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Show U dance dopartmsirts among best - by Lcsly Herbert Chronicle staff The two separate dance departments at the University ballet Watts said he feels improvements ; are recognized among the top dance in the training programs country. Alfred Emery, former University president, said the top departments on campus are, "first computer science, then the departments of ballet and modern dance." Dance first appeared in class listings of a summer catalog in 1908 as part of the physical education department Five years later dance was listed as a separate category as opposed to general physical education activity classes that included dance. In 1940 Elizabeth Hayes arrived at the University to direct a program of dance and establish a teaching degree, still under the physical education department. In 1951 Willam Christensen joined the University faculty to establish i program of ballet in -v i Vthe Department of Speech. It wasn't until 1966 that a separate, new department of ballet and modern dance was formed, with Gordon Paxman as department chairman and Christensen and Hayes as directors of ballet and modem dance, respectively. In the spring of 1966 a Rockefeller grant of $370,000 was awarded to the University for and modern dance in both the departments of ballet and modern dance are necessary, yet often they must fight with University legislators because dance is not yet accepted as high criteria in the University budget. The modern dance department shares the same problems as ballet lack of funding, lack of space (the modern dance department has studios available only in the Dance Building) and the lack of University acknowledgment. Jacqueline Clifford, chairman of the modern dance department, sees arts as the soul of a country. She said she feels strongly that arts should not be considered "something extra" but something that is part ofdaily life. "Arts do exist and have since the very beginning of time," Clifford said. "Dance is a mental, as well as physical, trip," said Clifford. Hayes added that the discipline that dancers must impose on their lifestyle diet, training and the fact that there is no vacation is very demanding. The modern dance department also stresses a performance emphasis. The department's student performing company-PerforDanscompany has performed throughout the country and even in England and has received many honors for its work. Each member of the modern dance department faculty is prominent in their work outside the University. Shirley Ririe of the and Joan Woodbury are Dance Company. Woodbury is also a consultant for the National Endowment for the Arts, and Ririe is internationally recongized as a specialist in children's dance. Loabelle Mangelson, director of Performing: Danscompan.ywaraftloisti for both ry and RDT and is a movement specialist for the National Endowment for the Arts. Hayes, who has been with the department since its beginning, now teaches dance history. Sally Fitt teaches classes in kinesiology, dance conditioning and movement behavior. The department continually brings in prominent dance "professionals such as Tandy Beal, Gay Taliaferro, Carol Warner and Robert Small to teach classes and choreograph new pieces. i ' Clifford said that the diversity of the teachers is what gives graduates of the modern dance department their professional flexibility. "Each teacher is different, and they give different challenges as a result, our students are very adept at taking anyone's classes, and they stand out among other dancers because they're first to pick up combinations," Clifford said. "A dancer is a choreographer's instrument, so the versatility is very vi:.-;',important." ''.v'C:v believes said that it is the result of the department's she Hayes emphasis on performance that graduates of the department have become the nucleus of several dance companies. Members of RDT, and the San Fransisco Moving Company have been department graduates. Graduates Bill Evans and Karen Steele have gone on to form their own highly respected dance companies. Both the ballet and modern dance departments offer strong performance-oriente- d programs and performance opportunities for the training of dancers as well as classes for University students who just want to let go and dance. . nl JJ - the establishment of a to far, I M professional modern dance company and the Repertory Dance Theatre was formed. Today the departments of ballet and modern dance are "mutually respectful of each other and the directions they take,' said Hayes, who is still on the faculty of modern dance. The two departments are now headed by separate chairmen, and each have separate, instructors, classes and performing companies. Ardean Watts, chairman of the ballet department, said, "The uniqueness of our dance department places us second to no university in the United States. Most universities do hot have ballet and modern dance departments as such they have only dance." The reputation of the University's ballet department is reflected in the fact that more than 90 percent of ballet majors are For most other University departments the .: is true. opposite The ballet department emphasizes performance. The department's goal is to prepare dancers to become performers in professional dance companies. This in itself is a key factor in the department's success, said Watts, since most universities emphasize teaching rather than performance. Watts explained that the training received for performance here at the University places this program in competition with professional ballet non-residen- Xv ming fi M ft IT I ts. - . schools. ;,. The ballet department faculty is comprised of professionals in the field. "Each of the instructors were chosen because they've had a significant career in the profession," Watts said. The credentials of these teachers are often professional experience, Ririe-Woodbu- -- not necessarily academic degrees. Watts said University President David Gardner made it possible for the dance departments to hire teachers without standard academic records, but with outstanding professional experience. "This is the envy of all other dance departments who must hire teachers with academic degrees," Watts said. Bene Arnold, professor and director of the Utah Ballet Company, was a soloist and ballet mistress with the San Francisco Ballet and the Utah Civic Ballet (now Ballet West). Paxman, who was chairman of the department at its inception, remains now as a professor in the department. Karen Shores, a member of the London Royal Society of Ballet Teachers, was a soloist for the University Theatre Ballet and founder of Ballet West for Children. Professor Mattlyn Gavers was former ballet mistress for the Metropolitan Opera Company and has taught at Ririe-Woodbu- ors various universities across the country. Cheng, visiting assistant professor, was principal dancer and ballet master for the Peking Ballet Company. Cheng is now applying for U.S. citizenship to remain on the University ballet faculty. Barbara is part of Hamblin, principal dancer with Ballet West 1968-7- 1, the ballet department faculty and also director of the University children's ballet program. Assistant professor Rowland Butler is the coordinator of ballet for the University musical theatre Li-Ch- ou for Pioneer Memorial program and resident choreographer ' Theatre.' . ; The artistic staff of Ballet West are all adjunct faculty of the University ballet department, It is a unique relationship with Ballet West that most enhances the program at the University. In addition to classes taught by Ballet West professionals, each year six to eight students are chosen as "Ballet West aspirants" to work with the company daily. Four of this year's five aspirants were given contracts with the company for next season. The ballet department also has its own performing company, the Utah Ballet Company, directed by Arnold. Sixteen members were chosen by audition for this company at the beginning of the ? well-kno- Ririe-Woodbu- ,v.:.. ; wn ry, non-maj- or , year. Seven of those were chosen to become Ballet West aspirants for the 1983-8- 4 school year. . Watts said that it is extremely important for students to have the kind of professional performance experience provided by the program for Ballet West aspirants and the Utah Ballet Company. Watts said that these two programs represent the "cream of the cream" of the ballet department. i ' The ballet department offers a variety of classes for both Ballet technique, character dance, jazz, majors and non-majo- rs. choreographyballet history, and ballet fitness and care of injuries are just some of the classes offered. Classes for the in ballet and jazz attract 200 to 250 students per said. Watts :.... , quarter, The department is not without its share of problems, however; Space or classes is limited. The department currently occupies a small studio on the corner of University Avenue and 100 South, shares the Dance Building with the modern dance department and the studios of the Performing Arts Building with the theatre department. Wans said; the 'studios were adequate, but it is' "terribly inconvenient to be spread out over three buildings." Funding is also a major problem. "A viable scholarship program is essential," Watts said. He also explained that there are only three small scholarships available to the department through the University, and those are only for resident students. Warn said that Walter Cosgriff, early developer of the Utah Civic Ballet, has put forth much effort to raise scholarship non-majo- rs 'J:;. I . A endowments. i"-- ; ; . - ii - .;. : ry |
