Regional High School Dance Festival

press release: During Spring Break, the UW-Madison Dance Department will host its first Regional High School Dance Festival, March 23-26, 2017, bringing over 500 high school students, teachers and recruiters from across the nation and beyond to participate in over 80 classes, five free concerts and several social opportunities at the Memorial Union and Union South.

This four-day Festival, which is offered under the umbrella of the National High School Dance Festival (NHSDF) organization, is packed with performances, workshops and lectures from faculty, students and professional artists, as well as master classes in contemporary technique, ballet, social and popular dance forms, somatic practice, and more. Auditions will be held for college, university and summer dance programs. There will also be a College Fair where students can speak with dance faculty and teachers from colleges and university dance programs.

Participating high schools hail from Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, and China. Twenty-eight post-secondary institutions form across the nation will participate in the College Fair.

Festival Headliner – Giordano Dance Chicago

Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC), America’s critically acclaimed, original jazz dance company, will headline the Festival with a free concert (open to the public) Thursday, March 23, 7:30 p.m. at the Wisconsin Union Theater’s premiere venue, Shannon Hall. GDC has captivated audiences worldwide with its dynamic high-impact artistry and diverse repertoire, including new and innovative jazz dance choreography that redefines jazz dance. For more about GDC visit www.giordanodance.com.

The Festival will also feature two student showcase concerts and two gala concerts filled with amazing student choreography, also free and open to the public.

Concerts will take place at the Wisconsin Union Theater, Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street. These events are unticketed and open to everyone.

     Thursday, March 23, 2017: 7:30 p.m. Giordano Dance Chicago

     Friday, March 24, 2017: 5:30 p.m. Student Showcase Concert; 8:00 p.m. Gala Concert

     Saturday, March 25, 2017: 5:30 p.m. Showcase Concert; 8:00 p.m. Gala Concert