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2021 · Student / BFA work

LINES BFA piece (Anne-René Petrarca)

Anne-René Petrarca · Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA (Dominican University)

A piece for the freshman class of the LINES Ballet BFA program at Dominican University, choreographed by faculty member Anne-René Petrarca to an original sound score by Ben Juodvalkis. Mary Oliver's poem 'Wild Geese' served as a metaphor and movement prompt, and the score features bird sounds. It was performed outdoors in an amphitheater in April 2021.

Recollections

“This was written during a lonely and special time for both of us. Special thanks to the ghosts inhabiting that crazy mansion in the Haight for making us feel welcome”

Premiere
2021-04
Venue
Forest Meadows Amphitheater, Dominican University of California (outdoors; closed to the public)
Where
San Rafael, CA
Performances
Two shows after an afternoon dress rehearsal: Friday, April 23, 2021 at 5:00 pm and Saturday, April 24 at 3:00 pm. Audience limited to the students' family and friends under Dominican's COVID rules.
Credits
Choreography: Anne-René Petrarca. Dancers: freshman class, Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA at Dominican University. Music: Ben Juodvalkis (original sound score). Prompt: Mary Oliver's poem 'Wild Geese'.

Ephemera

Three masked dancers stand in a row under a white tent on a grey dance floor, trees and a brick wall visible through the open sides; the dancer in the middle holds both fists raised beside her head, the others stand with weight shifted to one leg.

Three of the freshmen, from a rehearsal video Anne-René sent

Four dancers move across a floor under an open-sided white tent, one spinning with arms wrapped overhead, another turning in a low lunge; the shoulder and hair of someone watching fill the right edge of the frame.

Rehearsal in the tent studio on campus

  • The finished score

Anne-René asking me to score her freshman piece.

Anne-René: almost a year, hard to believe. i hope this finds you well, happy and healthy. i was so looking forward to working with you this semester for modern on zoom but the bfa program decided to combine classes (jr & sr) so christian is teaching. but happily i am setting a work on the freshmen class and was wondering if you would like to collaborate and set the music?

Ben: Let’s do it!

Anne-René’s brief for the score.

Anne-René: i like rhythm, surges, dark, minor key sounds, hint of hope, beautifully sad.

Anne-René’s email on the day of the dress rehearsal.

Anne-René: it been a really busy week. the dancers look great, the sound score is amazing and the combination of these things with the outdoor amphitheater is awesome.

Press

“For my class, our first BFA performances were outside, one in our outdoor studio and the other in the Forest Meadows Amphitheater.”

Elsewhere

Research status: researched – partial. Details on this piece are still being confirmed — corrections are welcome.

Ben Juodvalkis © 2026