Swamp Dance Fest participants to share, learn, perform throughout month

July 11, 2014

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Dancers participating in Swamp Dance Fest at the University of Florida this month will be sharing their artistic journey with the public.

Intended for pre-professional and professional dancers ages 16 and above, Swamp Dance Fest combines a rigorous schedule of classes, rehearsals, performances, artists’ talks and special projects, composition classes, and dance for camera classes, culminating in a performance of works created during the festival, performed by students and guests.

“Swamp Dance Fest provides an intimate and creative environment for students to train in contemporary dance techniques and explore choreographic methods with professional artists,” said choreographer/filmmaker Tiffany Rhynard, who is directing Swamp Dance Fest and will create a new dance for the camera piece with the students.

Blending activism and dance, Rhynard’s work questions current social issues and weaves human stories into choreographic and cinematic performances. Swamp Dance Fest will welcome New York-based choreographers Colleen Thomas and Bill Young, recognized worldwide for their company of international artists focused on rigorous physicality and dynamic partnering. Groundbreaking New Jersey-based artists Joshua Bisset and Laura Quattrocchi, co-directors of the Shua Group, will also return as faculty members. Their works interact with audiences in unusual settings to create deep listening, exchange and moments of transformation. Finally, Miami-based installation artist Xavier Cortada will also collaborate with choreographers Whitney Wilson and Rhynard on “Clear Cut,” a new work about logging, consumerism and conservation.

The public is invited to several events throughout this year’s dance intensive:

Friday open public showings: Swamp Dance opens the doors to the public each Friday to take a peak at what students and choreographers have been working on during the week. This is a great way to see how dance pieces transform from week to week. The showings will be held in G-6 Studio on July 11, July 18 and July 25 at 5 p.m. (Free admission).

Open artist talks: Visiting artists will speak about their work, show footage of past projects and answer questions about their careers in the dance field. The Artist Talks will be held in G-6 Studio July 14, July 17, July 21 and July 24 at 7 p.m. (Free admission).

Open community classes: Swamp Dance Fest will host a series of movement classes open to the public and participants on July 12, July 19 and July 26 at 11 a.m. in G-6 Studio. This is the perfect opportunity for those who are inspired by movement, but have not had the appropriate opportunity to try to dance. (Free admission).

Swamp Dance Fest! Premiere Performances: Culminating performances feature world premieres by this year’s visiting artists in G-6 Studio July 31-August 3, 2014. Performance times are July 31-Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 for UF students, UF faculty/staff and senior citizens, and are $17 for the general public. Tickets are available through the University Box Office located at the O’Connell Center, by calling 352-392-1653 or at ticketmaster.com.

The 2014 Swamp Dance Fest! is made possible through the support of the UF Office of the Provost Creative B, the Office of the Vice President of Research, the School of Forest Resources & Conservation and the UF College of the Arts.