On Saturday, December 7th, the Dancers Connect fall session will culminate with its “Kids Create” performance.
Dr. Mila Parrish started Dancers Connect while a faculty member at University of South Carolina. When she came to UNCG in the fall of 2012, she decided to start-up a sister program.
What began with 26 students in the spring of 2013 has now grown to more than 100 students this fall– with interest from even more. The participating students come from 25 elementary and middle schools in the area. The program was recently expanded to include students ages 7-13, with a class exclusively for middle school students. The 21 middle school students have created new works based on Alvin Ailey’s iconic Revelations and a dance about learning to believe in yourself and be brave, as well as explored body percussion.
Dancers Connect volunteers include graduate and undergraduate students from a range of majors across campus, plus 5 high school students. Of the volunteers Parrish says, “Our student volunteers are remarkably generous and compassionate young people. Selflessly they spend their Saturday afternoons in support of these young dancers.” One such volunteer is 15-year old Mattie Boone, a freshman at Northern Guilford High School. Mattie
comes from a family of teachers and aspires to someday become a teacher herself. Through her service learning with Dancers Connect, she has combined her love and curiosity of children with her love of dance.
The finale performances will be held a 2:00PM and 3:00PM in the Dance Theatre, located at 1408 Walker Avenue. Tickets are $5, and can be purchased at the dance department box office the day of the performance.
The next 8-week session of Dancers Connect will begin on February 8, 2014. Registration opens on January 17.
Read more about Dancers Connect here.
Reposted from the UNCG School of Music, Theatre, and Dance December 2013/January 2014 Newsletter