ARTs + Change 2022: Katherine Serna & Missy Pfohl Smith

ARTs + Change Conference, June 2-5, 2022
Title: Dance and Interdependent Community Agency for Women in Recovery
Artists: Katherine Serna and Missy Pfohl Smith
Date: June 4, 2022

About the Conference:
ARTs + Change is a virtual conference hosted by the University of Rochester’s Institute for the Performing Arts, in partnership with the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center, 540 WMain, Inc., Create a Space Now, Eastman Institute for Music Leadership, the Warner School, and the Rochester Fringe Festival. With nearly 40 presenters, this conference provided opportunities for artists of all disciplines, educators, community members, and community organizations to come together for the sharing of work, participatory workshops, panel discussions, research presentations, performances, guided discussions, and more. This was the second year we held this conference, and it provided a great way to engage with both UR artists and the greater performing arts community.

About The Artists:
Katherine Serna is a 2022 graduate of the University of Rochester, majoring in dance and creative writing. Her choreography and performance has been shared in various formal concerts at the University, and she has performed in faculty and student work in regional conferences and on campus.

Missy Pfohl Smith is a choreographer, performer and collaborative artist who directs the Program of Dance and Movement and the Institute for the Performing Arts at University of Rochester and is artistic director for the collaborative company, BIODANCE, based in Rochester, NY.

In this workshop, they share some stories and guide participants through some of the ways to collectively establish an environment of mutual respect.