Idaho State University dance students return from the American College Dance Association Northwest Conference

More than 620 students and faculty from 31 different colleges and universities in the Northwest Region also attended the conference.

The conference’s mission is to support and affirm dance in higher education by honoring multiple approaches to scholarly and creative research while fostering and promoting excellence in choreography and performance through the adjudication process.

Dance professor Lauralee Zimmerly, and student Mandi Taylor presented their work during the formal adjudication concert. Professor Lori Head and graduate Ashley Ames also presented their work “Tour de Tango” during the informal concert.

Head taught master classes in pilates, ballroom and salsa. Zimmerly also presented her paper “Embodied Pedagogies: The Intersections of Physical Literacy, Aesthetic Literacy, and Kinesthetic Learning in Dance Education” and taught a workshop titled “GOT DANCE EDUCATION? Creative Movement in the K-6 Classroom.”

Students Omar Raudez, Colton Mink, Aaron Peite, Izza Talbert, Mandi Taylor, Jesus Saldana and Sharleen Van Patten performed Zimmerly’s piece “Ce soir après diner.” Peite, Talbert and Saldana also performed in “Body Speak” choreographed by Taylor.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for students to experience dance on a larger regional scale and to witness the wealth of both academic and professional work presented,” said Sheena Phelps, dance professor.