Winter 2008 issue - Department of Dance - Wayne State University
Winter 2008 issue - Department of Dance - Wayne State University
Winter 2008 issue - Department of Dance - Wayne State University
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Chair’sRiffDear Friends:<strong>Winter</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> excellence.We’ve had our auditions for <strong>2008</strong>-2009,and I’m pleased to report that it appearswe will have an extraordinary group <strong>of</strong>new students in the fall, with excellentpreparation and energy for studies here.Our current students are preparing for theregional American College <strong>Dance</strong> Festivalin Kalamazoo, MI, where each piecesubmitted from our departmenthas been choreographed bystudents — a testament to the finechoreographic development <strong>of</strong> ourdancers and program.The work <strong>of</strong> our faculty continues toserve the local community throughoutreach programs (read about thevillage in this newsletter), and thefield <strong>of</strong> dance generally throughleadership appointments inassociations and throughpublications.It has been a singularpleasure to learn more<strong>of</strong> the history <strong>of</strong> thisdepartment as wehave together takena reflective journeyin preparing for ourbid for continuing NASDaccreditation. We stand onthe shoulders <strong>of</strong> significant othershere, and remember the benefits weenjoy because <strong>of</strong> the work <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> Blacks in <strong>Dance</strong>, at the Sharingthe Legacy festival at Hunter College in NYC, atACDFA, and a number <strong>of</strong> other events.We want to hear from you — you are a valuablepart <strong>of</strong> this community, the foundation <strong>of</strong> oursuccess. Enjoy this newsletter, just a taste <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>Dance</strong> WorkshopCelebrating its 80th anniversary year in <strong>2008</strong>,the <strong>Wayne</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>Dance</strong> Workshoppresents its first-ever performance in New YorkCity in March <strong>2008</strong>.As one <strong>of</strong> only twelve university dancedepartments across the US andinternationally, WSU was selectedto perform at the 4th NationalFestival Sharing the Legacy <strong>2008</strong>Concert as part <strong>of</strong> Hunter College’sKaye Playhouse series, celebratinghistorically significant dance <strong>of</strong> the20th century.For its NYC debut, the WSU <strong>Dance</strong>Workshop will perform Jan VanDyke’s seminal work, SPIKE (1982)choreographed to Laurie Anderson’shaunting score “O, Superman” onMarch 14, <strong>2008</strong>. Sharing the Legacyfocuses on important work <strong>of</strong>choreographers who havesignificantly shaped dancebetween 1960 and 1989.Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor 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 <strong>Wayne</strong> <strong>State</strong>as the place to dance for outstanding danceeducation and performance opportunities.”<strong>Wayne</strong> <strong>State</strong> began its fruitful relationshipwith Van Dyke in 2005 when she was chosenas an Allesee Artist in Residence, settingher award-winning work, Round <strong>Dance</strong>,commissioned by the London-based LabanCentre in 1985. WSU dancers took top honorswith this work at the American College <strong>Dance</strong>Festival in 2005. In New York, WSU dancers willperform her work, SPIKE, originally commissionedby the Contemporary <strong>Dance</strong> Theater <strong>of</strong> Cincinnatiin 1982.Van Dyke is nationally recognized for developing asuccessful career outside the New York marketplaceand has been honored consistently for such. Shedirected the <strong>Dance</strong> Project, a studio and performancespace in Washington DC and toured nationally bothwith her company, Jan Van Dyke & <strong>Dance</strong>rs, and asa solo artist. Noted dance author Don McDonaghincluded her work in his book, The Complete Guideto Modern <strong>Dance</strong> (1976). For its 60th anniversary<strong>issue</strong>, <strong>Dance</strong> Magazine listed Van Dyke as a highlyinfluential independent choreographer in thefamily tree depicted in “Modern <strong>Dance</strong>: A GrowingPresence.”Dr. Van Dyke is currently director, Jan Van Dyke <strong>Dance</strong>Group, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor and Chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dance</strong>, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>North Carolina at Greensboro, and founder andexecutive director<strong>of</strong> the NorthCarolina <strong>Dance</strong>Festival since1991. Her book,Modern <strong>Dance</strong>in 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 <strong>Dance</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> providing high quality dance performance and education to schoolsand the community, ONSTAGE! <strong>Dance</strong> Theatre for Youth takes to the road this seasonwith the benefits <strong>of</strong> having a season <strong>of</strong> traveling the all- touring production <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dance</strong>Africa Detroit, featuring African dance and drumming. This program, directed by theenergetic and talented Karen Prall, takes audiences on a journey <strong>of</strong> rhythms, highlightingthe relationships between tap, Lindy-hop, hip-hop, and African dancing.A long standing <strong>Wayne</strong> tradition, the mission <strong>of</strong> ONSTAGE! is to bring dance to newand larger youth audiences. In today’s economic climate, schools <strong>of</strong>ten face dauntingchallenges in bringing students to the WSU campus. So in order to continue to providethe highest level <strong>of</strong> quality in educational outreach, we’re coming to your school instead!Our <strong>2008</strong> tour <strong>of</strong> <strong>Dance</strong> Africa Detroit will reach over 15,000 children and youth inMichigan and Canada.This tour continues through April <strong>2008</strong> and concludes with final performances inWindsor, Ontario, Canada. Visit ONSTAGE! on the web at www.dance.wayne.edu2 dancebreak