SUNY Potsdam Dance Alumna Zoe Cushman Walders ’16 Brings Choreography to her Alma Mater with Free Concert March 26
SUNY Potsdam dance alumna Zoe Cushman Walders ’16 will return to her alma mater to present a concert of new and original works alongside her longtime collaborator, Zachary J. Frazee, on Wednesday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m., in the Performing Arts Center’s Dance Theater (Photo credit: Freistilus).
The SUNY Potsdam Department of Theatre and Dance and the New York State DanceForce will proudly present an upcoming dance concert of choreographic works by Zoe Cushman Walders ’16. This free event will take place on Wednesday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m., in the Performing Arts Center’s Dance Theatre on the SUNY Potsdam campus.
In this 30-minute concert of solos and duets, Walders will be joined by Zachary Frazee—friends and dance collaborators since their teens. Walders will be in residence at her alma mater, thanks to a grant from the New York State DanceForce, to spend a few days in Potsdam developing new work with Frazee. The concert will include their latest work-in-progress, as well as established choreography. While at SUNY Potsdam, Walders will also be teaching a contemporary dance class and speaking with students about careers in dance.
Zoe Cushman Walders received her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from SUNY Potsdam in 2016. She has presented her choreography and performed in such venues as the Rochester (NY) Fringe Festival, Wake Forest (NC) Dance Festival, and at the Gibney Dance Theater and LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in New York City. Walders was a guest artist at SUNY Potsdam in 2022, staging her work with student dancers during the Faculty Dance Concert. She has worked in the field of arts administration as an operations associate and executive assistant with the dance company Urban Bush Women, and also as a videographer. Currently, she is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree in dance at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she is deepening her knowledge as a choreographer, performer, teacher and theorist/researcher.
SUNY Potsdam dance alumna Zoe Cushman Walders ’16 will be in residence at her alma mater and presenting a free concert on March 26 (Photo credit: ZJFrazee Photography).
Zachary J. Frazee is a dancer, educator and choreographer based in Rochester, N.Y. They received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from SUNY Brockport in 2014. From 2018-2022, Frazee was the owner and artistic director of Frazee Feet Dance, a contemporary dance company dedicated to creating and performing original works throughout the Rochester area and beyond. Frazee is also a photographer and has their own photography business, ZJFrazee Photography, specializing in working with artists. As a choreographer, Frazee has created more than 40 original works and has presented their work across the country at such venues as the Grace Street Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Mark Morris Dance Center and the Lyric Theatre.
Please note that seating is limited, for this one-night-only event. Tickets are not required, but audience members are encouraged to arrive early.
For more information, contact Robin Collen at collenrl@potsdam.edu.
This project is made possible with funds from the New York State DanceForce, a partnership program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
The Department of Theatre and Dance cultivates an innovative, experiential, and multidisciplinary education within an inclusive community, preparing students for leadership and service in the arts as global citizens.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.