THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503090386
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: - TERESA ANNAS
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Nearly 300 high school dancers from six states will be in town today through Sunday for the First Regional High School Dance Festival.
Such festivals, with courses taught by performers from major dance troupes, ``give students a real charge,'' said Deborah Thorpe, the festival's organizer.
Thorpe, who heads the dance program at the Governor's School for the Arts, said the event will be the nation's first such regional festival. Thirty-nine local dancers will participate.
Classes will be taught in dance studios at Old Dominion University and at Virginia Ballet Theater in Norfolk. More than 65 courses will be taught, including jazz, tap, ballet and modern dance classes, and also rare steps.
In addition, dancers will audition for representatives of colleges with dance programs and dance troupes offering summer programs, such as the Joffrey Ballet.
National dance festivals are held every other year, most recently in 1994, said Thorpe. She conceived of the regional program as a way to keep her students on their toes between national events. ILLUSTRATION: ``A REAL CHARGE'' FOR 300 DANCERS FROM 6 STATES
[Color Photo]
MOTOYA NAKAMURA/Staff
Students at the Governor's School for the Arts rehearse
``Undertones'' for the First Regional High School Dance Festival.
They are, from left, Shomaree Potter of Western Branch High School,
Jennifer Sauls of Smithfield High School, Erin Brown of Western
Branch, Heather Williams of Green Run High School, Jacqueline
Kiekota of Kempsville High School and Yvonne Carmean of Indian River
High School. The festival opens today and will continue through
Sunday.
Students at the Governor's School for the Arts rehearse at the
Virginia Ballet Theater in Norfolk. Thirty-nine local dancers will
participate in the regional festival, the first such event in the
nation.
by CNB