GJDC and Point Park Present Jazz Dance World Congress 2012, August 1-5

Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (GJDC) and Point Park University will present Jazz Dance World Congress 2012, an international consortium of dancers and teachers to further the legacy of jazz dance and education. This five day educational event unites teachers, dancers, and choreographers from all over the world and will take place on the campus of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa. from August 1-5, 2012, with additional classes and performances at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture and the Byham Theater.

Returning after a three year hiatus, this year’s Congress will include the acclaimed Jazz Dance World Festival. Sponsored by Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit, and Dance Teacher, this unique festival will feature American and International dance companies in four completely different evening performances. Preceding each night of the festival will be pre-performances of the International Choreography Competition, sponsored by Dance Studio Life. The first place winner of this esteemed competition will receive $2,500 and the special opportunity to perform alongside the professional companies headlining the Festival.

Jazz Dance World Congress will also feature daily classes taught by Master Faculty including Joe Tremaine, Homer Bryant, Randy Duncan, Del Dominguez, Autumn Eckman, Laura Flores, Nan Giordano, Liz Imperio, Ray Leeper, Masashi Mashiro, Pattie Obey, Susan Quinn, and more to be announced soon. All classes will be held in beautiful dance studios with sprung floors and mirrors. Additionally, a special program of KIDS Jazz Dance will be offered for dancers ages 9 -12.

The first Jazz Dance World Congress was presented in 1990 by Gus Giordano and the Dance Program of Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and repeated in 1992 and 1994. Since then the Congress has been held in Japan (1995), the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (1996), Germany (1997), Phoenix, AZ (1998), Buffalo, NY (1999, 2000, 2003) Monterrey, Mexico (2001), San Jose, Costa Rica (2004), and Chicago, IL (2005, 2007, 2009). Wherever the Jazz Dance World Congress has been presented, it has involved not only the local dance community, but also the general public who purchase tickets for the professional Jazz Dance Performances that end each day.

For additional information and to register for Jazz Dance World Congress 2012 please visit www.jazzdanceworldcongress.org or call 847-866-6779.

Jazz Dance World Congress 2012 is co-presented in partnership with Point Park University. Premiere sponsors are Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine, and Dance Teacher Magazine. Additional sponsors include Wyndham Pittsburgh Grand Downtown Hotel, Dance Studio Life Magazine, and the August Wilson Center for Center for African American Culture.