Salem State University Music & Dance Department

08/26/2026

ScreenDance RoadShow Season 9
Friday, September 18 at 7:30 pm
Sophia Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts

ScreenDance RoadShow (formerly Motion State Dance Film Series) is the only traveling short dance film series in New England that showcases contemporary creative voices exploring choreography for the camera. Each season, a diverse program of dance films from around the world are screened at venues across New England. ScreenDance RoadShow is curated by Ali Kenner Brodsky and Andy Russ.

FREE for students with ID and under 18.

Image from SDRS Season 8 - Drenched by Holly Wilder

Additional information at salemstatetickets.com

08/21/2026

DANCE AUDITIONS! SAVE THE DATE!

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 5-8PM: Salem Dance Ensemble (SDE) and Hip Hop Dance Ensemble (HDE) informational meeting and auditions.
5-7pm: current SSU students
7-8pm: alumni and members of the community welcome for HDE auditions
questions? email Professor Betsy Miller at [email protected]
Events take place in Studio 303, O'Keefe Center.

08/12/2026

This Sunday’s Summer Orchestra Concert will feature various members of the ensemble, many of whom are members of the Salem State community.

The brass section shines at the top of the concert with Verdi’s “Nabucco Overture”. The overture also features an oboe and trumpet duet shared by Cyndi Napierkowski and Mark Napierkowski. Cyndi directs the University Band.

Brian Hellman (cello) from our ITS department and SSU senior librarian Nancy George (clarinet) are featured in a duet in “Invitation to the Dance”, orchestrated by Hector Berlioz.

The program includes selections from a little-known Verdi opera, Les vêpres siciliennes, specifically its ballet sequence, “The Four Seasons”. Each movement is a series of ballet vignettes featuring members of the orchestra.
o L'inverno: Fran Pierce and Cyndi Napierkoswki – flute/oboe duet
o La Primavera: Allison Blass, flute solo; Nancy George, clarinet solo
o L'estate: Kerin Wlash, flute solo; Cyndi Napierkowski, oboe solo
o L'autunno: Features the cello section, Brian Helman, Armania Boyd '24, Addison Jones, Katy Brunault, Amy Everitt (Healthcare Studies) and Jasper Lior as well as Daniella Hernandez (flute) and Nancy George (clarinet).

Concert details
Sunday, August 16
2 pm
Recital Hall, 71 Loring Avenue

Admission is free.
The Sunday, August 16 concert begins at 2 pm in the Recital Hall, 71 Loring Avenue. Admission is free. See less

08/10/2026

The Summer Orchestra at Salem State is busy preparing for their Sunday, August 16 concert which will take place at 2 pm in the Recital Hall. The repertoire is all dance-centered ranging from Berlioz’s orchestration of “Invitation to the Dance” by Carl Maria von Weber to a lesser-known work by Verdi, Les vêpres siciliennes from “The Four Seasons.” Admission to this concert is free.

The Recital Hall is located on the ground floor of the Classroom Building, 71 Loring Avenue. Parking is available in the lot across the street, next to the Salem Diner.

07/14/2026

Attention music and dance alumni! Share what you are up to in the world with our alumni team.

What is your Salem State story? We want to hear from you!
Visit https://ow.ly/Gpiq50Zcs0t to share your story!

06/15/2026

Music alumni Jabari Tovar '16 shares his career journey from SSU undergraduate to the music education classroom. The place where he finds his passion and his joy.

"In his classroom, Tovar prioritizes student growth and belonging. “To me, music education is all about celebrating the small wins,” he says. “When students have breakthrough moments during rehearsals, when they take risks and persevere through challenges, that’s what creates a classroom culture where students feel empowered.”

Jabari also offers some words of wisdom for current students who plan to become arts educators.

06/09/2026

06/04/2026

Save the Date!

4th Annual North Shore High School Honor Bands

Salem State University
Saturday, December 5, 2026
8 am - 9 pm

06/02/2026

Celebrate Salem's 400+ anniversary at the 18th annual Salem Arts Festival! This FREE weekend celebration (June 5-7, 2026) brings downtown Salem to life with incredible performances, a juried artisan marketplace, the 10th anniversary Mural Slam, interactive art experiences, and our beloved Community Art Project. All ages, all weekend, completely free!

It's time for all the tiny dances at Salem Arts Festival , June 5 - 7 in downtown Salem!

Curated by SSU dance professor Betsy Miller, these performances on a 4 x 4 platform are a mainstay of the festival. The range of styles and choreographic ingenuity is always a delightful discovery.

We sing praise to all the dancers participating on the tiny stage this weekend but want to give an extra nod to SSU affiliated performers:

𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟲
🟦Abriana McCollim (11:45am - 12:15 pm and 4:30-5 pm)
🟧Sarah Soares and Aiden Jones (2:45- 3:15 pm and 4:30 - 5 pm)

𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟳
🟦Kaija Schram, Aiden Jones, Mackenzie Trainor and High Street Friends including Angie Benitez and Becky-Jo Roland (11:45 am - 12:15 pm)
🟧Kaija Schram, Mackenzie Trainor, Betsy Miller Dance Projects and High Street Friends including Angie Benitez and Becky-Jo Roland (2:45 – 3:15 pm)
🟦Kaija Schram, Aiden Jones, Betsy Miller Dance Projects and High Street Friends including Angie Benitez and Becky-Jo Roland (4:30-5 pm)

𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟲 - large group dance
North Shore Improv Coalition - Betsy Miller and friends

Celebrate Salem's 400+ anniversary at the 18th annual Salem Arts Festival! This FREE weekend celebration (June 5-7, 2026) brings downtown Salem to life with incredible performances, a juried artisan marketplace, the 10th anniversary Mural Slam, interactive art experiences, and our beloved Community Art Project.

Salem State University Alumni Association and Foundation
Salem State University Music & Dance Department



📷 Creative Collective MA

05/22/2026