DDP Cited in Northern Kentucky University Student Paper

The Northerner: Emerging Choreographers Showcase supports the artistic growth of women

By Alyssa Weber

19 November 2019

NKU’s dance program holds an Emerging Choreographers’ Showcase every year to spotlight student talent. This year the ECS will be entirely produced and choreographed by female students.

When BFA dance coordinator and assistant professor of dance Tracey Bonner began teaching at the School of the Arts five years ago, her students didn’t even have a performance opportunity for the fall semester.

“One thing we know from higher education studies is that when students can come in and be involved in a major project within their field of interest … their retention rate is 85 percent higher,” Bonner said.

With the help of one of her students, Bonner created the ECS, which is completely student-run to encourage students to not only get involved on stage but to gain experience in choreographing, designing and stage managing.

According to Bonner, there are currently no male dance majors in the BFA dance program, however this has given the showcase the opportunity to address a topic that affects all women in the performing arts field.

Michael Hatton, theatre and dance program head, said that dance, which has been a component of theatre since at least the sixth century B.C.E., typically recruits the help of a technical director to oversee and ensure all production elements of the show work properly and safely.

Read the full article in The Northerner.