March 30, 2004

VCU Dance to take part in National Celebration of University Dance at Kennedy Center

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By Katrina Clemans
VCU Dance

Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Dance has been selected by the National College Choreography Initiative (NCCI) as one of eight schools to be presented at the Kennedy Center this June as part of a National Celebration of University Dance.

VCU Dance majors LaToya King and Drew Kaiser perform the choreography of José Limón in a suite from "A Choreographic Offering," part of the National College Choreography Initiative. The work is to be presented this June at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Photo by Bruce Berryhill
VCU Dance majors LaToya King and Drew Kaiser perform the choreography of José Limón in a suite from "A Choreographic Offering," part of the National College Choreography Initiative. The work is to be presented this June at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Photo by Bruce Berryhill

"It is indeed an honor to be selected for this highly visible performance in one of our nation's premiere dance venues as the culminating event of this challenging and exciting project," said Martha Curtis, chair of VCU Dance.

VCU Dance students will perform a suite from Jose Limon's masterwork "A Choreographic Offering" on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage June 1 at 6 p.m. This performance has been scheduled in tandem with the National American College Dance Festival, so the audience will include dance students, teachers and professionals from all over the United States.

This year, VCU Dance received a grant from NCCI to have Limon Company soloist and master teacher, Clay Taliaferro restage the Limon masterwork on VCU Dance students. VCU Students have performed a section of the work in concert with the Limon Company, and the entire suite in the VCU Dance 2004 Student Faculty Concert.

NCCI is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support by the Dana Foundation, administered by Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance. Through NCCI, colleges and universities nationwide unite professional dance artists with college students to restage classic American dances or create new works.