Twenty-eight dancers from the University of Oregon drove to Montana in April to take part in the Northwest region American College Dance Festival. The dancers performed, took classes and some were even selected to perform in Washington, D.C. in June.
None of this would have been possible without Dance Oregon.
Dance Oregon is an ASUO funded program that seeks to provide opportunities for dancers on the UO campus regardless of their major or involvement in the dance department.
“We financially support and give opportunities to our members,” Liz Jones, Dance Oregon president and senior dance major said.
In addition to taking students to the ACDF, Dance Oregon also funds workshops and organizes National Dance Week.
This year, National Dance Week was held from April 25 – May 4. Dance Oregon hosted Joe Blake, a dancer from Utah for three days and Eileen King from Eugene’s King’s Crew to teach classes.
“We had a really good showing this year,” Jones said. “The people who came got a really great experience.”
Dance Oregon’s trip to the ACDF this year was particularly historic. For the first time in UO history, a piece the university performed was selected to go onto perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in June.
Rachel Winchester, UO graduate student and the choreographer of the piece selected, GIRL POOL (an adaptation), said she could not have been selected without the help from Dance Oregon.
“We are known for bringing the most people to ACDF,” said Cecilia Berghäll, Dance Oregon treasurer and senior dance major.
Dance Oregon received one of the largest budget increases from last year to this year according to Berghäll, who also works as the program’s chief liaison with the ASUO.
Berghäll said the program was able to achieve this because, “We’re proactive and we don’t exclude anyone.”
In addition to the funds received from the ASUO, Dance Oregon holds many fundraisers. They create merchandise yearly and have bar fundraisers, like performing at Cowfish and receiving the door charge.
“Our bake sales tend to make a lot of money,” Jones said.
Dance Oregon’s total number of members vary, but currently there are about 30 active members and seven people on the board.
“What we provide is opportunity for students who don’t get the chance to go outside the department and kind of explore their different realms in classes the department doesn’t necessarily offer,” Jones said.
The program is open to any one who wants to join, regardless of major or involvement in the UO Dance Department.
“We give people who aren’t able to dedicate their time to be a dace major… to be involved in dance,” Berghäll said.