Dancers from the Greater Hartford Academy Half Day were among a group of performers paying tribute to the late Alwin Nikolais. Eleven dance majors from the Academy took to the stage at Trinity College's Austin Arts Center to perform “Mechanical Organ,”  a piece choreographed by Hartford native Alwin Nikolais and staged by Alberto del Saz.. They were joined on stage by dancers from St Joseph’s University, Trinity College, and ACES New Haven. Also on stage were with Alberto del Saz and Peter Kyle both from the Nickolais Foundation for Dance. The piece was one of many performed during the event titled “Alwin Nikolais: A Celebration of Motion.” There were two nights of performances.

Earlier this year, del Saz was a guest artist where he choreographed this same piece for Choreographers’ Showcase, an annual performance at the Academy where professional choreographers collaborate with dance majors to perform their work.