Collegiate Times

Members of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble at Virgina Tech honored Reema Samaha's life though artistic expression. Samaha was a member of the CDE prior to her death in 2007.

The Contemporary Dance Ensemble at Virginia Tech continues to remember beloved CDE member Reema Samaha through its second annual dance performance held in her honor.

The performance consisted of a compilation of various forms of dance, and was said by other dance ensemble members to be truly representative of her passion for all types of dance.

Samaha "did every style of dance you could imagine," said CDE technical director Jamie Garubba. "We thought it would be really important to have them all performed on one stage. She would've loved that."

At Tech, Samaha was involved in four different dance organizations, and it was important, CDE felt, to reflect her love for them all through this performance.

"Reema loved dance and wanted dance to be a part of everything," said CDE company member Rachel Wunderlich. "This performance was a way to show that dance can relate to everything, and in this respect, it is a way to remember."

The performances strived to honor all those lost on April 16, 2007, but focused on Samaha because of her influence and participation in CDE as well as several other dance outlets at Tech.

"We wanted to show the resilience of the community as a whole, and that we all share a common tie: we all love and have a passion for dance," said CDE company member Vanessa Bush.

Other CDE dancers felt that dance, and this performance in particular, served as a means of therapy, and helping them cope with their loss of Samaha and other victims.

"Dance is a great way to react to your emotions after losing someone," said CDE company member Heather Fine. "All the anxiety, confusion, and pain you experience you're able to show, and at the same time show your love for that person in your body. It's very cathartic, and it's a great release being able to produce something from that grief."

The CDE performance of "Andaloosia," a dance originally choreographed by Samaha, was a particularly special way to remember Samaha and reflect her passion and talent for dance.

Garruba described it as a "really special way to think of her. We love dancing for Reema."

For those that did not know Samaha, CDE dancers felt that the remembrance performance managed to effectively convey the memory of her.

"Were just glad we can show what she meant to us through this dance performance," Garubba said. "She was truly a beautiful person, we just want to pass on her love of dance and of life to everyone who watches."