热点大瓜

Some people live to dance. Other people dance to live. And then there are those dancers, rare and treasured, who live so others can dance — whose livelihoods set the stage for the next generation to perform.

In honor of one such alumna, the Center for the Arts will host the fifth annual Cathleen Wendel Lista Dance Showcase at 2 p.m. April 27 in the Mainstage Theatre.

Featuring the Zodiaque Dance Company, UB’s pre-professional dance group, and more than 10 regional dance companies, this non-competitive, community event supports dance majors at UB, while celebrating the life of a beloved dancer, instructor and creative educator.

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“This showcase is really a celebration of the vibrant dance community in Western New York,” says Kerry Ring, teaching professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance and Zodiaque artistic director. “The point is to come together, build positivity and share artistry, not to compete.”

Proceeds go to the Cathleen Wendel Lista Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of Cathy’s request to her family to celebrate her life and to take good care of the dancers.

“The scholarships allow our students to finish their degrees, many of whom choose to stay in Buffalo to dance and teach, as Cathy did,” says Ring, who chairs the scholarship in addition to playing a crucial role in planning, directing and choreographing the showcase.

Eighteen scholarships have been awarded since the showcase began in 2017, one year after Cathy passed away from breast cancer.

Fallon Tuholski, a senior double major in dance and criminology, is one of the 2025 scholarship recipients who will be performing in this year’s showcase. Although she has been dancing since she was 2 years old, it wasn’t until she came to UB that she found her true love and passion for dance.

“UB is a large university, but the dance department has a tight-knit, family feel where you are able to get to know all of the dancers in your grade, as well as form a bond with professors,” Tuholski says. “It’s not competitive in nature like programs might be at other universities. All of the dancers and faculty simply want to lift you up and push you to strive to be your best.”

Tuholski touts UB’s programming for helping her leave her comfort zone in tap and ballet, and explore styles such as modern, contemporary, hip-hop and musical theater. She has attended one showcase in the past and feels it’s a great way to highlight all of the local talent in Western New York.

“We have so many dance studios in the area that are doing some amazing things that deserve to be shown off,” Tuholski says. “If you enjoy dance at all, what you see will not be disappointing.”

Split into two acts, the afternoon will feature a range of dance styles, studios and companies, as well as performers of all ages. In addition to being the largest showcase yet — close to 250 dancers will be on the UB stage — this event is special because Cathy’s two daughters will be performing a duet. The oldest, Maria, is a freshman at UB who couldn’t perform in the showcase last year and will also have a solo.

Other highlights include two notable numbers from ChoreoLab, UB’s performance research laboratory.

ChoreoLab member Shannon Brien is another 2025 recipient of the Cathleen Wendel Lista Memorial Scholarship who looks forward to taking the stage. The senior dance major and education minor will perform in a group tap number and a more modern piece that explores self-improvement. 

“At UB we’re always thinking about how to hone our art form,” Brien says. “When we talk about the quality of a dancer, it’s about intention, being well-rounded and knowing how to convey a story, rather than just how flexible a person is.”

Brien plans to use her scholarship funds to continue dancing while looking for instructor positions post-graduation. She is grateful to have the opportunity to keep up with her passion while working toward her dream of sharing the love of dance with others in the state.

“My daughter always said we have some of the most talented dancers born and raised in Western New York,” says Cathy’s father, Jim Wendel ‘75. “It’s why we do this every year: to raise money to support juniors and seniors who aren’t just great dancers, but who have the ability to work with their instructors and their peers, and who want to finish their degrees and dance in the community.”

The showcase is a full family collaboration, with Wendel handling the business portion and Cathy’s brother running the technical aspects of the production such as music and lighting. Cathy’s mother, who once worked at the Lancaster Dance Studio where “Miss Cathy” taught for more than 20 years, oversees the lineup.

“My wife, Mary, is the heart,” Wendel adds. “She meets with all of the studios and has maintained really close relationships with them. Each year this event gets bigger, and we know it will continue to leave a mark.”

Ring has started to notice the long-term impact of the Cathleen Wendel List Memorial Scholarship, even after just a few years. Several recipients have graduated and chosen to teach at local studios, solidifying Cathy’s vision to bridge the regional and university dance communities.

As for the scholarship recipients, the added financial support allows them to focus on their studies without the time commitment of an outside job or stress of paying tuition. In that way, Cathy’s generosity gives the dancers what she herself ran out of — time.

“My college tuition is paid for by my single mom and school loans. It’s always a daunting thing when the bill comes out and there aren’t a lot of financial or merit-based aid opportunities in the arts,” Tuholski says. “This scholarship is so generous because it gave me peace of mind as I finish up my final semester at UB. I get to just focus on my art and dance my heart out.”