3rd Annual Dance Together Alaska Festival April 24, 2009

“Come together for a weekend celebration of dance through classes, concerts, and competition!”

UAA’s 3rd Annual Dance Together Alaska Festival (DTAF) is held in recognition of UNESCO’s International Dance Day with the expressed purpose of bringing “all dance together on this occasion, to celebrate this art form and revel in its universality, to cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers and bring people together in peace and friendship with a common language.” DTAF is a unique Alaskan event which unites dance students, educators, choreographers, audiences, and other interested parties for a three-day celebration of all dance forms. This is an unparalleled opportunity for educational and creative outreach between the University and statewide dance organizations.

Although only in its third year, DTAF has been well received by UAA students and community participants. The festival consists of a So You Think You Can Dance, Alaska? competition, open dance, master classes, and finale performance. The dance competition is open all interested contestants and is free to all viewing audiences. The competition was wildly successful last year with nearly forty contestants and cheering audiences that completely filled the venue. The competition then follows with an open dance to kick of the festival with style.

Following these opening events, we offer two full days of master classes taught by esteemed dance instructors from across the state. Over 30 workshops will be available in styles such as Afro-Cuban, ballet, hip hop, clogging, social dance, Alaska Native dance, contact improvisation, and musical theatre. These classes are open to dancers of all skill levels and present various forms of cultural expression.

The festival concludes with a finale performance which presents works by 16 of Alaska’s finest dance groups. This distinctive event brings together various professional and cultural Alaskan dance companies which normally do not have opportunities to interact with each other. Performing groups include UAA Dance Ensemble, Alaska Dance Theatre, Dance Spectrum, East and West High Schools, Momentum, Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy, Ataquan Native Dancers, Chugach Mountain Range Cloggers, Ritmovida, Rumboso, Sudaruska Russian Folk Ensemble, Swingset Hooligans, and several solo and duet compositions.

For class schedules, prices, locations, and other information, please visit our website dtaf.uaa.alaska.edu. Let’s get together and dance!

Schedule of events:
Friday
*So You Think You Can Dance, Alaska? competition at 7:30 in UAA Student Union (FREE)
*Open Dance follows competition in UAA Student Union (FREE)

Saturday
*classes 9:30-6:00 in UAA’s PSB 162, Fine Arts Building Mainstage and Harper Studio (see website for prices)

Sunday
*classes 9:30-6:00 in UAA’s PSB 162, Fine Arts Building Mainstage and Harper Studio (see website for prices)
*finale performance 7:00 at UAA’s Fine Arts Building Mainstage (see website for prices)