UM Dance Program and CoMotion Dance Project Welcome Marcus White for Guest Artist Residency

By: Feb. 11, 2016
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UM Dance and The CoMotion Dance Project announce an exciting guest-artist residency in urban dance forms with dancer/teacher/choreographer Marcus White.

White is in residence at The University of Montana School of Theatre & Dance now through February 26. During his residency, he will share his expertise with UM students by teaching a two-credit hip-hop class open to all students of all levels. He will also create and set a new choreographic work on students selected by audition that will be performed in UM's highly celebrated spring production, Dance in Concert, March 23-26.

Through a collaboration between CoMotion, SPARK! Arts Ignite Learning/The Any Given Child Initiative, and Missoula County Public Schools, White will also teach Hip-Hop Dance and Culture to eighth-grade students at CS Porter Middle School. This residency is part of the SPARK! Arts Education Initiative, which is working to ensure equitable access to the arts for all MCPS students. On February 18, University of Montana dance students will join CS Porter students for the "One Book" Event and will participate in a combined dance jam and discussion about what it means to be in college and study dance. The middle-school residency culminates in an impromptu flash mob by the eighth graders at CS Porter's "Hug Life" fundraising dance on February 26 from 7:00-9:00 pm, along with student performances throughout the day.

White has performed professionally for Theatre West Virginia, the North Carolina Black Repertory Theater Company, Michigan Ballet Theatre, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, and Livestock Players. He has been featured in works by choreographers Jerome Robbins, B.J. Sullivan, John Gamble, Duane Cyrus, and Helen Simoneau. He is currently a freelance dance artist with engagements throughout the United States.

White's choreographic work spans the United States and has been featured in programs including the North Carolina Dance Festival and the Maggie Allesee New Choreographers Showcase. He has been recognized most recently with a nomination for "Best Choreography" for the Michigan-based Wilde Awards for his work with the musical Xanadu. His skilled choreography spans across genres and styles including commercial studio, musical theatre, and concert dance; his versatility in movement styles and inventions makes him a highly sought-after choreographer and teacher. White's recent teaching credits include instruction at prestigious pre-professional institutions such as The Dance Theatre of Harlem School, University of Michigan MPulse, and Detroit Opera House Summer Dance. In addition to his teaching interests, he is the founding director of Detroit-based performance production company Marcus White/WhiteWerx.

 

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