A lack of interest for the University art department has sparked concern throughout the surrounding community. Thus, Student Council formed the Ad Hoc Dance Committee/Campaign to celebrate and emphasize the importance of the arts in everyday life.
To show their support and enthusiasm, the Dance Committee has been promoting a more diverse dance program at the University.
Early this spring, Medical Center employee Sage Blaska, also a visiting dance lecturer, became involved with the Dance Committee, working alongside a consultant to reinvigorate support for the dance program. Blaska said she was among fellow faculty members and several students who "recognized the deficiency" of the University's dance department.
Blaska said she desires to transform her passion at the University for the greater benefit of the students and the community by providing them with exposure to a wide range of artistic diversity.
The Dance Committee's goal is to establish a dance program for aspiring dance members to draw more dancers to the University and to "make dance more prominent," said Moira Menges, chair of the Council arts committee. "It was a concern last year, but now the committee is more cohesive."
While the Dance Committee concentrates strictly on dance, the Student Arts Committee "focuses more on the arts in general as opposed to favoring one area over another," Menges said.
The group's mission is to facilitate a dance program, Blaska said.
"The Dance Committee/Campaign works to bring dance companies to come teach with master classes or residencies at U.Va.," she added.
From Nov. 19-22 of this year, the committee sponsored a residency in which the Group Motion Multimedia Dance Theatre performed at the University. Students had the opportunity to get involved by performing with them in concert.
This semester, a $50 million dollar donation to the Arts Department was received to help ignite this arts reformation.
According to Blaska, a proposal to improve the arts went to the offices of the President and the Provost. It is up to their discretion to determine when such an expensive project will begin to unfold. However, neither office has issued a decision, thus, no dates have been set.
The Ad Hoc Dance Committee and the Student Arts Committee strive to make the arts more dominant within the University and its students, Blaska said.
Both committees ultimately desire to bring out and celebrate individuals' talents, ranging in many different forms of artistic flares, Menges added.
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