TAMIU Hosts Historic ACDFA Conference Feb. 28 - March 1

Over 500 dancers from a four-state region will converge on Laredo and Texas A&M International University for an historic offering of the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA) Conference Thursday, Feb. 28 – Saturday, March 3, 2012.

The TAMIU ACDFA Conference, dubbed “Bridging Paths,” represents the South-Central region including Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.  It offers an opportunity for students and faculty to engage in four and a half days of performances, workshops, panels, and master classes taught by instructors from around the region and country.

The Conference also lets students and faculty have their dance works adjudicated by a panel of nationally recognized dance professionals in an open and constructive forum.  There are no public performance or viewing opportunities.

Bede Leyendecker, TAMIU chair of the department of fine and performing arts, spearheaded the Conference’s coming to Laredo.

“This is the culmination of five years of planning and we are excited to host this historic Conference, to showcase our University and its dance programs and, of course, our famous Laredo hospitality,” Leyendecker explained.

Joining the Conference as adjudicators are Jeffery Bullock, Hollins University; Sabrina Castillo, Universidad Rafael Landivar in Guatemala City, Guatemala and William Evans, State University of New York at Brockport  and the Bill Evans Dance Company. Special Guest Artist is Marc Aurelio, a Spaniard who now resides in Italy.

The Conference schedule is tightly organized around classes, adjudicated concerts and performance reviews, but will provide participants with opportunities to visit local restaurants, shop in an on-site vendor fair, tour the campus and participate in special on-campus events.

The ACDFA’s primary focus is to support and promote the wealth of talent and creativity that is prominent throughout college and university dance departments.  Formed in 1971, it includes 10 regions including 300 colleges or university members.

For additional information, contact the department of fine and performing arts at 326.2654, email bleyendecker@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, suite 217.

To learn more about the ACDFA, go to acdfa.org

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu