UM Dance Program Featured at National College Dance Festival, Now thru 5/27

The University of Montana School of Theatre & Dance announces that the UM Dance Program will be featured in performance at The American College Dance Festival Association's (ACDFA) National College Dance Festival at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, today, May 24 through May 27, 2012.

The ACDFA National Festival is a biannual event that brings together dancers from all over the United States to showcase excellence in choreography and performance currently happening in colleges and universities nationwide. Following the culmination of each of the eleven ACDFA regional conferences, thirty pieces of choreography are selected by nationally recognized adjudicators to move forward to the National Festival. Selections are based on outstanding artistic excellence and merit.

Following participation at the Northwest Regional Conference of ACDFA at The University of Utah on March 14, 2012, two pieces of choreography adjudicated by UM Dance Program students were selected to be featured in the conference's culminating Gala Concert. Choreography by graduating BFA dance major Collin Ranf entitled "My Body," featuring six dancers, and guest artist choreography by Missoula native Brian Gerke and Iceland's Steinunn Ketilsdóttir entitled "MEAT," showcasing eleven dancers, were performed to enthusiastic audiences at Kingsbury Hall in Salt Lake City on March 17. Following the Gala Concert, both pieces were eligible to be selected for performance at the Kennedy Center in May. Three renowned adjudicators chose "MEAT" to be performed at the National College Dance Festival.

This marks the second time in as many years that the UM Dance Program has been featured at ACDFA's festival in DC. The last National College Dance Festival, held in 2010, featured UM's performance of "Prey," a piece created by internationally acclaimed choreographer Bebe Miller.
The University of Montana School of Theatre & Dance celebrates this remarkable accomplishment of its students and eagerly anticipates the opportunity for each to perform at this nationally revered theatre in two months' time.

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