NW dance program swells to 25 sections to meet demands

By Tiffany Reed/reporter

NW students are dancing their way across campus and into the community.

Founded in 1998 with one class and 10 students, the program has grown to more than 25 classes, with at least three satisfying the core curriculum performing arts credit.

The program also includes two dance companies.

To join the Northwest Dance Company, students must sign up for one of the many dance classes offered.

And interested dancers, male or female, need not worry about how much or how little experience they have.

Participation is open, Lacreacia Sanders, associate professor and choreographer, said.

“Regardless of age or skill level, anyone is welcome,” she said.

Sanders said each class and dance can be altered to reflect the diverse skill levels of each group.

Being part of the program may require workout clothes and a good pair of shoes, but depending on the class and type of dance, shoes may not be required.

“Some performances are done barefoot,” she said.

In addition to the Northwest Campus Dance Company, which consists of dancers of all skill levels, NW Campus is home to the Mosaic Dance Project, a touring company started in 2004.

Mosaic comprises more advanced dancers and holds auditions during the summer.

The program requires about eight hours a week of practice outside of class time.

“Members of the Mosaic Dance Project act as mentors to those newer to dance and help with moves they may be having trouble with,” she said.

“They also help others feel more comfortable performing,” she said.

Dancers can expect at least two performances, one formal and one informal, each semester.

The touring company can expect anywhere from 10 to 15 performances each semester.

These performances include shows at elementary schools, high schools and local events and various formal and informal concerts on NW Campus.

The dance program, by its very nature, inspires creativity not only through dance moves, but also allows the students to show their creativity through choreography and even lighting design, Sanders said.

At last semester’s informal dance concert Fall into Dance, Deborah Golden, Mosaic member, choreographed her own piece called “Scenes from a Memory,” based on one of her favorite paintings.

“[The dance piece let me] discover other ways of expressing emotions through movement rather than words and finding new ways to amplify expressions,” she said.

Golden said diversity is another advantage of the NW program.

“It encourages everyone to dance, no matter where they came from or what their level of experience is,” she said.

Golden said the program has helped her open up and build new relationships with several other students.

Students can enroll in various types of dance classes including ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, modern, performance, improvisation and dance composition.

The program also offers Dance Appreciation for non-dancers.

Students wanting more information on the program, including how to join the dance companies, can visit the performing arts/dance Web site from the NW Campus link at www.tccd.edu

In addition, students can contact the instructor of the class they want to take.