
Stars Align for Dance Division Fundraiser Dancing with the Stars: Berklee Edition raises more than $37,000 in dance scholarship funds.
By
Sarah Godcher Murphy
January 27, 2022
Stefanie Henning and Gianni Di Marco, winners of this years mirror ball trophy
Image by Mike Spencer
Tonya Butler (center), winner of the audience choice award
Image by Mike Spencer
It took a year longer than anticipated, but Dancing with the Stars: Berklee Edition made a rousing return to campus in January 2022, after a pandemic-related delay. The popular fundraising event featured many of Berklee's most beloved personalities competing live before a panel of judges. This year's event raised more than $37,000 for the Dance Division Faculty Award, which provides assistance to dance students of high academic standing who are struggling financially.
We weren't even done with the curtain call on our inaugural event in 2020 when we started dreaming up this one, said Mila Thigpen, chair of the Dance Division. Due to social distancing requirements, the event could not be held in 2021. But organizers were able to make a go of it this year, with all participants masked and the entire event broadcast live on the college's website.
Eight brave contestants, each with little to no dance training, performed routines that were choreographed and coached by dance faculty members. The performances were judged both kindly and comedically by Dr. Lacretia Johnson Flash, vice president of diversity and inclusion; Rob Lagueux, associate vice president for academic affairs; and Cathy Young, senior vice president and executive director of Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Emcees Andy Chau, director of career engagement, and Linda Embardo, technology training and communications manager, kept the event-and the one-liners-flowing.
Rosemary Dowling, director of campus life, kicked off the show in a top hat and tails, tap dancing to Puttin' on the Ritz alongside a trio of student dancers and coach Denise Pons, professor of dance. Dowling, who'd never so much as worn tap shoes before, mastered the routine in less than a week. Judge Young praised Dowling's great sense of wit and Fred Astaire-like cool.
My favorite part of doing what I do is sharing the love of movement.
-Kurt Douglas B.F.A. '01, associate professor of dance
Damien Bracken, dean of admissions, danced to his original song Don't Stop Now in true classic-rock style with sweeping arm gestures and fist pumps. Like a front man playing to a packed arena, Bracken led an ensemble of four other dancers, including his coach, Margaret Falcone B.F.A. '19, Dance Division administrative coordinator.
In her critique, Young told Bracken, I understand, now, how year after year we bring the most wonderful, greatest students in the world to this school. It's your passion. It's your commitment. It's your energy.
Playing the role of snarky judge, Lagueux added: I think you did a great job not obstructing my view of the other dancers.
Candice Brown, associate professor of theater, performed to Reclaiming My Time with languorousness and sensuality, according to judge Young. Her coach, Kurt Douglas B.F.A. '01, associate professor of dance, told viewers how much he enjoyed working with Brown. My favorite part of doing what I do is sharing the love of movement, he said.
Debbie Cavalier and Brian McGinnis
Image by Mike Spencer
Dr. Jonathan Bailey Holland, chair of composition, contemporary music, and core studies, performed with his coach and choreographer, Francois Noel, assistant professor of dance. The duo danced to Old School Mash-Up, a tune that merged James Brown with Run-D.M.C., culminating in a Kid 'n Play-style kickstep.
Flash praised Holland's commitment to the character-driven performance. You invited us into your world, and that world is filled with coolness incarnate, she said. Lagueux shared her enthusiasm. I haven't seen a transformation like that since Bangkok Thai restaurant became a COVID testing site, he quipped.
But the biggest transformation was yet to come, when Debbie Cavalier, senior vice president of online learning and continuing education, took to the stage with her partner, Brian McGinnis, associate professor of dance. A Grammy-nominated performer of children's music, Cavalier somehow shed that persona and channeled her inner Joan Jett, clad in biker's leather and sporting a formidable black wig.
You truly inhabited this completely different character-one that, frankly, I'd like to see in meetings more often, Lagueux told her.
Roya Hu, senior director of faculty development, danced a Back to School medley with her partner and coach, Ruka Hatua-Saar White, assistant professor of dance. Dressed like a pair of nerdy middle-schoolers, they performed an energetic routine that received a nearly perfect score from the judges for big, physical risk taking.
Roya Hu and Ruka Hatua-Saar White
Image by Mike Spencer
There was a moment where I thought you were dancing a little harder than your partner, Flash told Hu. You definitely were trying to school somebody.
The coveted mirror ball trophy was awarded to Stefanie Henning, associate vice president of career and digital strategy, and her partner Gianni Di Marco, professor of dance. The pair shimmied and swung through a 1960s-style routine, looking absolutely fabulous together, according to Young, who added, There was a lot of precision in what you did, which was really beautiful rhythmically and also physically.
The audience choice award went to Tonya Butler, chair of the Music Business/Management Department, for a take-no-prisoners routine set to I've Got to Use My Imagination by Gladys Knight and the Pips, incorporating elements of classic soul and disco. Jim Viera, associate professor
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/05/2026
LONDON, APRIL 30, 2026 The Post Republic London's Re-recording Mixer and Dialogue Editor Dan Johnson has built a reputation for clean, emotionally resonan...
01/05/2026
Adobe Unveils Powerful New Innovations in Photoshop & Lightroom
Deepa Subramaniam April 30, 2026
0 Comments
Your most tedious creative tasks just got ea...
01/05/2026
Berklee Partners with Santander US to Establish Global Opportunity Fund The $400,000 grant offers students access to experiential learning opportunities withi...
01/05/2026
Student Spotlight: Keziah Thomas The Indian composer, who was named the 2026 student commencement speaker for Berklee College of Music, talks about how shes p...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
30/04/2026
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) concluded its third regular season on Saturday, reporting growth across attendance, viewership, digital engage...
30/04/2026
NBC Sports will air national MLB coverage on Sundays beginning May 3, with MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock and NBCSN at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by the debut of th...
30/04/2026
Clear-Com has appointed Brian Grahn as Market Outreach Manager of the Americas and Ben Turnwell as Business Development Manager for EMEA live.
Grahn joined Cle...
30/04/2026
ARRI has introduced the cforce MAX, a new lens motor for the Hi-5 lens control system. The cforce MAX is twice as fast as the cforce plus motor it replaces whil...
30/04/2026
Knuerr, Voxtronic, and IHSE will jointly present an integrated control room solu...
30/04/2026
The CW Network and ESPN have announced an agreement to make the ESPN App the exclusive streaming home for all CW Sports live events. CW Sports will continue to ...
30/04/2026
Ed Sheeran's The Loop' tour launched in Auckland in January 2026 before moving on to Australia, with South America and the United States to follow late...
30/04/2026
Audinate has announced Dante Preset Creator, a free online tool for configuring Dante network settings before hardware is available on site. Presets created in ...
30/04/2026
Yahoo Sports has announced the appointment of Jarrod Schwarz as General Manager of Yahoo Sports. Schwarz will oversee product, design, and technology; revenue a...
30/04/2026
Nielsen has released a new report, Get Ready with Media Intelligence: 2026 FIFA World Cup Edition, examining U.S. soccer viewership trends, fan engagement, and ...
30/04/2026
USA Lacrosse and SportsEngine have announced an expanded partnership, naming Spo...
30/04/2026
Telos Alliance will participate in the 2026 Media Production and Technology Show (MPTS), taking place May 13-14 at Olympia London. Rather than exhibiting from a...
30/04/2026
The global streamer buys the U.S. DTC platform solutions provider for a reported...
30/04/2026
Tigo Sports, Paraguay's leading sports broadcaster, has upgraded its video infrastructure with Ateme solutions for live encoding, multiplexing, and signal c...
30/04/2026
World Rugby and IMG have announced a long-term media rights partnership focused on growing rugby in the United States ahead of the Men's and Women's Rug...
30/04/2026
For the second year in a row, Overtime and the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) are teaming up through a renewed content partnership to bring fans even...
30/04/2026
The 22-year ESPN vet's responsibilities will reportedly be taken over by SVP Mike Foss...
30/04/2026
In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...
30/04/2026
Amazon and Duke University have announced a multiyear agreement for Prime Video to present exclusive coverage of three Duke Blue Devils men's basketball neu...
30/04/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
30/04/2026
Music is evolving, and so are the ways you discover and connect with artists. In...
30/04/2026
Between April 22-29, the first inaugural Stockholm Music Week brought together thought leaders and partners across industries including music, tech, government,...
30/04/2026
Iconic large-format console upgraded
API's iconic Vision console has just been treated to an overhaul that aims to meet the demands of today's profe...
30/04/2026
Comes complete with miking accessories
The LCT 440 Pure has proven to be a popular member of Lewitt's mic line-up, offering impressive technical perform...
30/04/2026
24 October 2026 at The Octagon, Sheffield
Now in its eighth year, SynthFest UK is the largest event of its kind in the UK, bringing together the top keyboar...
30/04/2026
SBS & NITV LEAD NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 2026 WITH LANDMARK GULPILIL DOCUMEN...
30/04/2026
Rohde & Schwarz equips new Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport with security scanner...
30/04/2026
Rohde & Schwarz expands broadband amplifier portfolio with new power classes up ...
30/04/2026
Jennifer Ehle (Contagion, Zero Dark Thirty) and Alex Hassell (Rivals, Wasteman, ...
30/04/2026
MELBOURNE, Fla., April 29, 2026 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) today announ...
30/04/2026
MELBOURNE, Fla., April 30, 2026 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) reports first quarter 2026 results.
Highlights
Orders of $7.8 billion; book-to-bill of 1....
30/04/2026
Behind the Broadcast: The Sound of Elite Golf Golf is gaining popularity; the 2025 Ryder Cup achieved record-breaking viewing figures in the UK specifically, wi...
30/04/2026
STA VENERA, MALTA, APRIL 29, 2026 CPI Media, a voluntary organization within the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP) and a leading media house dedicated to p...
30/04/2026
New software platform delivers comprehensive timing measurement across production workflows...
30/04/2026
Once again, the UK Pavilion in Hall 5 of BroadcastAsia 2026 will feature the latest and best in technology specifically developed and tailored for modern media ...