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SCENE
| April 17 | Send features
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Spring in their step
Members of the UTA Dance Ensemble
say they will dance with or without a studio
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| The Shorthorn: Brandon Wade |
| Interior design junior Lauren Wilson,
front, and undeclared freshman Ashlea Palafox practice
their dance routines Tuesday afternoon at the Swift Center
for “A Spring Concert of Dance,” which will
be at the Main Stage Theatre on April 25 and 26. |
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By Nicole
Gray
The Shorthorn Staff
Walking into the dance studio in the Swift
Center was like momentarily being transplanted to the set of Chicago
between takes.
A group of dancers practiced a tap routine, trying to stay in rhythm
as another group chasséd the steps of their ballet number.
Other members of the ensemble darted around the room adding the
final touches to multiple, contrasting costumes. Random clips of
music blasted from the speakers as the dancers continued, only to
count off their steps louder.
This is a choreographed chaos known as dress rehearsal.
The dance ensemble’s show, “A Spring Concert of Dance”,
opens April 25 and closes the next night. But the dancers seem more
worried about the destruction of their studio than they are about
the concert — even though the rumors have been circulating
over the past two years.
The university is building a new Continuing Education Building at
the intersection of Mitchell and Pecan Streets, but there are no
plans to include a dance studio in the new building. The Swift Center
will be torn down to make way for new student apartments. This concerns
many of the members of the ensemble.
One of this year’s recipients of the UTA Dance Ensemble Scholarship,
economics senior Colleen Kachlic, claims that the scholarship should
be proof of their success.
“I am glad that they are bringing [the scholarship] back. They
didn’t have it last year. It shows that they are still interested
in dance.”
Some of the members have been dancing since they could walk, others
picked it up on drill team in high school, while some just began
on campus. Interior design junior Lauren Wilson was a cheerleader
in high school and looked for a new way to express herself in college.
“It was something that I never thought I would be a part of.
I never danced until I joined the ensemble,” she said. “I
just took a technique class and have been with the ensemble ever
since. Over the past three years, my technique has improved and
so has my outlook. It’s a new part of my life that has opened
many new doors.”
The members are selected after attending just one technique class
early in the semester. This may sound intimidating to non dancers,
but undeclared junior Teresa Gillilan ensures that it isn’t.
“I am new at this. You don’t have to have any formal dance
training to audition. Just come out and try.”
Alumna Gwendolyn Davis began dancing at the university after one
year on her high school drill team. Now, after graduating in Fall
2001, she is still with the ensemble.
“Since they allow alumni to still dance, I was like ‘I’ll
stay’,” she said with a smile.
All of the members are determined to keep on dancing even though
their studio is being threatened.
Director Jamie McCann said they spend their time at the studio every
Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, and she fears there will be no other
place to have full access for practice.
“It’s just scary for us because we know that they’re
not going to build another studio,” she said.
However, the administration has expressed no desire to jeopardize
the ensemble. John Hall, the associate vice president for finances
and operations, ensures that the dance ensemble won’t be over
looked.
“The Swift Center will remain in place at least until January
2006, so the studio will continue to be available.”
Hall explained that the board recognized the dancers’ concern
and plan to transfer the studio from Swift Center to the P.E. Building.
“We have discussed the use of the P.E. Building, perhaps renovating
an unused part of the building, the men’s locker room, for
a dance studio.”
No matter when or what the outcome may be, McCann ensured that even
if the studio is destroyed, the group “will still be dancing,
even if it’s in the street.”
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