NewsRelease

NC Dance Festival Returns Sept. 10-13

GREENSBORO – Theatrical style. Colorful costumes. Thought-provoking themes. And mountain climbing?

The eclectic North Carolina Dance Festival returns for its 13th year, Sept. 10-13, when eight of the best dance companies from across the state begin their annual tour at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After the Greensboro opening, the festival will continue on to Boone, Wilmington, Charlotte, Asheville and Raleigh. Each stop will feature concerts by the touring dancers as well as local artists.

Performers will include the alban elved dance company (Winston-Salem), Moving Poets Theatre of Dance (Charlotte), Even Exchange Dance Theatre (Raleigh), Jan Van Dyke Dance Group (Greensboro), Robin Harris (Raleigh), Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre, Harper Piver (Wilmington) and Younjung Kim (Greensboro).

The concept of a touring festival of state dance companies and artists is unique in the country, said Jan Van Dyke, a dance professor at UNCG and co-founder of the festival. She and colleague John Gamble began the festival in 1991, and she continues to serve as its artistic director.

Their goal was to retain talented alumni who were leaving the state to pursue dance careers. Many of these artists felt North Carolina had few opportunities for creative professionals. So Van Dyke offered them a venue at the UNCG Dance Theater and opportunities to network with state choreographers.

 “It is commonly accepted that small dance companies and independent artists find it difficult and expensive to show work outside their hometowns,” Van Dyke said. “They are not generally booked by presenters, and it is complex and costly to self-produce in an unfamiliar city. The result is that most North Carolina dance groups historically have not done much touring.”

 The touring festival benefits audiences as well, giving them the chance to see a variety of talent without traveling the state.

 “The hope has been that the network of festival performing sites will help the state’s audiences know their own artists and feel the pride of ownership along with a shared sense of place and a common vision,” Van Dyke said.

  The Greensboro concerts will begin at 8 p.m. in the UNCG Dance Theater in the School of Health and Human Performance on Walker Avenue. Tickets cost $12 adults, $9 seniors and students and $6 UNCG students. Call (336) 334-4849.

The line-up will be:

Thursday and Friday, Sept. 10 and 11

•  Veena Argade, Heidi Echols Godfrey, Rumba Latina, Trish Casey and Andrews Arts (all from the Triad area)

• Jan Van Dyke Dance Group – A company of nine professionals in residence at UNCG, including eight UNCG alumni. 
• Even Exchange Dance Theater – A dance troupe with a humanitarian side, the company has cooperated with community groups to explore themes of spirituality, violence and more.
• alban elved dance company – Dance is combined with film, video, live music, mountain climbing equipment, new technologies and visual art.
• Younjung Kim – She has performed Korean traditional dance internationally as part of Aeju Lee Traditional Dance Group.

• Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre – Founded in 1979, the company performs a diverse repertory of traditional and contemporary dance, bringing to life myths, art and literature of difference cultures.
• Moving Poets Theatre of Dance – The company employs an innovative blend of original contemporary dance, theater, music, poetry, video and visual arts.
• Robin Harris – An award-winning choreographer, she is director of the dance program at N.C. State University. In 2000 she won the Raleigh Medal of Arts.
• Harper Piver – An UNCG alumna, Piver has danced and studied Celtic music in the United Kingdom. She presents her work with the Dance Cooperative and serves on the board of directors for the NC Dance Alliance.

Back to the Latest News Releases
Return to the University News Service Home Page