Solo Piece by U of M Student is Showcased Among the Best in College Dance
For release: Mar. 31, 2003

A solo dance piece by University of Memphis student Milanda McGinnis was performed at the Gala Concert of the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA) Southeast Region Festival in March. Of the 46 schools entered, only eight dance pieces were selected for the concert held in Miami, Florida. Of the eight pieces performed, only three were choreographed by students.

McGinnis is a senior majoring in theatre with a concentration in dance. Her piece PolitRICKIN' is set to the poetry of Amiri Baraka and expresses the experience of being a young African-American woman in 2003. McGinnis was chosen to represent the Department of Theatre and Dance at the ACDFA regional festival after performing the piece earlier this year at the U of M.

ACDFA festivals recognize and celebrate excellence in performance and provide opportunities for college faculty and students to have their works adjudicated and critiqued by established professionals. The adjudication process has been carefully refined in order to provide an optimum learning experience for dancers and to make certain that the Gala Concerts showcase only the best in college dance.

The Department of Theatre and Dance is also honored to have Chastity Harris, a junior with a concentration in dance, accepted for the highly competitive Ailey Dance Intensive. Harris will spend seven weeks this summer dancing at the Alvin Ailey School.

For more information, contact Alice Berry at 678-3184.

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