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Connecticut College celebrates 101st birthday

Students perform Twyla Tharp's
Students perform Twyla Tharp's "The One Hundreds," a progressive, interactive dance that involves participants learning simple steps and then dancing, first with skilled dancers and gradually with a bigger group.

Connecticut College marked the 101st anniversary of its founding on April 5 with song, dance and - because no birthday party is complete without cake - delicious lemon, chocolate, red velvet and raspberry cupcakes.

"After a very positive, year-long Centennial celebration, we have re-connected in meaningful ways with our history, and we have started our second century strong," President Leo I. Higdon Jr. said at a Founders Day tea and birthday party. "We are fortunate to be on this beautiful campus in this distinctive educational environment where people's intellectual pursuits and creative skills are explored, challenged, supported and valued."

See more photos from Founders Day 2012.

Also at the tea, theater professor David Jaffe '77 told the story of the College's founding through the voices of students past and present and the Chamber Choir performed the College's Centennial Song, along with two other historic pieces. And in a moment that truly captured the spirit of community that permeates Connecticut College, President Higdon joined students, faculty, staff and members of the New London community in a modern dance performance of Twyla Tharp's "The One Hundreds." The performance was coordinated by dance professor David Dorfman '81 and made possible with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Dance American Masterpieces.

In honor of Founders Day, the College sponsored New London Main Street's annual "BIG Picture," a community photograph at the Parade Plaza in downtown New London. As a special surprise, the College arranged for the Asphalt Orchestra to perform during the event. A radical street band that brings ambitious processional music to the mobile masses, Asphalt Orchestra performed later in Palmer Auditorium as part of the onStage at Connecticut College series.



April 6, 2012