June 2012, Volume 16, Number 3

Making Their Mark

Tapping Into the Community’s Heartbeat

Dancers performing
The Jubilation Dance Ensemble performs during the "Artistry in Rhythm" dance conference series.
Flamenco dancer
The AIR Dance Conference featured performances in a wide range of dance forms, including ballet, modern, flamenco, hip-hop, jazz and Afro-Brazilian.

Establishing creative liaisons, Kendall Campus’ Department of Music, Theater and Dance recently launched the premiere of its new spring dance conference series “Artistry in Rhythm: Engaging the Community.”

“This conference created a bridge between the community and professional dance artists residing in Miami,” said Michelle Grant-Murray, MDC dance professor and conference organizer. “It presented an amazing platform for all participants to engage in both the physicality and the academic world of dance.”

Floating on AIR

This scholarly artistic event, also known by its acronym as the AIR Dance Conference, explored the significance of community engagement through the vernacular of dance, encouraged community development and enhanced the professional growth of young dancers through a series of master classes, lecture-demonstrations and performances in a wide range of dance forms, including ballet, modern, flamenco, hip-hop, jazz and Afro-Brazilian, among others.

“This new conference highlights the high level of artistic involvement between MDC’s dance department and the community,” said Rodester Brandon, who heads Kendall Campus’ Music, Theater and Dance Department.

Exceptional Experience

During the action-packed, three-day event, Kendall Campus’ Jubilation Dance Ensemble delighted participants with free performances showcasing the talents of MDC dance students. Those attending learned valuable lessons from the performers and in the master classes.

”The teachers were phenomenal,” said participant Noelle Fleureau.

Attendee Tiffany Merritt-Brown was equally impressed.

”The AIR Dance Conference surpassed all of my expectations,” she said. “It reaffirmed my belief that ‘Dance Is Life!’”

— BK


More Making Their Mark Articles

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