Summer 2006 issue - Department of Dance - Wayne State University

2 3 4
what’s inside
Partners in Dance
Chairs Riff
Digital Dance
Literacy
Guest Artists:
Melissa Allen
Seán Curran
dbSolo:
Meghan Conway
dance
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dancersAbout
GARTH FAGAN AWARDED HONORARY
DOCTORATE FROM WAYNE STATE
Celebrated dance alumnus Garth Fagan
(‘69) received the Doctor of Humane
Letters degree at May 2006 Commencement
for his lasting contributions to the
world of dance.
For the first time since 1962, Wayne State University
held its commencement exercises on the
main campus at Matthai Physical Education Center
and Tom Adams Field in the WSU Football Stadium
on the morning of Saturday, May 6, 2006.
volume 3
issue 1
summer 2006
AFRICAN
DANCE ON THE MOVE
Detroit African dance teacher and choreographer
Karen Prall joins the department’s fulltime
faculty in Fall 2006 to develop the African
Dance Program and more.
As part of the commencement program, honorary
degrees were presented to Maryann Mahaffey
and Garth Fagan.
Originally from Jamaica, Fagan enrolled in the
dance program at Wayne after having toured
Latin America with the Jamaica National Dance
Theater. His years in Detroit under the tutelage of WSU
dance program founder, Ruth Lovell Murray, were formative
to his career, directing the Detroit Public Schools
All-City Dance Company and performing and choreographing
for the WSU Dance Workshop, Detroit Contemporary
Dance Company
and the Dance Theatre of
Detroit.
After graduating from WSU
in 1969 Fagan founded his
own dance company in
Rochester, NY and began
teaching at the State University
of New York (SUNY)
Brockport. Nearly four decades
later his company, Garth Fagan Dance, is internationally
renowned for its individuality, unmannered approach
and virtuosity.
Dance Season
>> Fall 2006
Faculty & Friends
September 23 (Saturday) 8pm
September 24 (Sunday) 3pm
Maggie Allesee Studio Theatre
Garth Fagan (‘69) and President Irvin D. Reid at May
Commencement 2006
Fagan is also the celebrated choreographer of the
award-winning Broadway musical, Disney’s The Lion
King, for which Fagan won every conceivable national
and international award for his breathtaking choreography
and movement design.
Accolades for his choreography
include the Tony Award, Drama
Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle
Award, Astaire Award and the
Laurence Olivier Award (British
‘Tony’).
A Distinguished Professor Emeritus
of SUNY Brockport, Fagan has
also received numerous academic
and artistic awards; he was one of only 25 Americans
named a Fulbright 50th Anniversary Distinguished
Fellow.
(continued on page 2)
For over two decades, African dance classes have played
an important role in the dance department’s course offerings,
especially for non-majors and for students fulfilling
their university group requirements. DNC 2400:
African Dance is among the most popular of all general
education courses offered by the College of Fine,
Performing and
Communication
Arts.
Karen Prall,
founder & artistic
director of
Detroit’s Art of
Motion Dance
Theatre, joins the
dance department
in 2006-
07 as Lecturer
and Director of
African Dance.
Although this fulltime appointment is new for the program,
Prall is not, having taught as an adjunct dance
faculty member at Wayne State since 2000. Her new
position allows for expansion of African Diaspora dance
offerings, as well as more advanced coursework in Central
African Congolese technique and courses in Horton
modern dance technique.
A native Detroiter, Prall began her early training in ballet
and modern dance, and continued studies in New
York at the Alvin Ailey School and the Martha Graham
School of Contemporary Dance. African dance training
followed while in New York, where she became a member
of Tanawa, the first Congolese dance company in the
United States.
and nationally.
Prall has extensive research and training
credentials abroad including
study in Kongo, Brazzaville-Paris;
Senegal-Monrovia; Liberia; Accra,
Ghana and Mexico. Her
work in the community as a
performer, choreographer,
and master teacher is ongoing
throughout Michigan
ONSTAGE!
Dance Theatre for Youth
Touring Program
January-April 2007 (Fridays)
For booking information: 313-577-9879
December Departmental Concert
December 1 (Friday) 8pm, December 3 (Sunday) 3pm
Special Noel Night Performances:
December 2 (Saturday) 7pm & 8:30pm
Maggie Allesee Studio Theatre
In addition to her teaching, Prall (with Stephen Stone,
Lecturer) will direct the all new 2006-07 ONSTAGE!
touring production of Dance Africa Detroit, featuring
African dance and drumming and their influences on
contemporary dance styles like modern jazz, funk, and
hip hop.
Karen Prall will present a new work in the upcoming
Faculty & Friends Dance Concert: September 23 & 24 in
the Maggie Allesee Studio Theatre. Please join us!! db

Dear Friends:
Time does seem to
fly---whether it’s the summer
vacation respite or the next
class of graduating students---where did
the last four years go In the Maggie Allesee
Department of Dance, many developments have
occurred during this period that I’ve had the
pleasure to serve as Chair.
We’re attracting some of the brightest and
most talented students in the region, and
expanding our diverse faculty and innovative
programs, especially in dance technology and
Pilates training. At the same time, we continue
to make advances in student support, dance
production, and choreography.
Let me share two new initiatives that I believe
are critical for the department’s future
success. The Get Dance NYC program provides
Dance Talent Scholars in their junior year with a
week-long intensive in New York City—studying
dance, viewing performances, and learning the
ropes of living and succeeding as a dancer in
the Big Apple.
The second initiative is an all new touringonly
production of ONSTAGE! Dance Theatre for
Youth: Dance Africa Detroit for schools and community
groups. Reconceptualized for 2006-07,
ONSTAGE! takes to the road in its 53rd annual
year of outstanding dance education and outreach.
In today’s economic climate, schools often face
innumerable challenges bringing students to the
WSU campus. So in order to continue to provide
a high level of service, we’ll be coming to your
school instead! Please contact dance@wayne.
edu to reserve a performance of Dance Africa
Detroit for your school or community group.
Thanks to all of our friends, alumni, parents,
and Partners in Dance for your continuing support.
Doug Risner, Ph.D., MFA
Chair’s
Riff
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
Our Partners in Dance play a critical role in shaping
the success of dance at Wayne State University.
By becoming a Dance Partner, your membership
supports our Scholarship Fund for Students,
Travel & Study Award Program, and the Guest
Artist & Master Teacher Fund.
Your partnership is essential in helping the department
achieve its goals. We hope you will
consider membership in one of our important
support groups.
The Choreographers group includes benefactors
and generous donors who support the department’s
ongoing programs.
Our many graduates enjoy supporting the dance
department through membership and participation
in the Dance Alumni Association.
GARTH FAGAN
(continued from page 1)
In addition he has received the Guggenheim
Fellowship, George Eastman Medal, National
Endowment for the Arts Choreography Fellowship,
and the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance
Festival Award, “established to honor those great
choreographers who have dedicated their lives
and talent to the creation of our modern dance
heritage.”
Paying tribute to Fagan “as
one of the most inspiring and
accomplished artists of our
time,” WSU President Irvin
D. Reid praised him as someone
who “freely offers his
creative genius to the world
and, with equal generosity,
returns home to Wayne State
University from time to time
to share his extraordinary
talent with our students.”
For the Maggie Allesee Department
of Dance, bringing
commencement back to
campus and honoring dance
alumnus Garth Fagan made
PARTNERS
IN
DANCE:
Garth Fagan Dance celebrates 35
years of dance excellence in 2006
Parents, family members, and friends extend their
generous support and volunteer time through
their membership in Dance Partners.
Elite Partners enrich the department by sponsoring
the creation of new work and sponsorship of
concert performances and touring programs.
All of your support, regardless of the membership
category you choose, helps us move closer
to our ambitious goals.
Watch for your Partners in Dance membership
brochure in September’s mail for renewal and
new memberships. Or contact dance@wayne.
edu for information. db
for an especially exciting graduation ceremony
for 2006.
Dr. Doug Risner, WSU Dance Chair noted, “Not
only was 1962 the last year that commencement
was held on campus, it was also the last time
that a WSU honorary doctorate was awarded to
a choreographer, which was presented
that year to the legendary
Martha Graham by then President
Clarence Hilberry.”
After receiving his honorary degree,
Fagan urged graduates to remember
their days at Wayne State
and to take with them what they
have learned, noting that this is
what he has done and “look where
I am!”
Currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary
Season Garth Fagan Dance
performs October 17-22, 2006 at the
Joyce Theater, New York, NY:
www.joyce.org db
DIGITAL DANCE LITERACY
Wayne State University’s Digital Dance Literacy (DDL) curriculum, initiated in 2004, has become
a pioneering project and visionary example for technology in the performing arts. Primary
to its development and success is the faculty-student collaboration inherent in its creation.
Over the past two years, dance major Hannah Risner (’07), has played a significant role in the
curricular development, lesson planning, and pilot testing of the DDL curriculum. In addition
to numerous presentations on campus, in April 2006 Hannah gave an adjudicated presentation,
“Digital Dance Literacy: An Undergraduate Curriculum Model for Dance Majors” at
the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), University of North Carolina at
Asheville. Her peer reviewed paper was accepted for publication in the 2006 NCUR Conference
Proceedings
Hannah Risner (‘07) will present her research at the National Dance Education
Organization’s annual national meeting in Long Beach, CA in October 2006
2 dancebreak
In October 2006, she makes a juried presentation at the National Dance Education Organization
(NDEO) for dance educators and administrators in Long Beach, CA. db
See Dance Majors e-Portfolios at www.dance.wayne.edu/technology.php

In the Wings:
Allesee Artists-in-Residence: 5th Year Anniversary
s p o t l i g h t
Since 2000, more than 16 guest artists have
enhanced the world-class education Wayne
State provides by bringing real world experiences
to students. Maggie Allesee’s generosity
in creating the Allesee Artist-in-Residence
program opens new doors for dance students,
providing them with greater opportunities for
profound interaction with renowned dance
artists.
Each year the Allesee Artist-in-Residence program
broadens students’ learning experiences by bringing
world-renowned choreographers and master teachers to
Wayne State for intense periods of study. Today’s most
prominent dance artists offer students new insights into
the professional world through classes, rehearsals and
repertory. Graduates of the department overwhelming
cite guest artists as one of the most important facets of
earning a WSU degree in dance.
db
Solo
Our Solo Spotlight
features Senior
Meghan Conway who
reflects, “What has
been most beneficial
about dancing
at Wayne is learning
about my body. I
know now what my
strengths and weaknesses are and how
to deal with them.”
Talent Scholar Meghan Conway (’07) chose to pursue
dance at Wayne based on knowing graduates of the
program, and WSU’s strong reputation in Michigan. A
senior BFA major, Meghan serves as President of the
Talent Scholars Council (TSC) and coordinates the
new Get Dance NYC program.
A graduate of Romulus High School, she distinguished
herself as Class Vice President, Cheer Captain,
School Leadership Award and in the National
Honor Society. Prior to WSU, Meghan trained at
Sherry’s Academy of Dance.
Meghan has been a member of the WSU Dance Company
since 2003 and has performed her work at
the American College Dance Festival. As the 2006
recipient of the Harriet Berg Endowed Choreography
Award, Meghan will premiere a new work in Fall
2006.
Reflecting on her time at Wayne, Meghan notes,
“The most influential faculty member for me is Stephen
K. Stone. He is always pushing me to do my
best. I can go to him for everything. He has provided
me with advice and knowledge that I will take
with me long after I graduate.”
Upon graduation, Meghan plans to move to Chicago
to pursue a professional career with companies such
as River North, Hubbard Street, and Gus Giordano. Her
advice for younger dancers, “take every opportunity
you can. There is so much to learn from your teachers
and our guest artists, and the dancers around
you, so don’t let any of it pass you by. Most of all,
don’t get discouraged.” db
Celebrating five years of guest artistry, the department
is pleased to announce 2006-07 residencies by internationally
renowned dance artists Melissa Allen Bowman
(Fall 06) and Seán Curran (Winter 07). Each guest will
be on campus for extended residencies, teaching master
classes and setting works on WSU dancers.
Melissa Allen Bowman began her classical ballet training
with Lois Ellyn formerly of New
York City Ballet, later training
with Stanley Holden and Margaret
Graham Hills (Royal Ballet,
London). At Mikhail Baryshnikov’s
invitation, and at the age
of 15, Melissa began a long and
successful career with American
Ballet Theatre (ABT). When Melissa
was 17 she founded and
directed Emerson Dance Theatre. Seven years later, Melissa
left ABT for Western Europe where she performed
starring roles with major ballet companies.
In 2000, Melissa returned to the US and began applying
her first hand professional knowledge with
Pittsburgh Youth Ballet where she quickly became
Resident Choreographer and Associate Director.
Melissa’s choreography has been commissioned
by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and numerous
regional dance companies. She has appeared
in films, television and all of ABT’s Great
Performances in America (PBS) from 1981 to 1988,
as well as Merce Cunningham’s Duets.
Seán Curran made his mark on dance as a principal
dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance
Company. He is Artistic Director
of Seán Curran
Jeff Michael Rebudal, Assistant Professor, represented
WSU Dance and gave master classes at the April
2006 National High School Dance Festival (NHDF) in
Miami, FL for 1,500 dance students from across the nation.
In May, Rebudal was guest artist at Arizona State
University, Tempe, AZ where in conjunction with Scottsdale
Community College he set a new work and taught
master classes. In June, he restaged the choreography
for Emmanuel Chabrier’s opera bouffe “L’Etoile” for
Cincinnati Opera’s colorful production. Later in June,
his New York-based dance company, Rebudal Dance,
performed at Wells College Arts & Lecture Series in Aurora,
New York.
Brandy Blaha (’07) and Melissa Gruenberg (’08)
completed internships with Tap City: New York City Tap
Festival held at the Chelsea Studios. In exchange for
providing administrative assistance, Brandy and Melissa
took three master classes each day and were given an
opportunity to perform at the Duke Theater. Notable
teachers included: Tony Waag, Margaret Morrison, Roxanne
Butterfly, Barbara Duffy, Walter Freeman, Josh Hilberman
(WSU Allesee Artist in Residence 2005), Mike
Minery, Bob Audy, and Jimmy Tate. For doing such an
outstanding job, both students were asked to return
next year! While in NYC, Brandy also attended Heather
Cornell’s Manhattan Tap Intensive.
Michelle Marzejon, Guest Choreographer, presented
a masterclass for Dance Majors’ Day in August and will
choreograph a new hip-hop repertory work during Fall
Term.
Stephen Stone, Lecturer, performed the role of Al
Daluca in Destination Theatre’s spring production of A
Chorus Line at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill, Canton,
MI. Stone gave master classes in vernacular jazz dance
styles at Arizona State University and presented Cunningham
technique at ACDFA Ohio State University. He
also served as WSU Managing Director of 9th Annual
American Ballet Theatre Detroit Summer Intensive.
Megan Brunke, Adjunct Faculty & Dance Workshop
Director, presented new work in Experimental Dance
at Eastern Michigan University’s Warner Studio in June
and choreographed Warren Civic Theatre’s August production
of Beauty & the Beast. In New York, Brunke attended
the Mark Morris Summer Intensive and the Paul
Taylor Summer Dance Intensive in July.
Company and a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the
Arts, where he is a guest faculty member. He began
dance training with traditional Irish step dancing as a
boy in Boston. He received a New York Dance and Performance
Bessie Award for his performance in Secret
Pastures. Curran was an original member of the cast of
Stomp.
Curran choreographed the
Broadway production of
James Joyce’s The Dead for
Playwright’s Horizons; New
York City Opera productions
of L’Etoile, Alcina, and Turandot,
and Haroun and the
Sea of Stories. He has created
works for Denmark’s Upper
Cut Company, Sweden’s
Skänes Dance Theater, Irish Modern Dance Theatre,
and Utah’s Ririe Woodbury Dance Theater, Pittsburgh’s
Dance Alloy, and numerous college and university dance
departments. He has taught extensively at the American
Dance Festival, Harvard Summer Dance Center, Bates
Dance Festival, and Boston’s Conservatory of Music.
New works by these Allesee Artists will be presented in the
78th Annual Spring Dance Concert at the Bonstelle Theatre
on March 23 & 24, 2007. db
dancebreak-ing News
Lakeeta Parker (’07) completed a highly successful
2005-06 administrative internship with the Detroit
Dance Collective under the direction of Artistic
Director, Barbara Selinger (WSU’82).
Over the summer Eva Powers, Associate Professor,
taught Pilates Intensive Mat courses at Wayne State
and Northwest Michigan College, Traverse City, as
well as Stott Pilates certification examinations at the
Equilibrium Studio, Bloomfield Hills, MI.
Doug Risner, Chair, has been appointed Editor-in-
Chief of the Journal of Dance Education. (JODE); he
served as Assistant Editor from 2003-2006. Risner
has also completed book chapters for the following
2006 publications: Handbook for Achieving Gender
Equity through Education (Lawrence Erlbaum); Current
Selected Research in Dance: Volume 6 (AAHPERD);
and International Handbook for Research in Arts Education
(Springer).
Leslie Williams, Adjunct Faculty, has accepted an
Assistant Professorship in Dance for 2006-07 at West
Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX. We extend our
sincere thanks to Leslie for her contributions to the
dance department over the past two years, and wish
her great success as she returns to her undergraduate
alma mater to help develop an outstanding dance
program in West Texas. Congratulations Leslie!
The 25th anniversary of Jonathan Hollander’s
NYC Downtown Dance Festival, August 21-27, featured
a special roster of dance companies, including
Jeff Rebudal’s company, Rebudal Dance. A champion
of dance in downtown Manhattan, Hollander
has presented more than 150 companies over the
years.
Kelly Gottesman, Dance Media & Production
Coordinator, joins the department in a new role for
2006-07 supervising concert production, the Dance
Media Center, electronic and print media, and special
projects. Welcome Kelly!
Let us hear from you! Please send your news to
dance@wayne.edu with dancebreak in the subject
line. db
dancebreak 3

db
dancersAbout
Debbie Bernstein-Siegel, Maggie
Allesee and Laurie Eisenhower at the
Choreographers Dinner at the Detroit
Kathryn Ellis, Eva Powers and Dr. Louise Jefferson
enjoy the Choreographers Dinner in the Crystal
Gallery before the 77th Annual Spring Dance Gala
Concert.
Prior to the 77th Annual Spring Dance
Gala Concert at Detroit Institute of
Arts, dance supporters and
friends gathered in the Crystal
Gallery of the Detroit Institue
of Arts for the Choreographers
Dinner on March 30.
This year’s lovely event was
chaired by Choreographers
Dodie David, Gloria Clark,
Maggie Allesee and Associate
Professor, Eva Powers.
Donors and their endowed
scholarship recipients were
honored at CFPCA’s Scholarship
Donor Brunch at St. Andrew’s
Hall on
campus in
April.
S t u d e n t s ,
donors, and
their families
gathered for
ceremonies
r e c o g n i z -
Junior Lauren Cansler (BS ‘08), 2006
recipient of the Ruth Lovell Murray
Endowed Scholarship in Dance conveys
her gratitude at the Scholarship Donor
Brunch
ing outstanding student achievement,
as well as the visionary commitment of
endowed scholarship donors to the College.
In May, dance
alums and
friends honored
Garth
Fagan (’69) at
a special reception
hosted by
CFPCA Dean
Sharon Vasquez
at Detroit’s
Seldom Blues.
In celebration of Mr. Fagan’s WSU honorary
Doctorate of Humane Letters, friends, faculty,
and current and former WSU Dance Workshop members
paid tribute to Garth’s innumerable and long-lasting contributions
to the world of dance. db
Garth Fagan (‘69) implores
current WSU dance students to
“relish every minute in the dance
studio” at a reception in his
honor at Detroit’s Seldom Blues
Senior Megan Conway (BFA ‘07), 2006
recipient of the Harriet Berg Endowed
Choreography Award with donor
Harriet Berg (BA ‘47, MFA ‘68)
Described by many as a “WSU Dance Workshop Reunion,”
alums and friends celebrate Garth fagan’s honorary doctorate
Ellen Kahn, Dee Andrus and Carol Halsted
were among the many supporters at the
Choreographers Dinner in March..
dancebreak is distributed in
summer and winter each year to the
alumni, friends, students, and parents of the
Maggie Allesee Department of Dance
Writer/Editor: Doug Risner
Designer: Jon Anderson
Wayne State University
4841 Cass Avenue
Detroit, MI 48202
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
DETROIT MI
PERMIT NO. 3844
dance
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