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Gators GO Global!

Some artists and other creative individuals go beyond boundaries to create—they explore the edges of discipline, culture, time, place, and expectations, too. Why?  They want to live and participate in the whole world! As they do, they engage with creatives from everywhere. Frankly, that's fun!  Many UF student-artists yearn for a world without boundaries... like University Scholar Kyle Mosler  (BFA Dance 2014). Kyle studied under Germaine Acogny  and Patrick Acogny at Ecole des Sables, Toubab Dialaw, Senegal: read about Kyle's project here. Ashley LeBlanc (BFA Dance 2015), University Scholar, reached across economic boundaries to test whether and how arts "inreach" could fuel educational achievement. Manrique Torrens (BFA Dance 2016) collaborated with CWA Visiting Scholar Yujie Chen to create a dance film entitled CENTER SPHERE. Amanda Stambrosky (BFA Dance 2016) served as the inaugural Center for World Arts/Harn Museum choreographer-in-residence; and CWA/Harn CIR's Nicole Assanti (BFA Dance 2016), Ashley LeBlanc (BFA Dance 2015), Andrea Ward (BFA Dance 2017), and Haley Simmons (BFA Dance 2018) followed.

2018-19 Center for World Arts/ Harn Choreographers 

Dani Frost (BFA Dance 2019)

Dani Frost is a senior BFA Dance major, BA Digital Arts and Sciences major, and Theatre minor at the University of Florida. Earlier this year, Dani spent four months studying dance in Paris, France. Also, Dani participated in the Bates Dance Festival Professional Training Program in Lewiston, Maine. Currently, Dani is working toward finding new ways to incorporate digital media within choreography.

Alex Murphy (BFA Dance 2018)

Alex is a Senior at the University of Florida (BFA Dance December 2018). He has worked with  Duane Cyrus, Clarice Young, Christian von Howard, Moustapha Bankoura, and has been a member of MOD Dance Ensemble directed under Trent D. Williams, Jr. Alex began his dance career just three years ago. Alex’s emergent choreographic voice reflects his experiences as a bi-racial man who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Alex’s choreography comments on the varied physical and mental states of the human experience.

Through the award of a RTA by the Center for African Studies and the Provost of the University of Florida, dance majors Denzel Williams (BFA Dance 2018) and Karla Vanessa Narvaez (BFA Dance 2018), were fully funded to accompany Master Lecturer in African Performing Arts Mohamed DaCosta on a research trip to Conakry, Guinea in summer 2017. Denzel and Karla assisted Mohamed in developing and staging new choreography for AGBEDIDI! The clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67wyg_tjXHI shows the point of view of the pre-professional undergraduate dance majors, Karla Vanessa Narvaez and Denzel Z. Williams as they studied with Guinean dance experts Moussa Condé and Djibril Abadji (Ballet Merveille du Guinée) and engaged in daily life in Conakry, Guinea from June 1-23, 2017. In fall 2017, the two student-researchers shared their learning with 45 peers in two classes: World Dance and Intercultural Performance and West African Music and Dance. The dance work was restaged for the dancers performing and, in December 2017, was presented on the program of AGBEDIDI for student and public audiences of approximately 1000; in spring 2018, the students gave two additional presentations on their research experience for the campus and public community reaching an additional 500 individuals; the dance work was performed in spring 2018 on two occasions at the Harn Museum of Art for approximately1000 individuals. The project reached over 2500 individuals including students and greater public and created two dancers who have set their professional sites on ethnography and performance. 

2018-19 CWA Ambassador

Maria 'Merci' Lopez (BFA Dance 2019)

Maria “Mercy” Lopez was given the remarkable opportunity to receive extensive training from Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Gaa’ton, Israel. She trained intensely for a two-week period and learned from many prestigious artists such as Yamit Kalef, Shumalit Bar Gai, David Ben Shimon, Denise Peri, Ido Gidron and the list goes on. She could have not done this without the guidance of Dr. Joan Frosch and the graciousness from the Center of Jewish Studies Director, Jack Kugelmass.

It's EASY to Get Started

All students may enroll in open sections of DAA 2381 World Dance and Intercultural Performance (GEN ED H, N) through the School of Theatre + Dance; Kevin Austin, undergraduate advisor kaustin@arts.ufl.edu can assist with registration, as needed. Several sections of the course are offered in fall and spring, each with a different focus. For example, in fall 2018, we will offer sveral sections of DAA 2381 open sections include YOGA (T,R, Periods 6 - 7, 12:50 PM - 2:45 PM); AFRO-BRAZILIAN DANCE (T,R, Periods 8 - 9, 3:00 PM - 4:55 PM). The WEST AFRICAN section is by permission only and presents the major annual concert of AGBEDIDI on the stage of the Constans Theatre each fall under the direction of Senior Lecturer Mohamed DaCosta (T,R, Periods 8 - 10, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM). Those not already enrolled as dance students are encouraged to audition. Musicians can register for the music section of AGBEDIDI (MUN 2491 World Music Ensemble) by permission of the instructor through the School of Music. Though previous musical experience is helpful, it is not required. DAA 2331 West African Dance and Music is the prerequisite for the West African section of DAA 2381 World Dance and Intercultural Performance. DAA 2331 is offered fall and spring.

CWA Ambassadors

CWA Ambassadors energize the Center's ongoing commitment to link local and global communities through the arts. Through the Ambassador program, UF students engage in learning experiences beyond the "walls" of the university. CWA Ambassadors, such as Karla Narvaez (BFA Dance 2018) ambassador for CWA guest artist Marisol Salinas and Juliana Azoubel, take visiting artists under their wing during their visits to UF—building professional relationships with leaders in the global field of dance or theatre. Other ambassadors perform at community-based festivals and special campus events to support programs for the youngsters of our community who may not otherwise encounter music and dance in their early education. Thanks to our steadfast partners and our terrific CWA Ambassadors, CWA Artists-in-Residence and DAA 2381 faculty uplift public communities through the arts.

CWA/Harn Choreographer-in-Residence (CIR) Program

The semester-long program steeps the talents of an up-and-coming student-choreographer in the richness and diversity of the collections of UF's celebrated Harn Museum of Art. The selected choreographer "moves" the message of the Harn's exhibitions and special events, creating and presenting dance works for museum goers. When available during Summer B, the CWA/Harn choreographer-in-residence program also serves as liaison for SWAMP DANCE FEST! UF's BA and BFA dance majors may apply annually for announced fall, spring or summer residencies. CIR's do GREAT things! For example, CWA/Harn Choreographers-in-Residence helped to plan the annual Center for World Arts' initiative at the Harn Museum of Art: "Harn Museum of DANCE." Applications for the fall 2018 CWA/Harn Choreographer-in-Residence Program are available here. For more information contact: Dr. Joan Frosch at jfrosch@arts.ufl.edu; or Elizabeth King at eking@harn.ufl.edu