University dancers will show off their moves in styles ranging from modern to hip hop March 10-13 at the Central Region American College Dance Festival hosted by the University of Colorado at Boulder's theater and dance department.
"Legacies: Dance in the 20th Century and Beyond" includes four days of dance concerts, classes, presentations and discussions at various locations on the CU-Boulder campus.
"The American College Dance Festival is the premier venue for collegiate dance in the country," said David Capps, director of dance at CU-Boulder's theater and dance department. During the festival, Capps' department will host about 360 students and faculty from 24 schools across the country.
The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble will perform as part of the festival's sold-out opening night "Legacies Concert" at 8 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre of the University Theatre Building. Festival guest artist and adjudicator Bill Young's "Rein/Bellow" will be performed by his New York-based company. CU dancers will perform historic works by Martha Graham and Trisha Brown.
The historical theme of the festival will extend to master classes and discussions. Technique classes in modern, African, hip hop, flamenco, ballet and jazz styles will be offered. Panel discussions and film screenings will explore topics including "Cultural Fusion in Dance: Conflict, Communication or Connection?" and "Dance and Video."
The festival includes two free public events. On March 12, Brenda Dixon-Gottschild, dancer, choreographer and scholar will present a lecture and sign copies of her book "The Dancing Body as a Measure of Culture," from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in room 245 of the University Memorial Center. March 13 will feature screenings of cutting-edge videos by Ellen Bromberg, choreographer and filmmaker from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Eaton Humanities Building room 1B50.
The festival comes to a close March 13 with a gala concert and party. Tickets for the gala concert can be purchased from the box office at (303) 492-8181. Approximately nine college dance companies chosen by the festival's adjudicators will perform starting at 7 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre of the University Theatre Building. Following the show, three dances will be selected for the national American College Dance Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., June 1-3.
"The American College Dance Festival is the only organization that brings college and university dancers together for performance," Capps said. "It was founded to cultivate quality and professionalism, and embodies this by employing professionals to adjudicate the performances choreographed and performed by students."
For more information on the festival visit or call (303) 492-5037.