Dancers gather to honor Anna Nassif

A double honor awaits Anna Nassif, soon-to-retire professor of dance. Artists of national and international renown will perform her works April 16-18 in Lathrop Hall’s Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space. The concert, featuring several dance program alumni, will cover Nassif’s choreographic periods over her nearly 40 years with the UW–Madison Dance Program. The retrospective also will include several premieres performed by Anna Nassif Dance Theatre, an experimental chamber ensemble, and there will be discussions with the artists following each performance.

Nassif says the retrospective will illustrate the evolution of American modern and post-modern dance.

Day events will emphasize Nassif’s educational as well as artistic legacy in honor of the university’s upcoming sesquicentennial. Events include:

Composers and musicians will discuss their collaboration with Nassif, April 16, 1:20 p.m., 510 Lathrop Hall.
“Meaning and Context: A Lecture-Demonstration,” by former Nassif student Beth Soll, now a professional choreographer/performer, April 17, 10:30 a.m., 549 Lathrop.
“African/Modern Dance: A Master Class with Some Attention to Execution of Technical Phrases from Anna Nassif’s Makrokosmos,” April 17, 12:05 p.m., 549 Lathrop.
“A Modern Dance Class with a Focus on Rhythm and Shape in the Execution of Technical Themes from Anna Nassif’s The Demon and Point Omega,” April 17, 1:20 p.m., B101 Lathrop.
A free musical tribute to Nassif and composer Philip Faini, presented by the UW Percussion Ensemble, April 19, 4 p.m. Mills Concert Hall, Humanities Building.

An exhibition of Nassif’s drawing, paintings, photographs, costumes, notes and more will be on display April 16-18 in Lathrop’s performance space lobby and in room 138.

Day events are free and open to the public. Reserved seating, $8 students and seniors/$12 general, is available through the Wisconsin Union Theater box office, (608) 262-2201.

For more information, contact the UW–Madison Dance Program, (608) 262-1691.