This Moment
In OYES's production of Alice By Heart, Alice struggles with the impending loss of her childhood friend Alfred.
Choreographer Emma-Rose Allen shares how one unexpected rehearsal decision brought a powerful new dimension to a dance number in her first Director's Commentary for “This moment”.
This moment: Vivie Giuliani (ALICE) embracing the crutch.
This intense and dark dance number had gone through many changes and tweaks in the final two weeks leading up to opening night.
But there was always something missing.
Time was running out. The show was opening in a few days and I still didn’t feel it was right.
During one of our very last rehearsals, I spontaneously instructed a dancer to toss a crutch to Alice, and for Alice to capture and embrace it — as if she were holding her dear and dying friend Alfred. This young actress delivered the moment beautifully. It was the perfect gentle kiss of love, fear, and horror, that the piece needed.
It wasn’t until later, when our director, Chiya, watched the final version, that she pointed out something I hadn't noticed: the throw perfectly paralleled Alfred's trust fall in the previous scene.
“Oh yeah,” I replied, “I totally meant to do that…”
Sometimes you see the vision clearly, and sometimes the vision meets you where you are.
Alice catching the crutch in the number “Brillig Braelig” ended up being one of my favorite moments, and turned out to be one of the best things that can happen for a choreographer — a happy accident!
— Emma-Rose Allen, Choreographer
Cole Williams (ALFRED) falls, landing in the arms of the ensemble.
ALICE BY HEART (May, 2026) • Produced by Daena Santoyo • Directed by Chiya Newman • Choreographed by Emma-Rose Allen • Music directed by Emily Hall
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This is the creative journey we love witnessing for our students. Moments where trust, inspiration, and instinct come together for a young artist exploring their creative potential.
Our directors lead the process, a student shapes and brings the work to life, and the collaboration continues to grow until an audience finally gets to take it all in. It’s thrilling!
— Daena Santoyo, Producing Artistic Director
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