Some Kent State University students will dance their way to Washington, D.C., this summer.
Members of the Kent Dance Ensemble, under the artistic direction of Gregory King, assistant professor in Kent State’s School of Theatre and Dance, will perform the piece "Aftermath," a work by guest choreographer Catherine Meredith, at the American College Dance Association's National College Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in June.
Students and faculty from the School of Theatre and Dance attended the American College Dance Association's East-Central Conference from March 10-12 at Ohio University where adjudicators chose three pieces from more than 40 entries to represent the region at the association’s National College Festival. The conference's adjudicators – Tiffany Mills, George de la Pena and Helanius Wilkins – selected "Aftermath" for its "beautifully crafted choreography, richly layered with an emotionally effecting progression of dramatic development ... [that was] passionately performed with dynamic musicality in costuming that effectively extended the movement."
In addition to being chosen to advance to the National College Festival at the Kennedy Center, "Aftermath" was selected to open the East-Central Conference's closing gala concert.
"Aftermath" will premiere at Kent State on April 6-8 when the Kent Dance Ensemble performs it during its annual concert Kent Dance Ensemble: Prime.
Learn more about Kent Dance Ensemble: Prime
The Kent Dance Ensemble provides a professional atmosphere and structure that prepares its student members to bridge the gap between a college dance experience and working with a professional dance company. It produces dance concerts every year, performs at other universities and in neighboring communities, presents lecture/demonstrations at schools in Northeast Ohio, offers movement workshops for all ages and abilities, and participates in regional and national dance festivals. The repertory of modern and jazz dance is developed by the company artistic director, Kent State faculty members and invited guest artists.
Educational residencies bring arts appreciation and educational enhancement to the K-12 schools of the region. Fees are modest and are designed to cover production costs for costumes, lighting, publicity and guest artists, and to support travel expenses and workshop materials for their work on tour.