She thanks Lynn Peterson for standing strong by her side for 20 years. Ms. St. Amand serves on faculty at Westminster School and the Nutmeg Conservatory. She lives in the woods and on a river with the three loves of her life: her husband, Zachary and sons, Hunter and Declan.

Founded in 1891, The Hotchkiss School is a coeducational boarding school located at 11 Interlaken Road in Lakeville, Connecticut. Walker Auditorium is situated in the lower level of the main building. For more information on this and other arts events at The Hotchkiss Schoolcall 860-435-4423.