2026 MFA Dance Concert

This year’s MFA Dance Concert, featuring the work of our second-year MFA candidates Christopher J. Salango and Lorraine Stippec, taps into the power of dance to build communities of care.

Kapwa: Jukebox Rebolusyon, choreographed by Salango, is rooted in the Filipino concept of kapwa—shared identity and interconnectedness. The work explores cross-cultural solidarity through the lens of the 1965 Delano Grape Strike. Drawing from traditional Filipino dances and contemporary forms, and utilizing a soundtrack inspired by Filipino and Chicano jukebox culture, the piece takes audiences on a layered journey of migration, resistance, and communal care. Trauma’s Tapestry, choreographed by Stippec, combines tap dance, contemporary movement, and live painting to explore the embodied impact of PTSD from gun violence. Through rhythm, gesture, and visual art, the versatile cast of performers reflect on trauma, memory, and healing. Together, Salango and Stippec offer an evening of dance that is both personal and urgently relevant, inviting audiences to share an experience of resilience and connection.

This show is free and open to the public.