Prior to our departure for Kalamazoo, MI for the ACDFA regional conference, Jeff Rebudal and I challenged the 22 dancers to extend friendship to dancers from other schools, to build networks, and take advantage of the learning opportunities. Our dancers were fantastic--in the studio, in the halls, at the hotel, wherever they went, they were exemplary representatives.
On Saturday, Martha Dobbs' piece,
Things Hoped For, was performed in an informal concert. After a moving performance, a faculty member from another institution came up and said, "You guys came loaded for bear, didn't you?" His reference to the outstanding work from our students came after two adjudicated pieces,
Kardia, by Rachel Swykert and Rachael Harbert; and
A Woman's Window, by Lauren Cansler were both selected to be performed in the gala performance Saturday night.
The gala performance featured 12 dances of 37 adjudicated over the previous three days. Of the 12, two were chosen to represent the region at the national conference, June 4-6 in New York.
A Woman's Window was chosen as one, and Lauren Cansler was selected as outstanding choreographer and outstanding performer, and will represent the region in the national Dance Magazine competition at the national event.
