Dance department performing in New York, Washington

Dancers and choreographers representing the Virginia Commonwealth University dance department will be performing in a pair of prestigious venues during the next week, showcasing the department’s students and alumni.

On May 13, the Danspace Project will present “VCU Dance: Traffic @ the St. Mark’s” as part of the Academy Dances Series at the historic St. Mark’s Church in New York. The series is designed to highlight the rising generation of dance talents emerging from renowned college dance departments. Then, four days later, dance majors from VCU will perform “Virginia Reel,” which is choreographed by former VCU guest artist Robert Battle, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. The performance will be staged as part of Dance/USA’s National College Choreography Initiative (NCCI).

The “Traffic” performance will include works from current VCU students and from New York-based alumni of the school. Among those participating are alumni Christina Briggs, Samantha Speis, Jason Somma and Patti Gilstrap, and current students Leigh Brinson and Donna Vaughn.

VCU was one of just three programs to have been chosen for the Academy Dances Series, demonstrating the esteem dance professionals have for VCU’s program.

“The students and faculty at VCU Dance constitute a robust community of artists/scholars,” choreographer Donald McKayle said in a press release. “The appetite for learning, the commitment, the vicissitude and the accomplishment of the students is most impressive. The exhilarating atmosphere within the dance center is saturated with joy and rigor.”

The May 17 performance of “Virginia Reel” will take place at 6 p.m. on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. Battle taught at VCU during a seven-week residency in the fall semester and set his new work with VCU Dance majors during an intensive rehearsal process.

“Virginia Reel” premiered on March 2 during “Traffic @ the Grace: Dancing in the Now,” VCU Dance’s student/faculty concert at the Grace Theater.