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 »
THE 82ND AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL SEASON JUNE 11-JULY 25 read more about ADF 2015 is Announced! »
From the Raleigh News & Observer: "Duke Dance Program Hosts Series." by Jonathan M. Alexander, February 28, 2015. http://www.newsobserver.com/2015/02/28/4590338_dance-group-performs-teaches-art.html?rh=1 read more about Dance group performs, teaches art of flamenco in Durham »
'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 »
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 »
"Odissi Stars at a Dance Festival in Chennai, India" - Read the recent article in the New York Times regarding the Nrityagram company, which will be in residence and performing at Duke, January 20-22. (For more info, go to Events) read more about A Sublime Touch, From Head to Heel »
Editor's Report on the Duke University Dance Program, Purnima Shah, Editor. View 2014 Dance Newsletter read more about 2014 Newsletter »
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) »
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 »
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 »
Read all about Christina Lan's experience in the Experiential Anatomy Workshop led by visiting artists Kate Trammel and Sharon Babcock. http://www.dukechronicle.com/blogs/playground/posts/2014/10/02/namely-muscles-first-spine read more about Namely, Muscles...but first, the spine »
Ava LaVonne Vinesett, Director of Undergraduate Studies & Associate Professor of the Practice of Dance and Faculty Director of the Baldwin Scholars Program, writes about being in Brazil not for the World Cup. http://sites.fhi.duke.edu/globalbrazil/category/news/blog/ read more about Blog: Ava LaVonne Vinesett writes about being in Brazil not for the World Cup »
On Friday, September 5, 11:45AM-1:00PM, Richard Vinesett, Director of Music for African Dance within the Dance Program, will conduct a class on West African drumming in the Ark Dance Studio. This class will be in conjunction with Dance 375-Music for Dancers. Students will learn about the musical instruments used to perform this music, basic rhythms, how to hear a break, and more. No prior experience necessary. There are a limited number of spaces available for Duke students, so register now. This will be an… read more about Richard Vinesett to teach West African Drumming workshop »
Conceived and Performed by Thomas F. DeFrantz, DUKE Professor of African and African American Studies, Dance, and Theater Studies, with Kenneth David Stewart. SLIPPAGE: Performance|Culture|Technology announces the premiere of where did i think i was going? [moving into signal], a dance technology interface work, to be performed at the PSI Theater at Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris Street, Durham, NC, on August 28 and 29, 2014. Performances are at 7pm Thursday and Friday, August 28 and 29; tickets… read more about SLIPPAGE presents: where did i think i was going? [moving into signal] »
John Hanks, Staff Associate with the Duke Dance Program, provides live accompaniment for American Dance Festival classes at Duke University, whether the dancers need a slow warm-up piece, a waltz, or a "full-tilt boogie." He's an improvisational one-man band!" View Youtube video: http://youtu.be/OSDT1nty6oY read more about John Hanks:"Full Tilt Boogie" at the American Dance Festival »
Keval Kaur Khalsa, a Faculty Advisory Board member of the Duke Office of Civic Engagement, discusses how Duke helps her engage in the community, why universities are an important incubator for artists, and why yoga and movement are essential de-stressors for her students. read more about Duke Office of Civic Engagement - Civic Lives: Keval Khalsa »
Here some photos of the new dance floor in the Ark, as well as snapshots of the new locker rooms located in the lower level. read more about The Ark Studio gets a new floor and locker room »
Read this Duke Chronicle article featuring Duke Dance Program Professors, Thomas H. DeFrantz and Keval Khalsa. read more about Moonlighting the arts: Professors by day, performers by night »
Andrea Woods Valdés, Associate Professor of the Practice of Dance at Duke, is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Her academic focus is on women in the arts, Afro-Cuban dance and music, and the history and culture of the African diaspora. She is also a video artist and musician. .... CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY read more about Duke Arts Journal: Andrea Woods Valdés: Dancer, Teacher, Scholar »
Price is a Program II major studying artistic holistic therapies and their contribution to healthcare, with a specific focus on dance therapy. Holistic therapies are forms of alternative medicine that focus on healing the whole person—including their psychological, physical and social needs—rather than a specific disease or issue. The Fayetteville, North Carolina native began working with Grace Healthcare of Durham, a local nursing home, to fulfill a service-learning requirement for a class called aging and health with… read more about Cardea Fellow and senior Miurel Price is studying how dance therapy can improve the health of elderly populations. »
Keval Kaur Khalsa, Associate Professor of the Practice of Dance & Theater Studies at Duke University, and Michele Berger, Associate Professor in the Department of Women's and Gender Studies at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, have received a Bass Connections grant from Duke University for their research project Mindfulness In Education & Human Development. Launched by a $50 million gift from Anne and Robert Bass, Bass Connections supports interdisciplinary teams of faculty, students and… read more about Bass Connections Project Funds Yoga Research »
Apr. 30, 2014 @ 01:14 PM. By Susan Broili; special to The Herald-Sun. If a theater production could be compared to a bagel, Andrea E. Woods’ new show would be of the everything variety. That’s because, for the first time, she’s been able to concoct an evening-length work that has everything she’s always wanted to include. Her new work, “The Amazing Adventures of Grace May B. Brown,” features dance, music, singing, narration, folk art and photographic images. Continue reading the full… read more about SOULOWORKS celebrates turning 20 with multimedia production »
Professor DeFrantz and SLIPPAGE played a contributing roll in a recent Dance Theater of Harlem performance of “past-carry-forward.” Read the New York Times review here: http://nyti.ms/1tMBVvw . read more about Thomas F. DeFrantz in the New York Times »
Monica Hogan Danceworks held a contemporary masterclass at Duke University on Saturday, April 19th in the Ark Studio. The class was led by Duke Dance alumnae Monica Hogan (T'12) and Courtney Liu (T'13). Beginning with a warmup and some improvisation exercises, they finished off with some repertory movement from recent performances in NYC. Location: Ark Dance Studio. This masterclass was sponsored by the Duke Dance Program Backstage Events. read more about Monica Hogan Danceworks Masterclass »
Black Performance Theory, edited by Thomas F. DeFrantz and Anita Gonzalez Published by Duke University Press "Black performance theory is a rich interdisciplinary area of study and critical method. In this collection of new essays, some of its pioneering thinkers demonstrate the breadth and depth, innovation, and critical value of black performance theory." Read the intro HERE read more about Read the intro to "Black Performance Theory," edited by DeFrantz & Gonzalez, free on @Scribd. »
Since Duke University began allowing distinction projects for seniors outside their majors, the Dance Program has seen an explosion of students combining their academic disciplines with their love of dance. Trinity College approved the possibility of students graduating with distinction in a field outside their major about four years ago to recognize the fact that a number of students do develop a secondary interest sufficiently to be able to do distinguished work in that area, said Norman C. Keul, associate dean of… read more about Senior Distinction Dance Projects Show Range of Academic Disciplines »
Ballet forward: (re)thinking and (re)forming western classicism in dance, a new Duke University Dance Program initiative, presented the Elizabeth Corbett Residency – April 3-5. Titled "Forsythe Improvisation Technologies Workshop Series", Ms. Corbett led students in an introduction to the methods pioneered by choreographer William Forsythe. Forsythe Phrases and Improvisation Technologies - William… read more about Elizabeth Corbett Residency »
After what seems like the longest winter, this spring’s dance concert by the Duke Dance Program, “ChoreoLab 2014,” offers to “reset your clock” as well as pay tribute to a Duke graduate who passed away in 2007. ChoreoLab 2014 will be performed Friday and Saturday, March 28 – 29, at 8 p.m. in the Reynolds Industries Theater in the Bryan Center on Duke’s West Campus. Barbara Dickinson, Professor of the Practice of Dance, has choreographed a modern piece for 11 student dancers, “Liquid Prisoner/Remembrance,”… read more about Spring Dance Concert Pays Tribute to Duke Graduate’s Musical Legacy »
The Dance Program was honored to have members of the Urban Bush Women dance company participate in a two-week residency from January 26 to February 8. Founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Paloma McGregor and Bennalldra Williams conducted two masterclasses for Duke Dance majors and minors in the Ark. They also invited students from Durham's Hillside High School to two Dance for Every Body workshops. Jawole was a guest artist in the dance composition class, Beyond Technique: Art of Performance, taught by Barbara Dickinson and… read more about Urban Bush Women Residency, 1/26-2/8, 2014 »
Dance.Film.Revolution in association with The University of South Florida is excited to announce an opportunity for students to share their dance films in the 1st Annual Dance Shorts Student Film Festival. Dance Shorts Student Film Festival will spotlight today's generation of up and coming "techno-choreographers." The film festival will feature short dance films that are between two and six minutes in length. These dance films can be narrative, experimental, or abstract… read more about Dance Shorts Student Film Festival; Deadline March 3 »