Hartt Community Division to Present HARTTWORKS Dance Program

The Hartt School Community Division (HCD) presents its annual HarttWorks dance performance Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Millard Auditorium at the University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.

HarttWorks offers the unique opportunity for audience members to observe multi-genre, professional-quality dance works performed by HCD's top dance students. Dancers will perform works ranging from classical and contemporary ballet to modern dance, jazz, and tap.

This year's performances feature a special collaboration between the HCD dance and music departments. Honors music composition student Xavier Blackwell-Lipkind, a sophomore at Conard High School in West Hartford, has composed original music that will be performed live during the modern segment at both performances. Hartt School alumna Rebecca DeNies (BFA, '14) choreographed the piece. Dancers will be accompanied by an advanced chamber music trio, Fibonacci Trio, comprised of Northwest Catholic High School senior Kate Jessen on clarinet, South Windsor High School sophomore Gabe Galley on viola, and Glastonbury High School senior Karlee Cummings on piano.

In addition to DeNies's modern piece, the evening will include a classical ballet performance staged by HCD Dance Chair Carol Roderick, a ballet premiere choreographed by Ballet Master Susannah Marchese, a musical theatre jazz and tap piece choreographed by Dance Faculty/Assistant Director of Dance Administration Melissa Chasse, and a modern piece choreographed by Hartt Professor of Dance Stephen Pier.

Tickets are $10 each, and can be purchased via the University Box Office at 860.768.4228 or 800.274.8587, or online at hartford.edu/tickets. University of Hartford and Hartt Community Division faculty, staff, and students are entitled to one free ticket, which must be reserved in advance through the box office.

The Hartt School Community Division (HCD) is a comprehensive community arts school that annually provides performing arts instruction to more than 2,800 students. As the community arm of The University of Hartford's Hartt School, the mission of HCD is to enrich lives through innovative and unparalleled performing arts education. HCD's diverse programing provides a comprehensive music and dance experience for students of all ages and abilities. For more information on The Hartt School Community Division, visit hartford.edu/hcd.

The Hartt School is the performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre. Founded in 1920, Hartt has been an integral part of the University of Hartford since its charter merged the then Hartt School of Music, the Hartford Art School, and Hillyer College to create the University in 1957. 2010 markEd Hartt's 90th year of providing world class performing arts education to students in Greater-Hartford and around the world. With more than 400 concerts, recitals, plays, master classes, dance performances, and musical theatre productions each year, performance is central to Hartt's curriculum. For more information about The Hartt School, visit hartford.edu/hartt.

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