Sunday, February 21, 2010





Students and Faculty Visit Florida State University
The afternoon dance students, theatre tech student Andrew Mulkey, Dirk Holleman and Jan Woodward traveled to Tallahassee, Florida to visit Florida State University November 12-15. The dance students observed two classes in two of the six dance studios in the spacious Dance Department building. All of the dancers watched a modern technique class with Dan Wagoner. Mr. Wagoner was a member of the Martha Graham Dance Company and the original Paul Taylor Dance Company before founding his own company Dan Wagoner and Dancers. Students were also able to observe a second class choosing from four different classes. Several of the dancers watched a class with Gerri Houlihan, who has been a guest artist at the Fine Arts Center, or a Graham technique class with Anthony Morgan, who danced with the Martha Graham Dance Company. Ms. Houlihan danced with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, formed her own dance company and is currently directing the international Choreographers in Residence Program at the American Dance Festival. Several dancers also had the opportunity to observe ballet classes with Anjali Austin, who danced with Dance Theatre of Harlem or Rick McCullough, who danced with Netherlands Dance Theatre. Jan Woodward also had a chance to speak with her FSU mentor, Lynda Davis, who performed with the Bella Lewitzky Dance Company.
The highlight of the visit was seeing FAC dance graduates Amanda Porter (Dance 2009) and Maggie Base (Dance 2009) perform in two different Days of Dance Concerts. Besides attending the dance matinee and evening performances, the group saw the theatre production of Waiting for Godot in the Theatre Department’s black box theatre.
Students were taken on a backstage tour with Ralph Walker, Scenic Studio Manager of the Theatre Department which was arranged by Dirk Holleman who worked with Mr. Walker as a student at FSU. The dancers were also given an hour-long tour of the Music Department by Associate Dean Dr. Leo Welch along with Larry Gerber, who has recently been named head of their Voice Program. Mr. Gerber was the Voice Teacher at the Fine Arts Center when the school first opened and helped arrange our tour of the music facilities at FSU. The students also had a chance to take a walking tour of the campus and enjoy the beautiful Tallahassee weather on Saturday morning.