BIODANCE shares Solastalgia on Wednesday, July 8, at noon, a quartet with Nanako Horikawa Mandrino, Sarah Johnson, Alaina Olivieri, and Donetta Tchoroleev, to the music of Mark Olivieri. Lunchtime Dances is a free, outdoor concert series at St. Joseph’s Park that runs throughout the summer, organized by Natalia Lisina and Donetta Tchoroleev.
Wander & Wonder is a site-specific “dance tour” around the grounds of the Rochester Museum and Science Center. Audiences follow the artists on a walking tour of unique dances set in nature and architecture. Choreographers include Ethan Beckwith Cohen, BIODANCE/Missy Pfohl Smith, Rachel Bast, Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp, Amya Bryce, Ella Genovese, Matthew McClure, and Claire Spenard.
Free to all, no tickets required!
Summer Dates & Times:
– Thursday, August 6 at 6:30pm, Performance
– Friday, August 7 at 6:30pm, Performance
– August 8 at noon, Rain Date
This series is supported by Rochester Area Community Foundation. Donations are welcome, and will support the artists and a local non-profit in the community. In years past, this event has supported MOCHA at Trillium Health, Just Cause, Refugees Helping Refugees, and Planned Parenthood. This year’s beneficiary will be announced soon.
BIODANCE performed at the MAG GALA 2026, celebrating MAG’s commitment to free access for all—forever.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
6:00–9:00 pm
Memorial Art Gallery
500 University Ave
BIODANCE offered “Beautiful Day,” a choreographic work by Missy Pfohl Smith danced by Sarah Johnson, Nanako Horikawa Mandrino, Alaina Olivieri, and Donetta Tchoroleev, to live music played by a string quartet from the Eastman School of Music. We were honored to be invited to offer the featured performance.
BIODANCE was thrilled to return on Feb. 17, 2026, to share a dance performance for the Senior Center!
Both BIODANCE and Vision of Sound celebrate their 20th Anniversaries in 2026. BIODANCE premiered a new quartet, choreographed by Missy Pfohl Smith in collaboration with dancers Sarah Johnson, Nanako Horikawa Mandrino, Alaina Olivieri, and Donetta Tchoroleev. The new work shares a title with the score by Mark Olivieri, Artifacts of a Valiant Past (for Neva). The premiere was at The College at Brockport’s Hartwell Dance Theater on Feb. 19, 2026, followed by a show at Onondaga Community College on Feb. 20. Vision of Sound was at RIT’s Glassbox Theater Saturday, Feb. 21, and at Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ Gearan Arts Center on Feb. 22! It was a wonderful concert of live music and live dance by choreographers including BIODANCE/Missy Pfohl Smith, Elton Ward, Cat Olsen, Rochester City Ballet/Shannon Purpura, Sarah Jacobs, Kelly Johnson, and Marisa Ballaro.
BIODANCE premiered QUIET/LOUD, a choreographic work by Missy Pfohl Smith in collaboration with dancers Biviana Beckaroo, Sarah Johnson, and Donetta Tchoroleev, with music by Amy Nam, commissioned by fivebyfive chamber ensemble. The work premiered at the Smith Theater in Sloan Performing Arts Center at the University of Rochester on October 18 and 19, 2026.
