NW Dancers learn intricacies of art at state dance festival
by Meredith Waites, Reporter

    TCC Dancers expressed their creativity and enhanced their talents this past week in three days of workshops, lecture/demonstrations and classes.

    The master classes were taught by instructors from around the region and country.

    The TCC dance company, housed on the NW Campus, traveled to Sam Houston State University in Huntsville to attend the American College Dance Festival.

    One faculty-choreographed and three student-choreographed dance routines were displayed at this festival with 32 colleges and universities attending.

    "The festival benefits dancers because it gives them the opportunity to experience different forms of dance. It also helps the students to see other dance performances," Lacreacia Sanders, NW dance teacher, said.

    ACDF provides an opportunity for students and faculty to have their dance works adjudicated by a panel of nationally recognized dance professionals in an open and constructive forum.

    ACDF assists college and university dance programs to perform outside their own academic setting and be exposed to the diversity of the national college dance world.

    The focus of the festivals is on dance as a performing art. ACDF encourages and recognizes excellence in performance and choreography on the college level.

    "I felt that choreographing a dance for the first time at a college level really helped me grow as a choreographer and dancer," Katrina Moore, student, said.

    "Being able to present my dance, Femme Decor, at ACDF made me realize where I am at as a dancer. It helps me to aim for long-time career goals in the dance industry," she said.

    The four routines, Pockets, Cry, Femme Decor and Celtic Dreams showed creativity and dedication through the choreography.

    Pockets, a modern dance, choreographed by student Brandon Mason, dealt with pockets on clothing.

    It focused on where pockets are placed and had dancers in constant contact with each other's pockets.

    Cry, choreographed by Phyllis Franklin, focused on a spiritual level of dance with its deep-felt spirituality.

    Femme Decor, choreographed by Moore, showed the various lifestyles of women and society's views on women.

    The student-choreographed piece included various styles of dance with a musical theater flare.

    Celtic Dreams, choreographed by Linda Quinn, assistant professor of health and physical education, displayed a variety of Irish dance.

    "It is an Irish piece that is a collaborative community of all styles of of Irish dance. It involves hard shoe and modern," Lee Niesler, student, said.

    Kiera Amison, another student, was featured in all four dances at ACDF.

    "The experience of being in four different pieces at ACDF for the first time was very enjoyable," she said.

    "It was a relief after I was finished with the dances because I had freedom to take classes and spend time working on an individual level," the dancer said.

    Amison said each piece helped her grow as a dancer because each dance was very diverse.

    Amison learned Irish dancing for Celtic Dreams for the first time.

    As well, she experienced liturgical dance for the first time with Cry and musical theater with Femme Decor.

    Nadaha McCullough, student, said that the best aspect of ACDF was the opportunity to take classes and that she felt the experience at ACDF helped her grow as a dancer.

    Along with many classes, six adjudication concerts and three informal concerts were Wednesday through Saturday.

    After each adjudicated concert, sessions were available for the dancers offering them critiques of their dances.

    A Gala Concert of 10 chosen dances ended the performances Saturday night.

    "The Gala was the best aspect of this festival," Kristy Mayhew, student, said.

    The Gala displayed a variety of dance forms and creativity.

    The majority of the dances were modern, with an exception of one tap routine and one comical jazz routine.

    A reception followed with music, food and beverages for the students to relax after a long week of strenuous dancing.