Gabe Swisher-Rosa ’23, a 4-year Deerfield dancer, has been immersed in the world of dance since the age of three. He discovered his passion for dancing from a DVD copy of the New York City Ballet’s rendition of the Nutcracker with Baryshnikov as the Cavalier. “[I] would watch that on repeat until finally, my mom put me in a local ballet class,” Swisher-Rosa said. He immediately fell in love with dancing; it became a constant in his life, serving as both an artistic outlet and a way to channel his energy.
Growing up, Swisher-Rosa trained in various dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, and hip hop. In middle school, Swisher-Rosa took classes at South Shore Ballet Theatre, which is affiliated with the Boston Ballet Company and the American Ballet. He received furtherclassical training there and participated in male-only classes. He applied to boarding schools and chose Deerfield because of the outstanding dance program.
Entering Deerfield at the age of 13, Swisher-Rosa was notably the youngest in the Dance Tutorial course. Since then,he has taken Advanced Dance for three years and has had the opportunity to choreograph his own pieces, which he sees as a way to express himself, share political commentary, and connect with his audience. One of his pieces was about the five stages of grief, which he created in memory of a friend who passed away when they were both eight years old.
Swisher-Rosa’s creative process begins with finding music that resonates with him. He listens to the songs repeatedly, envisioning the movements that would best compliment the music. He then visualizes the movement and the entire scene in his head before translating it into choreography. Sometimes, he writes out the choreography as a play in acts, while other times, he improvises in the studio to discover the movements.
Throughout his dance journey, Swisher-Rosa has received support and guidance of mentors who have played a significant role in his growth. Director of Dance Jennifer Whitcomb, his mentor at Deerfield, reignited his passion for dance and helped him overcome homesickness when he first joined the school. Another mentor, Grey Holman ’21, a former student at Deerfield, helped Swisher-Rosa build his confidence and made him feel welcomed and comfortable in the dance program.
Recently, Swisher-Rosa has been exploring his Latin American heritage and the pressing issues related to American intervention in Latin America. His pieces incorporated ideas inspired by works of Latin American writers and poets like Che Guevara and Pablo Neruda.
Swisher-Rosa shared his thoughts on the role of dance in his life: “Dance, as both an art form and a form of exercise, has allowed me to channel that energy in a positive way. It’s also a way for me to express myself and deal with difficult emotions.”
Swisher-Rosa sees dance as a way to connect with others and share his experiences. He believes that dance has the power to bring people together and create a sense of community. Swisher-Rosa hopes to continue to explore his Latin American heritage through dance and share his culture with others.
In the future, Swisher-Rosa plans to continue choreographing and dancing at Williams College. While he does not see himself pursuing dance as a career, he acknowledges that dance will always be a part of his life. It is an outlet that he can turn to whenever he needs to express himself, and is grateful for the skills and experiences it has given him.