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American College Dance Festival at KSC

Acclaimed modern dance troupe Monica Bill Barnes and Company will open the American College Dance Festival at KSC.
Acclaimed modern dance troupe Monica Bill Barnes and Company will open the American College Dance Festival at KSC.

KEENE, N.H., 2/15/2011 - Keene State College will host the American College Dance Festival Association New England Conference from Wednesday to Saturday, March 9 to 12 at the Redfern Arts Center, which will open with a performance by the acclaimed New York choreographer Monica Bill Barnes. The conference, presented by KSC’s Theatre and Dance Department, will continue with four adjudicated dance concerts highlighting the work of faculty, guest artist and student choreographers, culminating with a special gala performance by guest artists.

The opening performance by Monica Bill Barnes and Company will take place on Wednesday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Main Theatre; tickets range from $20 to $7, or $5 for KSC students. The four adjudicated concerts will take place at 1 and 8:15 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, March 10 and 11 in the Main Theatre, and will be followed by public feedback sessions with adjudicators; tickets are $5 for the concerts, and admission is free for the feedback sessions. The closing performance will take place on Saturday, March 12 at 4 p.m. in the Main Theatre; tickets range from $10 to $6. This final performance will feature distinguished dance professionals including David Dorfman, Monica Bill Barnes and Mark Haim.

The American College Dance Festival Association was formed in 1971 to support and promote excellence in college dance. Last hosted by Keene State’s Theatre and Dance Department in 1989, the American College Dance Festival provides annual opportunities for college dancers to have their works adjudicated and critiqued by established professionals while building a network of communication within the college dance community and between the college and the professional dance world. This year’s conference will feature attendance by 380 students and faculty from more than 30 colleges and universities, and will include 60 classes and workshops in addition to the public events above.

Kicking off the conference is Monica Bill Barnes, a dancer known for her quirky physical comedy and innovative flair. Celebrating individuality, humor and the innate theatricality of everyday life, Monica Bill Barnes and Company have garnered tremendous acclaim for an entertainingly effervescent style that delights seasoned dance enthusiasts and novices alike. In addition to her opening night performance, Barnes will also participate in the conference as an adjudicator of student work, and will appear in the final gala performance alongside fellow dance professionals Mark Haim, David Dorfman, Lisa Race, Candice Salyers and others.

Monica Bill Barnes’ performance is funded in part by the American College Dance Festival and the Expeditions program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from the six New England state arts agencies.

Tickets for Monica Bill Barnes and other American College Dance Festival events are available at the Redfern Arts Center box office. Call 603-358-2168, or visit www.keene.edu/racbp, where you can also view many video clips from the season’s Visiting Artists repertoire. Special memberships with many discounts and other benefits, including free tickets, are also available at the Redfern box office or online.

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Keene, New Hampshire 03435