UO dance department visits North Bend/Coos Bay
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NORTH BEND—(April 11, 2012)—The year 2012 marks a century of the University of Oregon dance curriculum, and the UO Repertory Dance Company is celebrating with its fifth annual year in residence at North Bend High School and North Bend Middle School on April 25-28, 2012. The residency is partially supported by a grant from the Coos County Cultural Coalition.
“Dance courses at the University of Oregon were offered as early as 1912, and pre-date the first academic dance major programs in the country by more than a decade,” says dance department chair Jenifer Craig. “We’re delighted to be invited back for a fifth year of residency, and to share the result of a century of creative dance work with our friends on the coast.”
As part of the centennial celebration, the UORDC is engaging with area high school and middle school students in four days of workshops, demonstrations and a public concert.
In addition to working with students in a workshop setting, the residency includes two events that are open to the public:
· Saturday, April 28 at 10 a.m.: The UORDC is offering a free community master class by UO dance faculty member Rita Honka in the gymnasium of North Bend High School, 2323 Pacific Ave, North Bend. The event is free and open to the public, and appropriate for anyone age 11 or older regardless of dance experience. Those 8 and up with dance experience may also attend.
· Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m.: The UORDC is being joined by dance students from North Bend High School in a performance at the Hales Performing Arts Center on the campus of Southwestern Oregon Community College, 1988 Newmark Ave, Coos Bay. The concert features a special guest performance by North Bend High School alumna and current UO dance student Rachel Matthews. Advance tickets can be purchased at the athletics office of North Bay High School or at Pacific School of Dance. Advance purchase prices are $8 general, $4 students and seniors. At the door, prices are $10 general, $5 students and seniors. All proceeds will support the residency program.
The company is also touring to Central Point, Ore. for a residency at the Crater Renaissance Academy on May 16-19. The 2012 tour has been kicked off by the UORDC’s annual “at home” concert on April 20 and 21 in the Dougherty Dance Theatre on the third floor of the Gerlinger Annex on the UO campus in Eugene. This year’s concert saluted the contributions of the dance department’s music director faculty position.
UORDC 2012 features stellar work by UO dance majors who have worked with a select group of artists including dance faculty and guests to present a program of imaginative and athletic dancing.
More information on the UO Department of Dance is located at music.uoregon.edu/dance.
The University of Oregon Repertory Dance Company (UORDC) strives to forge community partnerships throughout Oregon, emphasizing dance as both a performance art and an educational discipline.