National Aspirations The 2007 Regional Dance America National Festival
You could say Regional Dance America has always had a certain pre-occupation with dance on a national level. From its mission to elevate and maintain the standard of regional dance to that of a national one via its annual Regional Festivals, Craft of Choreography Conference, and ongoing educational efforts, so much of RDA's focus is and has been on meeting a national criterion. Why then in the 50-year history of the organization is RDA embarking on only its second National Festival this month (April 24-28) in Pittsburgh? According to current RDA president Gretchen Vogelzang it came down to time and money.
"We are an all volunteer organization," said Vogelzang. "Bringing together our 90-plus member companies for a National Festival is a huge undertaking as well as a large financial risk."
First held in Houston in 1997, RDA's 2nd National Dance Festival In Pittsburgh will cap a year-long celebration begun in 2006 at each of RDA's five Regional Festivals honoring the organization's 50th year anniversary.
Founded in 1956 as the National Association of Regional Ballet (NARB) and re-named Regional Dance America in 1988, the organization began with the vision of Dance News editor Anatole Chujoy and Atlanta Civic Ballet artistic director Dorothy Alexander to decentralize dance in the U.S. from then a few major metropolitan areas to the rest of the country. Alexander hosted the organization's first Regional Festival in Atlanta in 1956 and since then RDA has continued to advance the artistic development of dance in the U.S. at a grassroots level. Over its five decades more than 200 dance companies have been NARB or RDA members including several who have gone onto national prominence including Boston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Philadanco and Washington Ballet.
Six years in the making, the 2007 National Festival will bring together nearly 2000 participants for five days of master classes and nightly performances at Pittsburgh's Benedum Center culminating in Saturday, April 28th's Gala performance evening.
Vogelzang says the organization chose Pittsburgh as the site for the National Festival because of its affordability and ease of access to a number of hotels and venues within walking distance of each other including the Festival's primary venue, The David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
"I have been so impresed with Pittsburgh," said Vogelzang. "The people are wonderful, the facilites are magnificent, and the arts & culture scene there is unlike anything I have seen in other areas of the country."
Organized by RDA's national board of directors, representatives from the Pacific, Midstates, Northeast, Sothwest, and Southeast regions and other volunteers, the National Festival is expected to cost upwards of $750, 000 and have a positive economic impact on the city of Pittsburgh worth an estimated 5 million dollars.
As at RDA's annual Regional Festivals, the focus of the National Festival's masterclasses will by on core disciplines such as ballet, modern, and jazz and will be taught by such noted instructors as Virginia Johnson, Leslie Jane Pessemier, Margo Sappington, Joe Istre, and RDA favorite Laura Alonzo.
Another of the Festival's instructors, former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer Jonathan Phelps doubles as one of the Festival's five adjudicators (one from each region) responsible for choosing the dance works to be performed at the Festival. The Southeast region's adjudicator Phelps, along with the others are also charged with programming each of the nightly performances and picking what they feel are the best overall works to receive Gala status and be performed on the Festival's final program.
"I love the whole process, It really fascinates me," said Phelps. "I enjoy the decision making and seeing the dancers from each company perform. They all have their own unique style and voice."
A mixture of 16-18 companies from each region will perform dance works a maximum of 8-minutes in length each evening creating a high quality jam-packed dance experience unlike any other.
"My goal was to have each company I adjudicated to be shown at the Festival at their very best," said Phelps. "I want each of their works to somehow be a memorable one for the audience."
Beyond the aforementioned classes and performances, The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will be conducting seminars for the dancers on nutrition and injury prevention. Plus recruiters from several dance companies and colleges will be onhand and the dancers will have the opportunity to vie for a number of individual scolarships and awards.
"Whether we bring our dancers and dance companies together for a Regional or a National Festival, they are gaining exposure to what is happening in dance on a national level, said Vogelzang. "The dancers benefit from working with and seeing their peers as well as receiving a diverse and professional level of training they might not otherwise be exposed to in their home regions."
Regional Dance America's performance showcases are Tuesday, April 24 -- Saturday, April 28 at 7pm at dowtown Pittsburgh's Benedum Center. They are open to the public. Tickets prices range from $22.50-$52.50 and are available at www.pgharts.org. For questions about this event or for more ticket information, please contact the Box Office at Theater Square at 412-456-6666.