UA News

A total of 38 students were selected from a group of 400 applicants nationwide to join the UA's prestigious dance program.

The University of Arizona School of Dance begins the semester with 38 new freshmen and a series of auditions as returning and new students compete to be a part of the 2009-2010 season of performances.

"The UA School of Dance is one of the top university dance programs in the United States. Each year, students from all of the country audition for acceptance into the program and the opportunity to work with the award winning faculty," said Jory Hancock, interim dean of the UA College of Fine Arts and director of the School of Dance.

The dance faculty use the beginning of semester auditions to get a sense of form and movement from the dancers so they can begin casting for the five concerts the school will produce. Their season consists of which total more than 35 stage performances from November through April.

"The UA School of Dance gives performance opportunities to all dance majors from first year to graduate level dancers," said UA dance professor Douglas Nielsen.

The incoming class of 38 freshman were selected from more 400 applicants through three national auditions.

"The UA School of Dance is more of a finishing school for really talented dancers. Students must audition to be accepted and once they are in, they can and are encouraged to audition for faculty and graduate student works. Dancers audition to show how quickly they learn and are able to interpret the choreography of others," said Laura Donnelly, the school's business and development manager.

In November, "The New Vaudeville Revue" opens the season when UA dancers, musicians, choreographers and composers join forces with a troupe of nationally known vaudevillians, including Keith Nelson and Stephanie Monseu of the Bindlestiff Family Circus/Bindlestiff Variety Arts.

In "The New Vaudeville Revue," directed by Douglas Nielsen in collaboration with Frank Cullen and Suzanne Knosp, you'll see the art form in all its stages – past, present and future. 

High wire acts, clowns, jugglers?  Yes – but these acts are combined with exotic choreography and award-winning film.  

In December, the production "In the Season" features student choreography performed by UA Dance Ensemble members. All works are selected by the faculty via another audition.

Donnelly emphasized that dancers dance all the time and highlighted a few of the premier events the faculty and students participated in during the summer, including traveling to Kiel, Germany, and New York.

UA dance faculty Sam Watson and four dance students traveled to Kiel to perform during the Kiel International Festival of Dance and Gymnastics. The Kiel Festival is part of larger annual arts gathering described as Kiel Week, where an estimated three million people participate each year.  

Watson's choreographic works Badoom Boom and Pitter Patter Pulse showcased UA Dance students Annie Christianson, Hailey Meier, Jordan Bradfield and Corey Campbell. Prestigiously, Watson also taught master classes at the festival to a diverse group of European students.

Also during the summer, UA dance faculty Melissa Lowe, Susan Quinn, Suzanne Knosp and Amy Ernst presented during the National Dance Education Organization Conference in New York City, which focuses on the state of dance and dance education in the United States.

The UA faculty presented their unique dance pedagogy method that emphasizes excellence in ballet, modern and jazz as well as the use of live music in the classroom/dance studio.

School of Dance modern dance faculty member Amy Ernst was a guest choreographer and master teacher at the 2009 World Dance Alliance General Assembly in Madison, Wisc.

The World Dance Alliance is an international conference and festival includes performances, research papers, master classes, workshops, and choreographic projects by dance artists, educators, and students from more than 15 countries worldwide.

UA Dance Ensemble members Denai Vogel and Ellie Hausman performed the piece Raft as part of the festival.

Choreographer Denai Vogel's solo also was accepted by the World Dance Alliance General Assembly. The solo was created for and performed by Ellie Hausman, who received a bachelor of fine arts from the UA in 2008.