Winter 2008 issue - Department of Dance - Wayne State University

Partners inDanceNew YorkCity Debut forWSU Dance2Workshop3In the Wings: Dance returns to the stageof Wayne State University’sBonstelle TheatreDb Solo:Rachel Swykertand Rachael HarbertHelp4Kick It Up!dancebreakThe Village SchoolThe Village School, a project directed by facultymember Linda Simmons and funded by a grant fromWayne State University’s Research EnhancementProgram in the Arts, capitalizes on the richnessof metropolitan Detroit’s culturally diverse artists,expanding Villagers’ sense of community fromthe immediate environment (school, church andneighborhood) to a broader, Metropolitan Detroitwidecommunity.The goal of the project — which serves teachers,artists, public school children and WSU dancestudents, is to weave an intricate web of knowledgethrough cultural arts activities that piques mind,body and spirit, broadening horizons, stirringcuriosity and developing deeper appreciation andrespect for self and others. The first segment of thetwo-semester long project has been successfullycompleted and a second is underway.The Fall semester connected Detroit’s SpainElementary/Middle School teachers and studentsto WSU dance majors, and these groups to artistsReginald and MarcaPettibone of Livonia andSudha Chandrasekhar ofOak Park in dynamic artand cultural exchanges.Each participant in theproject viewed “Journeyof Man,” a documentarywhich traces the paths ofthe first human beingsfrom their African originsto places throughoutthe contemporaryworld. Today we are ofdiverse traditions, butare forever rooted in acommon genesis. Fromthis premise, the project began its exploration ofworld arts and culture with a group who settledearly along the journey from its African beginnings(inhabitants of the sub-continent of India) andthe group making that last stop along the journey(Native Americans.)Chandrasudha Sekhar is an authority on classicalIndian dance and a highly respected artist amongMarch 21 and 22Spring Dance Concert8 p.m. - 10 p.m.April 19April 20April 4 and 5is in Sessionpeers in her native India. She is founder and directorof Hindu Temple Rhythms Dancers in Oak Parkand a noted teacher of Bharata Natyam in Ontarioand throughout Michigan. Bharata Natyam is anancient Hindu temple dance prescribed in theNatya Shastra, the 5th Veda (book) in a group ofsacred texts which date back over 2000 years.Dances depict stories and interpret poetry from theVedas and other sacred texts through expressivegesture and rhythm. In the tradition of the BharataNatyam guru, Mrs. Sekhar conveys Hindu wisdomand philosophy relevant to today’s world alongwith instructions in the dance. She is a frequentguest speaker for the Maggie Allesee Departmentof Dance’s Introduction to Dance classes. She hastaught and been a major inspiration to studentsof all ages.The Pettibones, Reginald and Marca are NativeAmerican dance artists who perform nationally.Marca is of the Paiute Nation. Reginald is a fullbloodedNative American Champion Dancerfrom the Ho-ChunkNation. The Ho-Chunk (People of theSacred Language)are originally fromthe region ofWisconsin wherethey lived and fishedalong the Wisconsin,Mississippi and FoxRivers. Until a formalpetition for changein 1993, they wereincorrectly referredto as the Winnebagoby the US Federalgovernment.With traditional background and upbringing, thePettibones offer the wisdom passed down to themthrough many generations. Through dance, song,narration, and the display of artifacts and regaliathey share the traditions and beliefs of NativeAmerican culture.The Village School continued on page 4.Emerging Choreographers:Senior Capstone Dance Concert3 p.m. - 5 p.m.Dance Showcase7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.Emerging Choreographers:Senior Capstone Dance Concert8 p.m. - 10 p.m.New Interim Dance Chair:Ray Robinsonvolume 4issue 12008Ray Robinson takes the Chair to continue the legacyof excellence in the Maggie Allesee Department of Dance.What happens when a Department Chair decidesto return to the faculty, committed to research andteaching? Everyone in our community found out whenDr. Doug Risner did just that in Spring ’07, and RayRobinson stepped in as Interim Chair.Risner, who served four years as Chair, determined thetime was right for him to serve the department throughmore intensive teaching, and serve the university andthe discipline of dance through more research andservice in national associations. He is currently teachingchoreography and pedagogy courses, and co-directingthe Dance Workshop. Risner’s other activities includeworking on a series of publications, research, and editingthe Journal of Dance Education.The department faculty spent several weeks consideringoptions to fill the role of interim chair, after whichRobinson was appointed to the position by SharonVasquez, Dean of the College. His appointment is for12 months, during which time she may determine toconduct a permanent search or extend the interimappointment.“I feel fortunate to have been in the right place at theright time, and am thrilled with the opportunity to workwith the students, faculty and staff, and in this excitingcity,” said Robinson.Robinson assumes the position having completedcoursework for a doctorate in Higher, Adult, andLifelong Education at Michigan State University, wherehis studies include teaching and learning, leadership,student development, and higher education policy.Prior to his move to Michigan, Robinson and his wife,Julie, lived in Provo, UT, serving on the faculty at BrighamYoung University, teaching modern dance technique,composition, improvisation, conditioning, kinesiology,and many other courses.This year is a busy one, with many guest residencies,a new performance season in the Bonstelle Theatre,and faculty reviews. The biggest project for Robinsonto lead is the completion of the self-study for NASDaccreditation.Robinson is encouraged about his time here. “Thanks toa supportive community here, I think the departmentwill continue to move forward in its mission to prepareyoung artists for a variety of careers.” db

Chair’sRiffDear Friends:Winter in Detroit has been a little cold this year,but in the dance department, things just keepheating up. Our students continue to shine, facultymembers are reaching out, and the whole dancecommunity continues its tradition of excellence.We’ve had our auditions for 2008-2009,and I’m pleased to report that it appearswe will have an extraordinary group ofnew students in the fall, with excellentpreparation and energy for studies here.Our current students are preparing for theregional American College Dance Festivalin Kalamazoo, MI, where each piecesubmitted from our departmenthas been choreographed bystudents — a testament to the finechoreographic development of ourdancers and program.The work of our faculty continues toserve the local community throughoutreach programs (read about thevillage in this newsletter), and thefield of dance generally throughleadership appointments inassociations and throughpublications.It has been a singularpleasure to learn moreof the history of thisdepartment as wehave together takena reflective journeyin preparing for ourbid for continuing NASDaccreditation. We stand onthe shoulders of significant othershere, and remember the benefits weenjoy because of the work of so manyother leaders, faculty, students, parents,and alumni.Your continued generosity has helpedprovide excellent opportunities for studentsinscholarships, travel, and performanceopportunities. This winter students andfaculty will represent us at the InternationalAssociation of Blacks in Dance, at the Sharingthe Legacy festival at Hunter College in NYC, atACDFA, and a number of other events.We want to hear from you — you are a valuablepart of this community, the foundation of oursuccess. Enjoy this newsletter, just a taste of what’shappening, and let us know what you think.I’m available at (313)577-2143, or by email atdance@wayne.edu. Check out our website andblog, www.dance.wayne.edu too!PARTNERSINDANCE: New York City Debut forWSU Dance WorkshopCelebrating its 80th anniversary year in 2008,the Wayne State University Dance Workshoppresents its first-ever performance in New YorkCity in March 2008.As one of only twelve university dancedepartments across the US andinternationally, WSU was selectedto perform at the 4th NationalFestival Sharing the Legacy 2008Concert as part of Hunter College’sKaye Playhouse series, celebratinghistorically significant dance of the20th century.For its NYC debut, the WSU DanceWorkshop will perform Jan VanDyke’s seminal work, SPIKE (1982)choreographed to Laurie Anderson’shaunting score “O, Superman” onMarch 14, 2008. Sharing the Legacyfocuses on important work ofchoreographers who havesignificantly shaped dancebetween 1960 and 1989.Associate Professor andProject director, Dr. DougRisner notes, “While WSUhas continuously distinguished itself asa national leader in dance performanceand education over the past five years, thisNew York City debut solidifies Wayne Stateas the place to dance for outstanding danceeducation and performance opportunities.”Wayne State began its fruitful relationshipwith Van Dyke in 2005 when she was chosenas an Allesee Artist in Residence, settingher award-winning work, Round Dance,commissioned by the London-based LabanCentre in 1985. WSU dancers took top honorswith this work at the American College DanceFestival in 2005. In New York, WSU dancers willperform her work, SPIKE, originally commissionedby the Contemporary Dance Theater of Cincinnatiin 1982.Van Dyke is nationally recognized for developing asuccessful career outside the New York marketplaceand has been honored consistently for such. Shedirected the Dance Project, a studio and performancespace in Washington DC and toured nationally bothwith her company, Jan Van Dyke & Dancers, and asa solo artist. Noted dance author Don McDonaghincluded her work in his book, The Complete Guideto Modern Dance (1976). For its 60th anniversaryissue, Dance Magazine listed Van Dyke as a highlyinfluential independent choreographer in thefamily tree depicted in “Modern Dance: A GrowingPresence.”Dr. Van Dyke is currently director, Jan Van Dyke DanceGroup, Professor and Chair of Dance, University ofNorth Carolina at Greensboro, and founder andexecutive directorof the NorthCarolina DanceFestival since1991. Her book,Modern Dancein a PostmodernWorld waspublished in1992. A FulbrightScholar, VanDyke taught atthe UniversidadeTecnica de Lisboain Portugal in1993 and at theWestern AustraliaAcademy for thePerforming Artsin 2000.Senior ClaireRochon notes,“The residencyhelped me to better appreciate choreographers andteachers. I saw her passion and great work habits;she was very caring and encouraged us do our best.I will always remember my time with Jan as a uniqueopportunity with a wonderful artist.”Are you interested in joining us for the Dance Workshop’sNew York City debut on March 14th? If you can’t join us,would you like to support us with a gift? Please e-maildance@wayne.edu for information. dbBest regards,Ray D. RobinsonInterim ChairIn its 54th year of providing high quality dance performance and education to schoolsand the community, ONSTAGE! Dance Theatre for Youth takes to the road this seasonwith the benefits of having a season of traveling the all- touring production of DanceAfrica Detroit, featuring African dance and drumming. This program, directed by theenergetic and talented Karen Prall, takes audiences on a journey of rhythms, highlightingthe relationships between tap, Lindy-hop, hip-hop, and African dancing.A long standing Wayne tradition, the mission of ONSTAGE! is to bring dance to newand larger youth audiences. In today’s economic climate, schools often face dauntingchallenges in bringing students to the WSU campus. So in order to continue to providethe highest level of quality in educational outreach, we’re coming to your school instead!Our 2008 tour of Dance Africa Detroit will reach over 15,000 children and youth inMichigan and Canada.This tour continues through April 2008 and concludes with final performances inWindsor, Ontario, Canada. Visit ONSTAGE! on the web at www.dance.wayne.edu2 dancebreak

db Solo In the Wings: Dance returns to the stagespotlightWhich is more important, the product or theprocess? In this case, what you see on stageis actually a result of years of friendship andcollaboration. This history effortlessly embedsitself within this duo’s choreography.Rachel Swykert (BFA ’08) and Rachael Harbert(BS ’09) came to meet each other throughthe Harrison High School dance program.They both became members of the HarrisonDance Company (HDC) in 2003 and havebeen performing together ever since. It washere that they were raised in a collaborativeenvironment and learned the importanceof student choreography from their greatestmentor, Mrs. Toi Banks.R/r both went on to pursue Dance degreeshere at Wayne State University. In 2006,they began collaborating once again. Theirduet “Within Three Walls” performedin numerous departmental concertsas well as various shows within thecommunity, including The Ann ArborChoreographer’s Showcase and MichiganDance Project’s “Art Kinetic”. The duetwas selected to perform at the AmericanCollege Dance Festival, and soon after,they were both awarded the WSUCopperfoot Award in choreography.Dance returns to the stage of Wayne State University’sBonstelle Theatre on March 21 and 22 with anexciting program of guest artist, faculty and studentchoreography.The Maggie Allesee Department of Dance proudlytakes the Bonstelle Theatre stage in March forits season highlights concert, the 78th AnnualSpring Dance Concert, featuring choreographicworks resulting from the Maggie Allesee Artistin-Residenceprogram. Works of Twyla Tharp, JanVan Dyke, Ben Munisteri, and Penny Godboldo willshare the stage with faculty and student work.Meg Paul, director of dance for Detroit’s MusicHall and former Twyla Tharp dancer, set Torelli,Tharp’s 1970’s piece intended for performance ona barge. The piece reflects a day’s journey aroundManhattan, and the dancers pitch and roll throughthe day. Tharp, a pillar of American modern dance,is also known for her work on the Broadway musical,Movin’ Out, for which Ms. Paul was her assistant.SPIKE, by Jan Van Dyke, will be featured at theHunter College Dance Festival in NYC. Read moreabout this piece in the feature story about Danceof Wayne State University’sBonstelle TheatreWorkshop. Ben Munisteri will be developing anew work, Afternoon of Siobahn, and will as part ofhisresidency conduct both a choreography class andan informance telematically—students and facultyat Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MIwill interact with Munisteri in real time as he leadsboth communities through creative processes.tBreath of Our Ancestors, by Penny Godboldo, evokeshistorical, religious, and ritual images as this piece,influenced by Ms. Godboldo’s experience in Africanand Katherine Dunham styles. This piece featureslive drummers and the energy of the movementand music is palpable.The Spring Dance Concert program will alsoinclude student works and a new piece by facultymember Jeff Rebudal, who is bringing his New YorkCity-based company to perform and teach masterclasses during the concert week.We look forward to having you join us!The 79th Annual Spring Dance Concert at theBonstelle Theatre is presented on March 21 and22, 2008. Tickets available at www.dance.wayne.edu. dbRachel Swykert says on workingtogether, “I love the unexpected.I can show an idea to her, and shewill take it somewhere, and thenI’ll add on and take it even further,and the circle just keeps going. Youare sharing your choreographicprocess with someone else, andfor us, we feel like we take eachother’s ideas to a point where wemight not have gotten to on ourown. The back and forth processis so natural to us by now, it’s likefinishing each others sentences,except with movement. Youjust see where it goes and havetrust in the unexpected. It justseems to work for us because ouraesthetics are so similar and weare always working towards thesame vision.”The Rach(a)els are currentlyworking on their newestpiece, Kardia, within theDance Workshop. One of thedancers, Natalie Soave, states,“Though Rachel and Rachaelare two completely differentpersonalities, their choreographicvisions complement one another,and Kardia is a shining exampleof this synergy of ideas.”Kardia has been chosen torepresent WSU at the AmericanCollege Dance Festival at WesternMichigan University in March2008.Once Swykert and Harbert earn theirdance degrees, they are determinedto establish their own dancecompany, R/r movement. dbdancebreak-ing NewsRecent publications this past Fall by Doug Risner,Associate Professor, include the chapter, “DanceEducation in Social and Cultural Perspective” inthe book Dance: Current Selected Research, Vol. 6edited by Lynette Overby and Billie Lepczyk, and“Rehearsing Masculinity: Challenging the ‘BoyCode’ in Dance Education” in the internationaljournal Research in Dance Education. Risner andJon Anderson, adjunct faculty, served as editorsfor Focus on Dance Education: Community Building,Conference Proceedings of the 9th AnnualMeeting of the National Dance EducationOrganization. Mobile, AL.Eva Powers, Associate Professor, recently receivedtraining on injuries and prevention in Toronto,Canada. She has begun a research project withRose Marie Floyd on the history of dance in Detroit,which will be expanding to include other influentialDetroit dancers.Jeff Michael Rebudal, Assistant Professor, recentlyreturned from a residency at the University of Hawaii,where he taught master classes and set Filipineseon university dancers there. His new work, createdon his New York-based company, will premiere inDetroit in our own Spring Dance Concert.Linda Simmons, Assistant Professor, received agrant from the college to fund The Village Project,bringing artists from various parts of the communitytogether to develop educational opportunities andexperiences for residents in the Detroit area. Readabout the details in her feature story in this editionof dancebreak.We’re thrilled to have a number of talented artiststeaching courses in our department, providingrich experiences for our students. These facultymembers include: Meg Paul, Director of Danceat the Music Hall; Samm Shelton, 10-year facultymember for the American Ballet Theatre SummerIntensive; Ali Woerner, former Radio City Rocketteand recent MFA graduate of the University ofMichigan; Thayer Jonutz, former dancer withRepertory Dance Theatre; and some familiarfaces — Diana Mileski teaching Pilates classes,Addison O’Day in ballet, Dewarne Long inour general education courses, Basira Woodin hip-hop, and Alan Seeley in ballroom. Letus hear from you! Please send your news todance@wayne.edu with dancebreak in thesubject line. dbdancebreak 3

The Village School continuedAdult Villagers, teachers, and artists met in theMaggie Allesee Department of Dance to shareideas and prepare for activities with a public schoolaudience. Village School director Linda Simmons.Heidi Hebert (Spain School, dance teacher), BethFuchs (Spain School, drama teacher), Reginald andMarca Pettibone (Ho-Chunk nation) and SudhaSekhar (Bharata Natyam) convened weekly withWSU Dance majors Dewarne Long, Lauren Cansler,Natalie Soave and Michelle Briscoe. Meetingsprovided a feeding ground where both youngadult and accomplished artists and teachers couldquestion, share, compare and expand ideas. Asa primary accompaniment to shared songs anddances, guest artists were asked to discuss culturaldbfolklore, values and traditions. Common themes ofnature emerged: its cyclical aspects, the importantconnections between its plants and animals, thecaretaking required, and the enigma of humannature. During meetings participants wereimmersed in music, literature, personal stories andcultural wisdom.Spain teachers gave insight into the nature oftheir classroom environments and their creativeapproaches to teaching as they recounted studentsuccesses and highlights of some recent classroomprojects. Spain teachers began to introducethematic ideas from Village School sessions totheir classes and initiated projects based uponthem. Upon later arrival, artists and the WSUcontingent would find the Spain halls decoratedwith collages representing the circle of life,young actors perfecting a choral reading whichhonored the forces of nature, and the advanceddance class rehearsing a group choreographedwork based upon woodland animals.A schedule for guest artist lecture demonstrationsand master classes was developed in the initialmeetings as WSU dancers carefully honed followuplessons that they would present to selectedSpain School dance and drama students. Eachartist would present a lecture demonstration for abroad contingent of the Spain school body fromthe auditorium stage followed by master classes forspecified dance and drama groups.For the month of October Villagers focusedupon the wisdom and creative ideas inspired bythe Pettibones. Following the Pettibones’ stageand classroom presentations, each participatingclassroom further explored ideas through creativedance lessons presented by WSU students. InNovember the focus was Bharata Natyam with thesame format. WSU students’ teaching skills reacheda new level over the course of the Fall program.Lesson plans evolved, growing richer in eachevolution. Eliciting enthusiasm from all involved,actual lessons were presented with confidence andvery pleasingly effective content. dbYes, I want to Kick It Up with my giftto the endowed scholarships in danceName __________________________________________Address _________________________________________City_____________________________________________State ______________ ZIP _ _______________________Phone Number___________________________________E-mail Address___________________________________Please make your check payable toWayne State UniversitySend this form along with your check to:Ray RobinsonMaggie Allesee Department of Dance4841 Cass Avenue3226 Old MainWayne State UniversityDetroit, MI 48202Please accept my gift of $ __________ for thefollowing Endowed Scholarship in DanceRuth Lovell Murray Endowed Scholarshipin DanceMeredith Ilene Campbell EndowedScholarship in DanceLisa Nowak Endowed Scholarship in DanceKaren Ruth Lacoff Memorial EndowedScholarship in DanceRose Marie Floyd Endowed Scholarshipin DancePortia Fields-Anderson (a.k.a. Freda Frump)Endowed Scholarship in DanceKathryn Ellis Endowed Scholarship in DanceHarriet Berg Endowed Choreography Awardin DanceAnn Goldin Zirulnik Endowed Scholarshipin Dancedancebreak is distributed in summerand winter each year to the alumni,friends, students and parents of theMaggie Allesee Department of DanceEditor:Original Design:Designer:WSU Photos:Ray RobinsonJon AndersonBecky HarknessKelly Gottesman,Linda SimmonsWayne State University4841 Cass AvenueDetroit MI 48202NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGEPAIDDETROIT MIPERMIT NO. 3844dancebreakwww.dance.wayne.edu