By MELINDA JONE
East meets west in Provo as the BYU Dance Department hosts its annual Modern Dance Workshop, which began Monday. This four-week program allows modern dance students and teachers alike to receive in-depth instruction from a professional New York City dancer.
“We look at this workshop as a chance to bring New York to Provo when we can’t take our students from Provo to New York so easily,” said Modern Dance Division Chair Cathy Black. “New York is one of the cutting edges in the dance scene, so it is helpful to bridge that gap when we have summer guest artists.”
This year’s guest artist is Scott Rink, who has danced with the dance companies of Lar Lubovitch, Eliot Feld and Elisa Monte.
Black said Rink visited the campus several years ago as a performer with Lar Lubovitch, but this is his first time at BYU as a teacher. “He has taught master classes throughout the United States, Europe and South America. He is an accomplished teacher and also choreographer in his own right,” Black said.
Rink teaches three classes daily, beginning with two hours of modern dance technique in the morning. Afternoon classes include modern dance improvisation and composition.
BYU credit is available through the workshop.
“Participants register for advanced undergraduate or graduate credit. It’s up to four hours total. You can sign up for some of the classes, one of the classes, or all of the classes,” said Michele Kennedy, assistant conference planner.
Black sees the program as excellent training for students, faculty and dancers in the community. The BYU Modern Dance Workshop runs through Aug. 9. For more information call Conferences and Workshops at 378-4851
