By Anna Rhodes
The Department of Theatre and Dance at Appalachian State University will present its annual Summer Dance Series this June. The series offers instructive classes in a variety of dance styles for beginning and intermediate dance enthusiasts, and runs June 5–28. This year, topics will include body work classes such as yoga and Pilates, and dance styles such as African, jazz, hip-hop, modern, salsa, musical theatre dance and ballet. Dancers are asked to make an (optional) nominal donation at each class to benefit the department’s Visiting Artist and Dance Student Scholarship funds.
Regina Gulick, the series coordinator and creator, started the initiative as a way to stay in shape over the summer by giving ballet classes for friends.
“Soon after starting the series, others noticed and wanted to participate. Other teachers, students going to summer school and friends in the community wanted to teach and take classes of their own,” said Gulick, who is a senior lecturer in Appalachian’s Theatre and Dance Department. “This gave me the idea to have a space where teachers of varied dance backgrounds could share their ideas about technique, introduce new styles to the group and meet people on campus and in our community.”
The department now sponsors this community dance series each June. Tuesday and Thursday classes are open to all experience levels, while Wednesday classes will focus on intermediate and advanced techniques. All classes will be offered between 5:30 and 7 p.m. in room 208 of Varsity Gym on the university campus. The classes are open to dancers and dance enthusiasts of all ages from the campus and community, though children under the age of nine must be accompanied by an adult. All young people under the age of 18 must have a “Participation Agreement” form signed by a parent or guardian in order to participate.
Visit theatreanddance.appstate.edu for this summer’s class schedule. For more information, or to be added to the distribution list, contact theatreanddance@appstate.edu.
About Varsity Gym
Varsity Gym is located directly across from the parking deck on Rivers Street and connected to Roess Dining. The walking bridge from the 2nd floor of Rivers Street Parking Deck leads to the main lobby of the dining hall. The entrance to Varsity Gym is located to the left after exiting the main lobby of Roess Dining Hall. Dance Studio 208 is on second floor of Varsity Gym. To be added to the email list to receive details on teachers, classes and the calendar, contact Regina James at jamesrg@appstate.edu. If you are currently part of the email list there is no need to resubmit your information.
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Media Contact
Kevin Warner
(828) 262.3028
warnerks@appstate.edu
About the Department of Theatre and Dance
The Department of Theatre and Dance is one of seven departments housed in Appalachian’s College of Fine and Applied Arts. Its mission is to facilitate transformative experiences for students and the public, which cultivate compassionate, creative and collaborative communities through theatre and dance. The department also offers coursework for integrated learning through the arts to the general university student population. Its dynamic co-curricular production program provides exemplary theatre and dance experiences to departmental students, the university community and the region.
About Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
African Dance
Sherone Price, associate professor of dance studies at Appalachian, leads an African dance class as part of the summer dance series. Photo courtesy of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Appalachian State University.