News

Rubenstein gives $25 million for new $50 million, 71,000-square foot Arts Center

The new Arts Center is expected to be a “game-changer for the arts at Duke” at the corner of Anderson Street and Campus Drive across from the Nasher Museum of Art.  Construction is set to begin next month. Link to Duke Chronicle article, by Amrith Ramkumar, Monday, October 5: http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2015/10/rubenstein-gives-25-million-for-new-50-million-71000-square-foot-arts-center   read more about Rubenstein gives $25 million for new $50 million, 71,000-square foot Arts Center »

Duke Dance Program Seeks New Faculty Hire

The Duke University Program in Dance seeks an outstanding dance researcher and artist practitioner who will contribute significantly to the new MFA in Dance: Live Art and Embodied Practice, in teaching, research, and the advising of MFA thesis projects. We welcome an individual who will both expand and extend the areas of expertise of the current faculty in terms of research, international engagement, and teaching across degree programs (MFA and BA). We value a colleague whose research is informed by an active artistic… read more about Duke Dance Program Seeks New Faculty Hire »

"Therapeutic Potential of a Drum and Dance Ceremony Based on the African Ngoma Tradition"

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine has published an article by Prof. Ava LaVonne Vinesett, Miurel Price, and Dr. Kenneth H. Wilson called "Therapeutic Potential of a Drum and Dance Ceremony Based on the African Ngoma Tradition." The research and clinical trial was made possible through the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation and the Duke Dance Program. http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/acm.2014.0247 read more about "Therapeutic Potential of a Drum and Dance Ceremony Based on the African Ngoma Tradition" »

Therapeutic Potential of a Drum and Dance Ceremony Based on the African Ngoma Tradition

The link below is for the article Ava LaVonne Vinesett, Kenneth H. Wilson, and Miurel Price published through the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.  This was made possible through the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation and the Duke Dance Program. http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/acm.2014.0247 read more about Therapeutic Potential of a Drum and Dance Ceremony Based on the African Ngoma Tradition »

Collegium for African Diaspora Dance (CADD) Conference, February 19 - 21, 2016: Call for Proposals

CADD hosted our inaugural conference, Dancing the African Diaspora: Theories of Black Performance at Duke University, February 7-9, 2014. The next CADD conference will be held at Duke University, February 19-21, 2016.  Click here to go to the CADD website. ABOUT THE COLLEGIUM FOR AFRICAN DIASPORA DANCE (CADD) The Collegium for African Diaspora Dance (CADD) is an egalitarian community of scholars and artists committed to exploring, promoting, and engaging African diaspora dance as a resource and method… read more about Collegium for African Diaspora Dance (CADD) Conference, February 19 - 21, 2016: Call for Proposals »

Dance teacher, choreographer Jan Van Dyke dies

The Dance Program mourns the loss of this wonderful artist.  Please join family and friends of Jan Van Dyke for a memorial gathering on Saturday, August 22 at 3:00pm in the Dance Theater on the UNCG campus. The program will celebrate Jan’s life and career as an artist, scholar, teacher, and friend through selected speakers and video. A reception will follow the program. Please be aware that seating in the theater is extremely limited, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Some overflow seating will… read more about Dance teacher, choreographer Jan Van Dyke dies »

Dance Program's Natalie Marrone choreographs dance for film coming to Durham in August

The feature film, "Alto," written and directed by Mikki del Monico, is the Women's Feature at the NC Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, August 14-22. Duke Dance Program instructor Natalie Marrone's choreography, using traditional Italian dance, serves as the pivoting point in the film starring Annabella Sciorra, Diana DeGarmo, Billy Wirth, Lin Tucci, and Natalie Knepp.   Shot on location in New York City, Marrone choreographed the Italian Festival scene with dancers from North Carolina and New York.   For this film… read more about Dance Program's Natalie Marrone choreographs dance for film coming to Durham in August »

Dance Across the Diaspora: A Historical Lens on a Black Cultural Movement

Saturday, July 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.   Atlanta, Georgia (July 7, 2015) – To inaugurate its stunning 2015 season, the National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) presents the all-day Symposium “Dance Across the Diaspora: A Historical Lens on a Black Cultural Movement” on Saturday, July 18 at the High Museum of Art. Through discussion, presentation and participatory offerings, local, national and international dance experts, scholars and performers including tap master Savion Glover explore the national and global impact and the… read more about Dance Across the Diaspora: A Historical Lens on a Black Cultural Movement »

Configurations in Motion: Performance Curation & Communities of Color

June 27-28, 2015 Duke University // SLIPPAGE: Performance, Culture, Technology SLIPPAGE: Performance, Culture and Technology at Duke University will host a two-day event on June 27 and 28, 2015 to address how curatorial practice and live arts presenting can engage the particular concerns of audiences and artists of color. Configurations in Motion: Performance Curation and Communities of Color will gather performers, curators, scholars, presenters, and managers from throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean to examine how their… read more about Configurations in Motion: Performance Curation & Communities of Color »

Senior Dinstinction Projects by Ellen Brown and Rebecca Holmes!

The Duke Dance Program would like to congratulate Ellen Brown (left) and Rebecca "Becky" Holmes (right) for achieving a Distinction with their senior projects! Ellen Brown, senior in Dance and Psychology, titled her project "The Effects of Emotion in Dance Performance on Observers’ Immediate Emotional State." Dance major Rebecca Holmes' project was titled "Dance in Elementary Education as a Means to Increase Collaborative and Creative Development of Students" which included an interactive workshop, "Developing the Twenty-… read more about Senior Dinstinction Projects by Ellen Brown and Rebecca Holmes! »

"Alto" film wins Audience Choice Award at Festival!

Adjunct instructor Natalie Marrone choreographed a crucial dance scene for the film, "Alto," which recently won the Audience Choice Award at the VisionFest film festival at Tribeca Cinemas in New York. Natalie also announced that the film has been accepted into the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco. Marrone’s choreography, using traditional Italian dance, serves as the pivoting point in the film ALTO starring Annabella Sciorra, Diana DeGarmo, Billy Wirth, Lin Tucci, and Natalie Knepp.  Shot on location in New… read more about "Alto" film wins Audience Choice Award at Festival! »

Congratulations to Ellen Brown!

Her final project, a few notes of mine, from Dance for the Camera (Dance 306s) has been chosen to be featured in the University of South Florida Dance Shorts: College Film Festival Gala. Her work will be screened on April 18th, 2015 in the Concert Hall at 7:30pm.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdvjp_zNiVw See more Duke Dance for the Camera works - http://dukedanceftc.wordpress.com/current-projects/ read more about Congratulations to Ellen Brown! »

Faculty Response to the Recent Racially Charged Events on Campus

Dear members of the Duke community, The recent racially charged events on campus, including the display of a noose on the Bryan Center plaza, bring to us all a heightened awareness of the persistent effort required to ensure that Duke is experienced by all as a welcoming community that embraces diversity.  At yesterday’s event on the Chapel steps, undergraduate students, graduate students, and members of the administration spoke eloquently to affirm of Duke’s commitment to this ideal and urged us all to be active… read more about Faculty Response to the Recent Racially Charged Events on Campus »

Thomas F. DeFrantz Presents Talk at the International Colloquium

The International Colloquium: The Contemporary African in the Performing Arts - Theoretical, Poetical and Pedagogic Perspectives The central aim of the colloquium is to increase the dialogues among artists, researchers and educators who are dedicated to the studies of contemporary afro-Brazilian and african diasporic cultures and their insertions with the field of Performing Arts. This international meeting intends to share and compare different approaches and research methodologies, theoretical perspectives, political… read more about Thomas F. DeFrantz Presents Talk at the International Colloquium »

Duke Performances Announces Arts Administration Internship

Duke Performances is seeking ambitious, highly-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented individuals at the undergraduate or graduate level with an interest in arts administration to assist the Duke Performances staff for summer (mid-May to mid-August) and academic year (early September to late April) internships. Internships are paid and provide a unique opportunity to learn about and be directly involved in all facets of arts administration from a leading university-based arts presenting organization, including… read more about Duke Performances Announces Arts Administration Internship »

ChoreoLab 2015 to pay tribute to a departing dean

The Duke University Dance Program will present its spring dance concert, ChoreoLab 2015, at 8 p.m. on March 27-28 in Reynolds Industries Theater at Duke University. Tickets may be purchased at the door or from the Duke Box Office (tickets.duke.edu or 919-684-4444). This year’s ChoreoLab will be presented as a tribute to Dr. Laurie Patton, who is stepping down as the Dean of Trinity College Arts and Sciences to accept the position of President at Middlebury College. Dean Laurie Patton, an eminent Sanskrit scholar, came to… read more about ChoreoLab 2015 to pay tribute to a departing dean »

HOT WATER - Water, Peace & War - Call for Contributions

'HOT WATER – Water, Peace & War' will form a virtual exhibition, made by entries from artists, scientists, activists and youth from around the world. Deadline 14 March 2015. Detailed info in English, Español & Français.  Deadline: March 14, 2015. The English expression "To be in HOT WATER" means to be in trouble.  Currently, climate change, environmental decline, rights violations, volatile politics and conflict all suggest "HOT WATER". Water… read more about HOT WATER - Water, Peace & War - Call for Contributions »

Please Welcome New Ballet Instructor, James Strong

James Strong has 14 years of professional experience performing ballet and modern dance in diverse styles from a broad spectrum of choreographers. James strives to teach students proper classical technique while emphasizing musicality, personal expression and the performance aspect of the art form. His previous performance experience with San Francisco-based Smuin Ballet, Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley, and Koresh Dance Company has given him a rich and rewarding outlook in defining the connection between studio and stage.… read more about Please Welcome New Ballet Instructor, James Strong »

Mary Hinkson (March 16, 1925 – November 26, 2014)

Prof. Andrea Woods Valdés writes: "Hi Friends, just passing on the news. I few years ago I did a phone interview with Mary for an article I wrote about her friend and fellow Graham dancer, Matt Turney. Seeing Mary Hinkson (also from Philly) dance in "A Dancer's World" was a turning point in my life." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFTNmGBKC2Y http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Hinkson   read more about Mary Hinkson (March 16, 1925 – November 26, 2014) »

November Dances 2014

New Modern, African, Ballet, and Jazz works by dance faculty: Andrea E. Woods Valdés, Ava LaVonne Vinesett, Tyler Walters, Nina Wheeler and advanced student choreographers: Ellen Brown, Stephanie Joe, Haylee Levin, and Anne Talkington.  Friday, November 21  Saturday, November 22 8 p.m. | Reynolds Industries Theater Read all about it in the Duke Chronicle read more about November Dances 2014 »

Fall 2014 Dance For The Camera

See our blog for new works by:  Katalina Bock, Ellen Brown, Cindy Li, Claire Tucker, Julie Bellantoni, AJ Laudenslager, Haylee Levin, Natalie Lubin, Claire Tucker, Lauren Rosen. Featuring dancers: Sarah Atkinson, Casey Black, Cosette Glodstien, Stephanie Jo, Kendall Covington, Melissa Lee, Jennifer Margano, Anika Richter, Kaley Thornton.   http://dukedanceftc.wordpress.com/current-projects/ read more about Fall 2014 Dance For The Camera  »