October 28, 2019 – The Young Dancer Workshop of North Central Florida will bring dancers from Florida’s middle and high schools to Gainesville for two days of classes, networking and performances Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2, 2019. The workshop includes a Friday evening Welcome Concert by members of the Dance Theatre of Santa Fe and the University of Florida’s School of Theatre and Dance Nov. 1 and a Saturday evening Dance Showcase performance by the young dancers Nov. 2. Both events begin at 8 p.m. at Santa Fe College’s Fine Arts Hall.
Tickets for each performance are $10 general admission and may be obtained by calling the Box Office at 352-395-4181 or online at sfcollege.edu/finearts.
The young dancers, who range in age from 11 to 18, will take classes from faculty members of both SF and UF and from Florida guest artists. Classes will include instruction in a variety of dance styles including West African, hip hop, classical and contemporary modern, ballet, musical theatre, jazz, improvisation and Afro-fusion. Yoga, Pilates and dance conditioning classes will also be offered.
“This is the only workshop of its kind in our area and it draws people from Jacksonville, the Florida Panhandle and from as far away as Miami,” explained SF adjunct professor of Dance Melissa Brenner, one of the event coordinators. “The event brings over 400 people to Gainesville, including approximately 350 young dancers as well as guest faculty, chaperones and representatives of other dance programs and studios from around Florida. The young dancers are attracted by our location, by the opportunity to perform in the Fine Arts Hall, and by the chance to learn about dance and dance programs statewide.”
“This workshop is a great networking opportunity for all the dance programs in Florida,” Brenner continued. “It’s a chance for the young dancers, teachers and program directors to gather in one place for a weekend to share information, encourage each other, promote activities and talk about ways to support the art of dance in Florida.”
High school students will attend classes at SF on Friday and at UF on Saturday. Middle school students will be at UF on Friday and SF on Saturday. Both groups will come together for afternoon activities at SF that will include a panel discussion with faculty members about what the students could expect by studying dance in college. An information fair will provide the young dancers with details about auditions, activities, other workshops and Florida dance programs within colleges and private studios throughout the state.
For more information about the workshop, call Melissa Brenner at 352-395-4188.