Gainesville, Fla., June 30, 2014 — Swamp Dance Fest 2014, directed by choreographer/filmmaker Tiffany Rhynard, is a transformative four-week dance intensive taking place July 7-August 3, 2014 at the University of Florida (UF) School of Theatre and Dance in G-6 Studio in the Nadine M. McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion, Gainesville, Florida. Intended for pre-professional and professional dancers ages 16 and above, Swamp Dance Fest combines a rigorous schedule of classes, rehearsals, performances, artists’ talks and special projects, composition classes, and dance for camera classes, culminating in a performance of works created during the festival, performed by students and guests.
“The School of Theatre and Dance has had a summer intensive since the inception of the dance program,” said Rhynard. “Four summers ago it was renamed Swamp Dance Fest by then-director Neta Pulvermacher. Swamp Dance Fest provides an intimate and creative environment for students to train in contemporary dance techniques and explore choreographic methods with professional artists.”
2014 Faculty Members
Returning faculty member Rhynard directs this year’s festival and will create a new dance for the camera work with students. Blending activism and dance, Rhynard’s work questions current social issues and weaves human stories into choreographic and cinematic performances. Swamp Dance Fest will welcome New York-based choreographers Colleen Thomas and Bill Young, recognized worldwide for their company of international artists focused on rigorous physicality and dynamic partnering. Groundbreaking New Jersey-based artists Joshua Bisset and Laura Quattrocchi, co-directors of the Shua Group, will also return as faculty members. Their works interact with audiences in unusual settings to create deep listening, exchange and moments of transformation. Finally, Miami-based installation artist Xavier Cortada will also collaborate with choreographers Whitney Wilson and Rhynard on Clear Cut, a new work about logging, consumerism and conservation.
Schedule of Public Events
The public is invited to several events throughout this year’s dance intensive:
- Faculty Performance at the Harn Museum of Art: The Swamp Dance performance series kicks off with this event at the Harn Museum of Art during Museum Nights on Thursday, July 10, 2014 from 6-9 p.m. (Free admission)
- Swamp Dance Fest! Premiere Performances: Culminating performances feature world premieres by this year’s visiting artists in G-6 Studio July 31-August 3, 2014. Performance times are Thursday, July 31-Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 3 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 for UF students, UF faculty/staff and senior citizens, and are $17 for the general public. Tickets are available through the University Box Office located at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, by calling 352-392-1653 or at ticketmaster.com.
- Friday Open Public Showings: Swamp Dance opens the doors to the public each Friday to take a peak at what students and choreographers have been working on during the week. This is a great way to see how dance pieces transform from week to week. The showings will be held in G-6 Studio on Friday July 11, July 18 and July 25 at 5 p.m. (Free admission)
- Open Artist Talks: Visiting artists will speak about their work, show footage of past projects and answer questions about their careers in the dance field. The Artist Talks will be held in G-6 Studio July 14, July 17, July 21 and July 24 at 7 p.m. (Free admission)
- Open Community Classes: Swamp Dance Fest will host a series of movement classes open to the public and participants on Saturday, July 12, July 19 and July 26 at 11 a.m. in G-6 Studio. This is the perfect opportunity for those who are inspired by movement, but have not had the appropriate opportunity to try to dance. (Free admission)
“A summer intensive … quite unlike any other.” —Dance Magazine (January 2013)
The 2014 Swamp Dance Fest! is made possible through the generous support of the UF Office of the Provost Creative B, the Office of the Vice President of Research, the School of Forest Resources & Conservation and the UF College of the Arts.
Registration Information
Tuition for non-UF students is $1,300 for four-weeks and $750 for two weeks. A non-refundable application fee of $50 is required for non-UF students. Housing is available on campus for $1,020 for four weeks and $505 for two weeks (includes internet access). Early registration is recommended, as spots are limited. Registration is open to college students, as well as high school juniors and seniors. UF students can register for the festival, DAA4920, with Kevin Austin at kaustin@arts.ufl.edu. To learn more about this year’s event, visit
http://conferences.dce.ufl.edu/SDF/default.aspx?page=850.
About the School of Theatre + Dance
The School of Theatre + Dance is one of the University of Florida College of the Arts’ three fully accredited schools. Undergraduate students can pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting, dance, musical theatre, theatre production—including costume design, lighting design and scenic design—or a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance studies or general theatre. Minors are also offered in dance and theatre as well as certificates in arts in medicine and dance in healthcare. Student organizations, showcase programs and other intensives provide students with invaluable professional experiences. UF is home to three School of Theatre + Dance theaters, including the Constans Theatre, Black Box and G-6 Studio. To learn more about the School of Theatre + Dance, including upcoming performance dates and ticket information, visit www.arts.ufl.edu/theatreanddance.
About the College of the Arts
The College of the Arts, previously known as the College of Fine Arts, is one the 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The College of the Arts offers baccalaureate, master’s and Ph.D. degree programs in its three fully- accredited schools — the School of Art + Art History, School of Music and School of Theatre + Dance. The college is home to the Center for Arts in Medicine, Center for World Arts, Digital Worlds Institute, University Galleries and the New World School of the Arts in Miami. More than 100 faculty members and more than 1,220 students work together daily to engage, inspire and create. The college hosts more than 300 performances, exhibitions and events each year. Faculty and students also exhibit and perform at other local, national and international venues. To learn more, visit www.arts.ufl.edu.
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Media Contact:
Leah Craig, Public Relations and Marketing Manager
College of the Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Office: 352.273.1489 | Cell: 904.419.3346 | lcraig@arts.ufl.edu
