More events planned in Dance Program celebration
The Dance Program, the first in the country to offer a degree in dance, continues its 80th anniversary celebration throughout April. Dance alumni from around the country, ages 25 to 80-something, gather Wednesday–Saturday, April 25–28, to perform or present their works in concert, teach master classes and talk about dance history, education and the 80-year legacy of dance at Lathrop Hall.
Events include:
- Guest artist and alumna Tania Isaac (right) began her three-week residency April 9 to work with students on a group piece that will be performed in the alumni concerts, to be held at 8 p.m. Thursday–Saturday, April 26–28, in the Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space in Lathrop Hall. Three alumni concerts will be presented on these nights as part of the anniversary celebration. Works by Isaac and guest instructor Chris Walker, of the National Dance Theatre Co. of Jamaica, will be performed in all three concerts.
Isaac, originally from St. Lucia, West Indies, is based in Philadelphia, where she is artistic director of her own dance company. Named by Dance Magazine as one of “25 to Watch” in 2006, Isaac’s movements — from minimal elegance to contrasting intensity and wide range of motion — have captivated audiences in venues across the country.
“Our dance alumni are incredibly talented and accomplished,” says Claudia Melrose, dance professor and chair of the anniversary celebration. “Among those returning to participate in the festivities are Fulbright scholars, authors, department chairs, dance therapists, certified movement analysts, dancers, choreographers, artistic directors, composers, musicians, national and international award winners, and performers. They’ve been around the world and back as artists and scholars — on tour, on sabbatical, in residence and on fellowships.”
- The Regional Alumni Choreographers Concert will be held on Thursday and Friday, April 26 and 27. Works choreographed by Carol Marion Ceniti, artistic director of Jazzworks; Lisa Andrea Thurrell, artistic director of Kanopy Dance; Gretchen Cohenour, professor and dance program coordinator at Winona State University; Robin Pettersen, dance instructor at UW–Whitewater; and Melrose will be featured.
- The National Choreographers Concert, presented Saturday, April 28, showcases work by New York alumni/choreographers Valerie Green, Elise Knudson, Meghan McCoy and Judith Moss, along with Linda Caldwell, professor at Texas Woman’s University.
Tickets for the concerts and the alumni banquet may be purchased in advance at http://www.dance.wisc.edu or by calling 262-1691. All other events take place in the Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space and are free and open to the public.
