Diane Mancinelli, creator of the Henry Ford Community College dance program, has entrusted direction of the dance company to adjunct faculty member, Amy Guilmette. This is the first time anyone other than Mancinelli has directed the dance company since its inception in 1987.
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to work with such a talented group of students,” said Guilmette.
The 17-member student company is composed of approximately half women and half men, a remarkable mix for any company, who spend a considerable amount of time out of class preparing and rehearsing their own works. Choreographers for the fall season include HFCC faculty member Diane Mancinelli, artistic director Amy Guilmette, ballet choreographer Morgan Grubola-Vonberg, and two student works. In addition, Sandee Rodriguez is currently setting a contemporary work on the company, based on the important theme of teen bullying.
When Guilmette was asked how working with a company ties into her goals, she said, “Directing a dance company is a lifetime goal for me. Working at the community college level has also been a long-time interest. Combining the two meets many of my goals as an educator. Students attending community college seem to be working through transitional periods of their lives. This provides a unique opportunity for educators to play an integral role in student growth and development. I take this responsibility very seriously.
“Working closely with Ms. Mancinelli and developing relationships with the students, we have created a true sense of community,” Guilmette said, “which is a highly-valued focus here at Henry Ford Community College.”
Student works to be presented in this year’s concert include a solo by Justin Alesna and a group work by Monica Brady-Barnard. These students face new challenges in forming their first completed works. Alesna will set his solo on another dancer, as well as perform it himself. This will provide him the opportunity to view the work from both an inside and outside perspective. Brady-Barnard has been working since the end of the winter 2011 term, recruiting dancers, and finding the appropriate space and time throughout the summer. According to Guilmette, Brady-Barnard’s fastidious work ethic allowed her to audition a nearly completed work, steeped in choreographic elements learned in the HFCC choreography class. Her piece addresses a very personal perspective on the deconstruction of the family unit through divorce.
The Fall Dance Concert will be held on Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3 at 8:00 p.m. in the Adray Auditorium. The company’s fall season consists of many performances coordinated with the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce. They work closely with Peggy Richard, Chamber Director of Events, to continue making connections and to get students out into the community.
The company will also perform in the Oakland Dance Festival alongside multiple university groups at Harrison High School in Farmington. The annual festival brings together high school student dancers and representatives from Michigan college dance programs for two days of master classes and performances. Students are able to speak directly with dance faculty, receive program information and audition for scholarships. The HFCC dance faculty will be participating as this is an excellent opportunity to continue to grow the dance program.
“As we continue to build a strong student body for the dance program and the Full Circle Dance Company,” said Guilmette, “the outside interest of dance students has been ignited. We have many students in our current company that have come to us from high school and university programs. Many are also using this program as a place to gain more experience before moving on to four-year degree programs in dance. There is current dialogue between Ms. Mancinelli and both Wayne State University and Marygrove College to continue work on transfer programs.
“We are growing with rapid force,” added Guilmette, “and, personally, I intend to stick around to see how big we can get.”

For more information about the Full Circle Dance Company, contact Amy Guilmette at:
ajguilmette@hfcc.edu.