Young Dancer Workshop and Related Performances are Nov. 1 and 2 in Fine Arts Hall

October 3, 2024

October 7, 2024 – Over 200 middle and high school students and their instructors from across Florida will gather on Santa Fe College's (SF's) Northwest Campus and on the University of Florida (UF) campus for the annual Young Dancer Workshop and Showcase performance on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. in the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall at SF's Northwest Campus, 3000 NW 83 Street, Gainesville.

Tickets for the Showcase performance are $10 and are available from the SF Fine Arts Hall Box Office at 352-395-4181 or online at showpass.com/young-dancer-showcase-2024.

With a full schedule of workshops through the weekend, students will learn from members of the Doug Varone and Dancers (DOVA), Visiting Artists in residence for the event, and from SF and UF dance professors. Workshop session topics include dances in musical theatre and Broadway, hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, ballet, West African, dance in medicine and dance composition. Workshops and artist talks will give young dancers the opportunity to hear from seasoned professionals.

"We love this event because it connects everyone, from middle school students to professional dancers and dance instructors from throughout Florida—and this networking is vital to dance artists," explained SF Assistant Professor of Dance and Young Dancer Workshop Coordinator Melissa Brenner. "We're thrilled that this year, the students will be able to learn from Doug Varone and Dancers, one of the leading contemporary dance companies in the world. Our main goal with the workshop is to encourage these young people to experience dance through the lens of academia. What does dance look like in higher education? What can a college degree do for you? What kinds of careers can you have?"

Doug Varone and Dancers will kick off the workshop with a performance in the Fine Arts Hall on Friday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. Alex Springer and Xan Burley, UF professors and former DOVA dancers, are currently working with SF dance students to restage "Strict Love," a DOVA classic, to the Dance Theatre of Santa Fe (DTSF) for DTSF's performance at the Saturday Showcase. DTSF will perform alongside dancers from the University of Florida as a combined cast of students from both schools.

"This is a true collaboration between dance artists from NYC to the University of Florida, all here on our campus to enhance the training and experience of our students," Brenner said. "Collaborations like these truly transform our students and open gateways of possibilities for their future."

The events are organized and sponsored by the Young Dancer Workshop of North Central Florida, a cooperative effort of Santa Fe College and the University of Florida, and the SF Fine and Performing Arts and Entertainment Technology Department. The workshop is a primary recruiting event for the Dance programs at both SF and UF.

For more information about the Young Dancer Workshop, visit youngdancerworkshop.com or call Melissa Brenner, 352-395-4194. For information about tickets, call the SF Box Office at 352-395-4181.

The Young Dancer Workshop is partially funded by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County.