McMaster Dance Company steals the show at recent competitions

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/dance_opt.jpg” caption=”McMaster dancers light up the stage.”]McMaster's Dance Company was golden at two recent competitions the American Colleges Dance Festival and Canadian University Challenge Cup.
McMaster was the only Canadian university performing in the American College Dance Festival and were selected by adjudicators to show choreography in the Gala in which 10 dances were chosen from 40 entrants. The company, led by artistic director and kinesiology professor Dave Wilson, which has competed in the competition since 1989, entered both modern and urban choreography in the adjudications.
McMaster's urban hip hop piece, Higher Treason' — choreographed by second-year arts & science student Anna Strathy and third-year kinesiology student Jermaine John-Archer — was chosen to be the final number in the show. The judges praised the innovative and performance qualities of the choreography, said Wilson.
Other competing universities included Ohio State University, University of Michigan and the University of Southern Mississippi. McMaster's recreational dance program competed well against programs primarily involving dance majors, said Wilson, adding they will participate at Ohio State in 2006.
The company also entered two dances in the Canadian University Challenge Cup at the River Run Centre in Guelph on Saturday, March 12. Both McMaster's Jazz Company and Urban Company received gold medals. Other medal winners were from the University of Toronto, the University of Guelph, the University of Windsor and Humber College. Silvers were given to McMaster University's Xklusiv, York University, the University of Waterloo, Humber College, Wilfred Laurier University and Humber College. McMaster's Urban Company placed second and McMaster's Jazz Company placed third. The overall ultimate gold winners' were Queen's University. McMaster Urban Company's Higher Treason' won a special award for 'Fabulous Focus' in a section (along with younger performers) that featured close to 50 competitive dance entries.
The McMaster Dance Company will perform March 18-20 in 'Pearls of Fire', at Robinson Memorial Theatre, Chester New Hall. Show times are Friday to Sunday at 8 p.m., and a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. For tickets or more information call ext. 23878 or email dance@mcmaster.ca or visit www.mcmaster.ca/dance.