Take a look at the new Dance Toolkit!
The Dance Arts Toolkit was developed to provide teachers with
high quality K-12 teaching resources aligned to Kentucky academic
core content. The toolkit has been very well received since
its release in June, and is in use in schools across the state.
Another purpose of the project is to spotlight Kentucky artists
and to help raise awareness of resources available from Kentucky
arts organizations. The Arts Toolkit is a partnership of KET,
the Kentucky Department of Education, The Kentucky Center, The
Kentucky Arts Council, and other arts organizations in the state.
Teachers played a major role in developing the toolkit, both
as prototype testers in 2001 and 2002, and as contributors of
lesson plans, idea cards, and other resources used in the expanded
kit. The Dance Toolkit includes almost 8 hours of video(broken
down into classroom-appropriate excerpts of about 5-15 minutes
in length). There are dances from many cultures, including a
segment that explores The African Root, as well as model lessons
in Teaching Creative Dance. These excerpts are offered in a
choice of VHS tapes or DVDs. The toolkit also includes a DVD
version of KET's popular instructional series DanceSense, and
additional Dance video footage. The toolkit also includes a
binder full of lesson plans, glossaries, and informational material;
a multidiscipline CD-ROM from the Kentucky Department of Education,
a set of Dance Idea Cards; and a color Dance Timeline poster
for classroom display. You get all of this for just $89 plus
$8 shipping (with discounts available for multiple-copy orders).
You can order by phone at 800-945-9167. School POs are accepted,
along with checks and credit cards. If you prefer to FAX or
mail your order, you can obtain an order form at the Arts Toolkit
web site www.ket.org/artstoolkit. I encourage everyone to visit
the web site, as there are additional resources and lesson plans
online, along with a news page, a Kentuckians in Dance page,
and Field Trip ideas. All of these resources can be accessed
at no charge, and will continue to be updated with new resources
added to the site. If anyone has any questions about the toolkit,
they can e-mail Teresa Day at tday@ket.org or call 859-258-7294.
Interested in volunteering your time to help KPDA?
We are looking for people to help man the KPDA booth during
the Singletary Center performances this year. If you are available
to help, please contact Linda Granacher at kypartindance@aol.com
The dates and events are listed below:
February 25 Chinese Folk Dance Company (7:30)
March 1 Prague Symphony Orchestra (7:30)
March 31 Opera Verdi Europa’s “Aida” (7:30)
Congratulations to the KPDA Scholarship Recipients!
Recipients of the KPDA Merit Award were Mary Brown from the
University of Kentucky, and Jacinda Bertie from Eastern Kentucky
University. The Merit Award, an honorarium of $50, is given
to a student who demonstrates great leadership and enthusiasm
in their dance department, as well as good academic standing.
The KPDA Scholarship of up to $500 is given to a student to
travel for further study in a summer dance program. This year’s
scholarship went to Allison Harris from Eastern Kentucky University.
Allison went to study with Chicago’s River North.
Dance Certification News
In the spring of 2004, the University of Kentucky submitted
paperwork to the Kentucky Educational Professional Standards
Board as an initial step in offering a cooperative Dance Certification
Program between the UK and Eastern Kentucky University. The
Dance Certification was approved through UK and is expected
to be approved for EKU at the November meeting of the EPSB.
This will be the first program of this type in the state of
Kentucky! Plans are underway for the first summer intensive
course. Congratulations UK and EKU! Get a sneak preview at
the KPDA General Meeting! Join in on the fun at the November
7th meeting at Mecca! Performances will be given by the University
of Kentucky Dance Ensemble, the School for the Creative and
Performing Arts and by Rakadu Gypsy Dance. The meeting will
begin at 3:00. Excerpts will be performed from “Dances
for Isadora”, a dance choreographed by Jose Limon as
a tributary to Isadora Duncan. This dance will also be performed
at the UK Fall Dance Concert November 13th and 14th at the
Singletary Center at 8:00. Tessa Harris will also discuss
the process of choreographing “Translucent”, which
the UK Dance Ensemble plans to take to the Amercian College
Dance Festival in March 2005.Put these Master Classes on your
calendar now……….
KPDA is hosting two very exciting master classes this year.
The first master class is scheduled for January 28 to be taught
by Broadway dancer Peggy Taphorn. Also scheduled is Lula Washington,
who will be teaching a class on February 16th. Lula, who was
featured in October’s issue of Dance Magazine, founded
the ten member company Lula Washington Dance Theatre in 1980.
The company, based out of Los Angeles, often depicts inner-city
life in their dances. Participants are asked to pay $5 for
the class. Both classes will be held at Barker Hall at the
University of Kentucky.
Join the Kentucky Partners in Dance Alliance
Kentucky Partners in Dance Alliance is a not-for-profit dance
advocacy organization that was established in 1999. The mission
of the organization is to promote dance and quality dance
education throughout the state of Kentucky. KPDA is seeking
a statewide base of members who are committed to this mission.
Members will receive the following benefits:
- Receive the biannual newsletter and calendar of dance events
in the state
- Be listed in the dance concert programs for the University
of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky
University
- Receive invitations to pre-concert lectures, studio performances
and receptions
Kentucky Partners in Dance Alliance, inc
FALL 2004 NEWSLETTER
SPOTLIGHT ON…….
MECCA LIVE STUDIO AND GALLERY
In this issue, we welcome Mecca to the spotlight! Mecca is
a gallery/studio space located at 209 North Limestone, in
downtown Lexington. Co-founder Teresa Tomb explains how the
name was chosen: “Mecca is a place that is regarded
as the center of activity or interest. It’s also defined
as a place visited by many different peoples. We’re
here to bring together a vivid variety of folks by using a
common language: dance and movement.” Mecca offers a
community spirit, with a strong emphasis on cultural dance
forms. You can find explosive passion in the Flamenco dances
of Spain, poetic languor in the Ancient Hula, and hypnotic
sensuality in Middle Eastern Belly dance. Non dance offerings
at Mecca include frequent music concerts and Gallery Hop showings.
Mecca is also the home of Rakadu Gypsy Dance, a performance
group that promotes Tribal style Belly Dance. Mecca is currently
holding rehearsals for members of the community to perform
in the popular annual evening showing of Thriller on the streets
of downtown Lexington.
You can find a current schedule of events and classes at www.meccadance.com
Each issue we will spotlight an artist, dance company or dancer.
If you or someone you know would like to be considered for
SPOTLIGHT, please contact Linda Granacher at kypartnersindance@aol.com
COME SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE UNIVERSITY
DANCE DEPARTMENT CONCERTS!
Berea Dances, a collection of dances ranging from modern to
folk will be performed November 4 at 8 pm at the Seabury Center
on Berea College Campus.
University of Kentucky Dance Ensemble will be presenting their
fall concert November 13th at 8pm and November 14th at 2 pm
at the Singletary Center Recital Hall. Guest choreographer
for UKDE this fall will be Jennifer Scianterelli. She is a
former UKDE officer and choreographer who is currently at
graduate school in Arts Administration at The Ohio State University.
Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 senior citizens and
students, $3 ages 10 and younger. Call (859) 257-2949 for
more information.
Eastern Kentucky University’s Dance Theatre will be
presenting their fall concert November 17th through the 20th.
The peformance will be held at the EKU Student Services Building
Auditorium at 8 pm. Call (859) 622-1901 for more information.
Election of KPDA Officers
The June 5th general meeting was held at Joseph Beth Bookstore
Café in Lexington, where an election of new officers
was held. Linda Granacher was elected as incoming President;
Larry Neuzel was elected as Treasurer; Rebecca Stephenson
as Vice President; Rayma Beal as Artistic Advisor; Lara Sedlaczek
as Secretary.
KPDA Board Biography's
President: Linda Granacher has been involved
in dance in Lexington for the last 40 years; first as a PE
student at UK with a concentration on dance. She later returned
to UK and again danced with the UK Dance Company under the
direction of Diane Damro. Linda joined her husband in private
practice as a psychotherapist and continued to study dance.
She studied Ballet with Nels Jorgensen, founder of Lexington
Ballet, and was involved with several Modern Dance companies.
She was on the founding Board of Directors for Contemporary
Dancers; worked with Modern Dance Kentucky and acted as business
manager for Strong Wind Wild Horses. Linda is interested in
helping Kentucky Partners in Dance Alliance develop as a liaison
between artists and their communities. She feels KPDA can
act as a wonderful, neutral support for communication and
collaboration between the different dance forms in the state,
and between individuals who love dance and want to see it
recognized in higher education and on stage, as musical theatre
and visual arts have successfully done.
Past President: Cynthia Matthews has been dancing
since she can remember, due to strong influence of her mother,
King M. Kouns, who brought modern dance to UK and founded
the ensemble in 1939. She came to Lexington in 1995 to work
on a PhD in Communication and became involved in the beginning
of KPDA shortly thereafter. She wants to see the work that
he mother began continue. King, at 94, is still interested
in seeing dance promoted in Kentucky and gives scholarships
to dance ensemble students annually.
First Vice President: Rebecca Stephenson currently
teaches dance and choreographs for the Schools for the Creative
and Performing Arts and Centre College. A native of Lexington,
she earned a BFA in Dance from The Ohio State University and
a MFA at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She
is also a certified Movement Analyst and certified and licensed
as an Occupational Therapist in the state of Kentucky
Secretary: Lara Sedlaczek has enjoyed dancing for
23 years. She started at the age of four in Louisville, Kentucky.
She graduated in 1995 from Louisville's Youth Performing Arts
School, where she was a dance major. After high school, she
attended the University of Kentucky, where she earned Bachelors
degrees in Art History and Arts Administration. She was also
a member of the UK Dance Ensemble, and was later a member
of RADAR: Dance in Reverse, a modern dance company in Lexington.
Currently, she is completing her Masters degree in Art History
and Women's Studies while also working as the Fiscal and Education
Outreach Coordinator at the UK Singletary Center for the Arts.
In the future, she hopes to earn her Ph.D. in African Art
History and teach at the college level.
Treasurer: Larry Neuzel has been associated with
the arts for over 30 years. He is currently the photographer
for Studio Players, Actors' Guild of Lexington, The Kentucky
Ballet Theatre and Ballet Under the Stars. He has photographed
Shakespeare in the Park, The Lexington Ballet, Syncopated
Inc., Children's Theatre and the actors for Chautauqua as
well as many students associated with several dance studios.
Much of Larry's photography is in black and white, but he
has recently purchased a digital camera and is learning how
to work with digital and computers. Larry is on the board
of the National Society of Arts and Letters, the Kentucky
Ballet Theatre, Kentucky Partners in Dance Alliance, and Ballet
Under the Stars. He is also a member of four camera clubs
and the Central Kentucky Computer Society. Larry owns his
own photography business and also works part-time at Murphy's
Camera store in Lexington.
Publicity: Rebecca Vice
Legal Advisor: Mindy Barfield is a practicing lawyer
in commercial and employment litigation as well as natural
resources law. She was selected as the Outstanding Young Lawyer
by the Fayette County Bar Association in 1999 and as Kentucky
Bar Association's Outstanding Young Lawyer in 2002.
Artistic Advisor: Rayma Beal has served as the dance
faculty, coordinating the Dance Minor program at the University
of Kentucky since 1986. Director of the UK Dance Ensemble,
she serves as a choreographer, dancer and producer of the
performance group. She was President of the National Dance
Association 1988-1991, President of the Kentucky Alliance
for the Arts Education 1992-1994, a member of the Dance Committee
writing group for the National Dance Standards, and is a dance
consultant in curriculum and assessment to the Kentucky Department
of Education. Dr. Beal received the National Society of Arts
and Letters Kentucky Chapter outstanding Art Education Award
in April 2000 and was a recipient of the University of Kentucky
1999 Great Teacher Award.
We want to hear from you!
We would like to encourage any KPDA Members to submit pictures
and/or announcements of performances or events for future
publications.
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