FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (3/06)
Contact: Professor Ginger Folmer, Coordinator of the Dance Program, 318-869-5077, or Lynn Stewart, Centenary News Service, 318-869-5120

See article in The (Shreveport) Times

Centenary College Dancers Selected for College Dance Programs' Highest Honor—Performance at the Kennedy Center

	Centenary College of Louisiana dancers, who will be performing at the Kennedy Center in May, are (left to right) Renée Nolen, Andrew Nieman, Courtney Rhodes (on knees), Anna Maris (cradling hands) and Amanda Adams (on floor with blanket). Not pictured dancer Nic Gadpaille and understudy Jessica Gorbaty, who will also travel to Washington, D.C.

SHREVEPORT, LA — "Dancing for joy" is an apt description of dancers at Centenary College of Louisiana, who just learned of their selection for the highest honor that college/university dance programs can receive—performing at the Kennedy Center.

The dance program at Centenary has been selected to perform its composition, “Swept Under,” at the American College Dance Festival’s National Conference at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., May 16-19.

"This is the most prestigious honor that college/university dance programs can receive," said Ginger D. Folmer, professor and coordinator of the dance program at Centenary.

The National College Dance Conference showcases dance performances selected by the adjudicators from each of the regional conferences. Selections are based on their outstanding artistic excellence and merit. The primary objective of the National Conference is to highlight, on the national level, the outstanding quality of choreography and performance that is being created on college and university campuses.

“Swept Under” was choreographed by Centenary adjunct faculty member Renée Smith-Cheveallier, who also designed and constructed the costumes. The performers are Centenary students and members of Escaped Images Dance Company. They are Amanda Adams of Richardson, Texas; Nic Gadpaille of Shreveport, La.; Anna Maris of Little Rock, Ark.; Andrew Nieman of Natchitoches, La.; Renée Nolen of Many, La.; and Courtney Rhodes of Vidor, Texas. Jessica Gorbaty of Houma, La., will also attend as understudy. Angela Jones Rosenkrans, adjunct dance faculty member, collaborated with the choreographer on the lighting design.

"This multimedia, layered composition comments on the unspoken emotions of a family impoverished by the Dust Bowl – yet the images produced are timeless," Smith-Cheveallier said. "This piece is performed in the modern dance/theatre style with a score of Woody Guthrie’s 'Do Re Me' recorded by the contemporary artist Ani DiFranco. In addition, this piece is also accompanied by a spoken narrative of Woody Guthrie’s '…Till We Outnumber ‘Em' and a video projection of home movies by Alabama artist Pinky MM Bass."

“Swept Under” will be performed at the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse on the Centenary College campus as part of a larger presentation on April 23 at 2:30 p.m. Proceeds from this production will be used to help cover the expenses of participating in the Kennedy Center event.

Anyone who wishes to support the dancers—who will be representing Centenary College, the city of Shreveport, and the state of Louisiana at the National College Dance Conference—may send a tax-deductible contribution (made payable to Centenary College Dance Festival Fund) to:
Ginger D. Folmer
Professor and Coordinator of the Dance Program
Centenary College of Louisiana
P.O. Box 41188
Shreveport, LA 71134-1188

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