PHOTO CUTLINE: From left, New Mexico State University sophomore dance major Kimora Pettigrew, senior dance minor Sebastian Rodriguez and sophomore dance major Maya Rivera, are co-captains of the NMSU Dancesport Ensemble. The three will attend the National Dance Education Organization National Conference this week in Albuquerque. (Courtesy photo) PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Head and shoulders of three people.
Students from the New Mexico State University Dance Program are ready to showcase their talents while touting the best NMSU has to offer this week at the National Dance Education Organization National Conference in Albuquerque.
NMSU dance faculty and students will present the university at the conference through peer presentations, original choreographic works, community leadership and prospective student recruitment, said Ryan P. McMullen, NMSU Dance Program coordinator and college assistant professor. Students and faculty will also participate in general conference events and specialized preconference intensives focusing on regional arts education and leadership.
McMullen will present the workshop, "The House Ecosystem: Groove, Footwork, and Flow," exploring somatic and technical foundations of house dance pedagogy. Senior dance major Antonella Palma will perform a striking contemporary reinterpretation of the Mexican classic “La Danza del Venado,” choreographed by Abraham Quintero. Members of the NMSU Dancesport Ensemble, led by co-captains Maya Rivera, Sebastian Rodriguez and Kimora Pettigrew, will take the stage with an energetic mambo work choreographed by guest artist Maria Galván of Micuba.
Several NMSU dance majors are serving as official conference volunteers, providing on-site support while gaining access to professional classes, movement workshops and academic panels. NMSU faculty and representatives will host a table at the NDEO College Fair Thursday evening to connect with prospective undergraduate students, educators and dance leaders from the nation.
“Through scholarship, performance and national service, NMSU Dance continues to cultivate innovative artists and rigorous educators who bridge traditional cultural forms with contemporary practices,” McMullen said.
For more information on the conference schedule, pre-conference intensives and events, visit the NDEO Conference page.
For more information on the NMSU Dance Program, visit https://kind.nmsu.edu/academic-programs/dance-main.html.
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