Upcoming Events

Great Works Open Rehearsal

Friday, October 8, 5:00 p.m.

With Tsai Hsi Hung in Dalton Center MMR

Tsai Hsi Hung graduated from Taipei National University of the Arts in 2010. She has worked with the Australian Dance Theater, Tasdance, Expressions Dance Company, and Chunky Move Dance Company Dancers. In 2020, Hung received a Choreography Fellowship from the New Jersey Council on the Arts. Shortly after, Hung’s work was selected by the Joffrey Academy of Dance for their Spring 2020 Winning Works performance in Chicago. Hung was also invited to Taipei National Dance Theater to perform in July 2020. Hung teaches at the Peridance Capezio Dance Center and is the director of the Queens Ballet Center/QBC Company in New York.

In-site/Outside

Sunday, October 10, 2:00 and 2:30 p.m.

Starting in Miller Fountain Plaza, and then in and around main campus

A collaborative project between two dance courses: DANC3800 The Choreographer in the Community and DANC1000 First-Year Performance. This project challenges choreography students to explore how dance can be created within a specific environment. Choreographers worked with first-year students to explore movement in relationship to specific sites they selected throughout campus to create short dance studies performed live.

Event program

Dancing with the WMU/Kazoo Stars Scholarship Fundraiser

Saturday, October 30, 7:30 p.m.

Dalton Recital Hall

Dancing with the WMU/Kazoo Stars Scholarship Fundraiser pairs local “Stars” with one or more WMU dance students to perform for a panel of celebrity judges and a very supportive audience for a very good cause - WMU Dance students.

While the event has featured only ballroom-style dances in the past, things are being shaken up this year and will feature new dance genres (think dance battle, or Star with backup dancers, musical theatre, etc). This will allow more social distancing between dancers and explore the FUN in more dance styles!

This year's celebrity contestants are:

Grace K. Gheen, Director of Communications, OutFront Kalamazoo

Ed Martini, Associate Provost and Dean, WMUx and Merze Tate College

Dr. Rita Raichoudhuri, Superintendent, Kalamazoo Public Schools

Petey Stephanak, Partner, Southwest Michigan First

Jessica Thompson, Founder/Owner, Bee Joyful Zero Waste & Refill Shop

Celebrity Judges:

Lori Moore, local media personality and Kalamazoo STAR

Kia Smith, Artistic Director of South Chicago Dance Theatre, and alumna of WMU Dance

David Curwen, Professor Emeritus, WMU Department of Dance

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Ebony Vision

February 5-6, 2022

Dalton Center

Ebony Vision Dance Ensemble presents its 4th Annual Showcase featuring choreography from Ebony Vision company members: Raechal Smith, Jordan Jackson, Ji Hae Yepa-Pappan, and Nadya Beyar. Dancers perform multiple styles, including jazz, modern, contemporary and Latin dance. Ebony Visions presents various cultures and perspectives, and we hope to share that creativity and passion with the audience.

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Winter Gala Dance Concert

February 18-20, 2022

Friday-Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday-Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Shaw Theatre - Covid-19 Safety Policies

The Department of Dance is thrilled to welcome audiences back to campus for the Winter Gala Dance Concert. Western Michigan University dance students perform dances by Great Works Dance artist Tsai Hsi Hung as well as guest artists Penny Saunders and Marisa Bianan. Including ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary dance styles, the concert also features choreography by dance faculty and students.

Tsai Hsi Hung was selected as the 2020 WMU National Choreography Competition Winner. Hung has been in residency with our students setting her winning piece, teaching master classes in ballet and modern dance, and meeting with dance students to share her professional experiences in dance. We are honored to be presenting this premiere performance at the Winter Gala Dance Concert.

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