University of Tennessee Dance Company

Bachelor's Degree • Courses • Course Descriptions • Minor Requirements • Dance Company • Dance Wear • Faculty

The University of Tennessee Dance Company affords performing experiences to qualified UT students who are minoring or have a special interest in dance. Auditions for the company are held several weeks after the beginning of Fall Term and are available to all university students. Many members of the company have professional experience and /or a strong background of intensive training. The company’s repertoire includes works in various dance idioms: classical and contemporary ballet, modern dance and various styles of jazz and tap. The company is composed of approximately 55 dancers. Their main performance is held in Clarence Brown Theatre around the end of February or the first of March. Groups from the company also dance in the Hadassah Dance Perspectives show; at the Knoxville Opera’s Rossini Festival in April; and in other performances throughout the year. For the past nine years the UT Dance Company has taken a group of students and faculty to the Southeast Region, American College Dance Festival to perform works for adjudication and in informal performances, as well as to take classes from outstanding instructors and attend performances by students and professionals.

UTDC performs works choreographed by both the faculty and various guest artists. In the past few years they have been honored to recreate for the University, Knoxville and area audiences, several excerpts and full works by renowned modern dance choreographer, Martha Graham. These works included: Steps in the Street, from the suite Chronicle; Furies, from Clytemnestra; Primitive Mysteries; and this year, Celebration, a portrayal of the spirits triumph. Guest artists are brought in each year to set works in various genre'. In 2004-05, a two week workshop in the fall culminated in a suite of Bob Fosse works set by former Fosse dancer Janice Chronkhite of Los Angeles. In 2005-06, David Goud, of Lexington, KY created a contemporary "flamenco style" ballet for the company. In 2006-07 the guest artist will be in Modern Dance.

Performance Dates for 2007-08

Sept. 9	UT Dance Company Auditions	Dance Studio, 209 Alumni Memorial Building, 1:00 pm
Feb 28, 29, Mar. 1	UT Dance Company Performance	Clarence Brown Theatre 7:30 PM
March 8-11	Southeast College Dance Conference	U. of Florida, Gainsville FL
April 26	Student Choreo. Preformance	AMB Auditorium 7:30 PM

Contact Information

Dr. Joy T. DeSensi
Professor and
Associate Dean of the
Graduate School
University of Tennessee
Exercise, Sport & Leisure Studies
1914 Andy Holt Ave.
332 HPER Bldg.
Knoxville, TN 37996-2700

Phone: 865-974-1282
Email:desensi@utk.edu
Fax:  865-974-8981

Contact CEHHS

335 Claxton Complex 1122 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996

Phone: 865-974-2201
Fax: 865-974-8718