UB Dance Students to Perform at Fox Run at Orchard Park Senior Living

Junior dance and psychology major Selena Pereyra is a UB Presidential Honor’s Scholar who is very interested in the non-profit side of the performing arts, and who “really wants to bring dance to those who do not have the same chances to experience it as I do.”

Pereyra and a group of other UB Dance student volunteers will make good on her intentions with a dance performance at Fox Run at Orchard Park, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Orchard Park, NY on March 7, 2025. The program will serve as a pilot for what will hopefully become a regular dance outreach series run by Pereyra. “If everything runs smoothly, I would love to add more shows at a later date,” Pereyra added. (The performance is closed to the general public to allow for the best viewing experience for Fox Run residents.)

Funding comes from the UB College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Experiential Learning Fund, to which Pereyra submitted a successful application last semester. The fund “is used for opportunities such as internships, research, study abroad, and community engagement projects,” Pereyra explained. “I was offered the Paul and Christine Nussbaum Experiential Learning Innovation Fund. My project was reviewed by Krista Paszkowsky and the CAS Scholarship Committee.” Pereyra is also seeking additional funding from the Honors College Research and Creativity Fund.

The program will be choreographed and performed entirely by UB Theatre and Dance students. “The show is going to include dancing and singing as it is a collaboration between the Theater and Dance sides of the department. Dance styles include jazz, contemporary, tap, and ballet, and all of the music used is from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.”

20 dance students and two music theatre students will participate, including: Shannon Brien, Nathan Eck, Lauren Guarna, Isabella Guerrucci, Wisteria Jones, Grace Lamana, Mackenzie Leone, Olivia Lopez, Gia Maresca, Ariana Mullin, Alinee Negron, Jane Norris, Ariana Parsons, Selena Pereyra, Kelly Quinn, Grace Rezin, Kira Sethi, Adriana Vetcha, Jasmine White, Audree Woods, Grace Wythe, and Jessamy Zarragoitia. Choreography will be by Pereyra along with Brian, Eck, Guarna, Lopez, Maresca, Mullin, Quinn, Vetcha, and Wythe.

Originally from Westhampton Beach, NY, Pereyra’s mother signed her up for dance classes at age two, and she has never stopped. Regarding her post-graduation plans, with a dual major “there are so many paths to take with dance and psychology, so I do not have a clear idea yet,” she said. “I know I would like to perform after graduation, and then maybe go to graduate school for psychology in the future.”

“My main goal is to spread joy through dance by bringing it to those who don’t always get the opportunity to experience it. Fox Run is a huge sponsor of the UBTHD program, so it will feel good to give back to them.” (Fox Run at Orchard Park has been a season sponsor of UB Theatre and Dance for six years.)

In the future, Pereyra would like to expand the project to more locations and add an interactive aspect with a question and answer session, plus a workshop component for residents to learn stretching exercises and dance moves.

Mary Lou Letina-Land, Fox Run Director of Marketing and Sales applauded Pereyra. "The musical eras that Selena has chosen to use in her choreography are absolutely perfect for the age demographics of our community members.  

"Fox Run community members have always answered the call to give back to Western New York, from adopting a children's charity during the holidays, coat drives and #716Day, through canned food drives, to name a few. To have talent from UB coming to us as a thank you is really quite an honor. The gift of thinking outside the box and such generosity is something that can't be taught."