Colby at Dance Festival

Colby at ACDFA
March 9-12, 2011
Keene, NH

For the first time in many years, Colby students attended the American College Dance Festival Association Annual regional conference participating in a series of master classes, discussions, and performances representing New England’s best in college dance. Attendees this year included Assistant Professor Annie Kloppenberg, and T&D Dance focus minors Mika Mintz (‘14), Ellie McGuire (’13) and Delaney McDonough (’13). We were all especially excited to connect with Colby Alumna Heidi Henderson, who is artistic director of Elephant JANE Dance and on faculty at Connecticut College.

Here’s what the students had to say:

“ACDFA was one of the most academically influential experiences of my life. I have never been exposed to so many wonderful, passionate, and impressive people in any field. The few days were challenging, exhausting, thrilling, and most remarkably inspiring. I’m still exhausted but still processing all of this fresh knowledge. “

-Delaney McDonough (’13)

“ACDFA was a truly enlightening experience. Learning from other teachers and choreographers, as well as interacting with undergraduate students with the same passion for dance and artistic creation was inspirational, motivating, and eye-opening. I believe that this experience will benefit student work at Colby and cross collegiate collaboration in the future.”

– Ellie McGuire (’13)

Click HERE to read Ellie’s dance blog with independent study partner Logan Hunter (‘11).

“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the American College Dance Festival. Never, in my fourteen years as both a dancer and a student, have I experienced something so enriching and rewarding. The feeling of being completely immersed in a world of dance left me wanting more. After viewing performances choreographed by students like myself and taking classes by a number of inspiring dancers and choreographers, I couldn’t stop creating my own movement. Whether it was in the elevator of the hotel or waiting in line for lunch, I couldn’t stop dancing.”

– Mika Mintz (’14)

Dance Master Classes 2010-2011

Beginning in September, dance faculty at Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin initiated a practice of inviting a small group of students from each institution to attend master classes with visiting artists, a practice that we look forward to continuing. This year, Colby students had the opportunity to take class with the following visiting artists:

Kyle Abraham (@ Colby)
Monica Bill Barnes (@ Bowdoin)
Kendra Portier (@ Colby)
Alli Ruszkowski (@ Colby)
Larry Keigwin (@ Bowdoin)