The second annual University of Alabama Dance Festival was this Saturday, April 1st from 9 am to 4 pm. The festival offers local 6th-12th grade dance students access to two workshops, lunch, an opportunity fair presented by UA student organizations, and a ticket to the matinee performance of Dance Alabama!
Tuscaloosa is home to several dance students for whom this opportunity would be perfect, except for the cost. Considering this, Professor Cornelius Carter, Director of Dance for the University, looked into other sources to provide the funding. He applied to the College of Arts & Sciences Diversity Committee who fund diversity-related events on-campus.
The ticket price of $40 includes the workshops, lunch, and a student ticket to Dance Alabama! Lunches are often purchased for the students from an off-campus source. This particular application was made for $500 to fund lunches on campus at the Fresh Foods Company for all 50 participating dance students. With this cost alleviated, UA Theatre & Dance was able to offer 20 students from the Alberta School for the Performing Arts attendance to the Festival at no cost.
These students attended classes in contemporary, ballet, modern, and jazz technique. All participants also got to ask current students and faculty members about their experiences at UA. “It is a wonderful experience for young students around the University to experience what undergraduate dancers gain from our faculty,” said dance technical director, Lyndell McDonald.
The UA Dance Festival is one of many Education & Outreach events hosted by the Department of Theatre & Dance that hopes to reach students across the city year-round. For more information about these programs, please visit theatre.ua.edu.
