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The Spring Dance Happening will take place Wednesday, April 26, through Friday, April 28, at The University of Tampa, featuring popular music and student dancers from all parts of the University community. The show will begin each night at 8 p.m. in Falk Theatre. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are required.

Spring Dance Happening will feature choreography and performances by UT students. Since the focus of UT’s dance major is preparing students to teach, faculty encourage students to uniquely express themselves, while also realizing that many of them will graduate and begin teaching in local dance studios.

Amanda Sieradzki, visiting assistant professor of dance, said the event is an opportunity for student choreographers to apply the leadership skills they hone and practice in the dance program.

“They run the auditions, lead their peers in weekly rehearsals and work side-by-side with faculty mentors on clarifying their ideas around choreographic motifs, lighting and costuming,” Sieradzki said. “Their commitment to this embodied research allows for their creative processes to shine onstage and is a fantastic chance for the community to see what's happening next in dance.”

The pieces cover a multitude of themes, and the students worked with faculty mentors to develop their choreography throughout the rehearsal process. This semester, 12 students were selected to choreograph, and 67 total students will participate in all three performances. Choreographers will incorporate a wide range of contemporary dance styles to interpret their concepts through narrative and abstract storytelling from their unique perspectives. Many of the themes explore facets of the human condition and experience, such as arriving to and departing from an airport, describing life on Earth to extraterrestrial life forms, or realizing one’s identity, among others.

For more information, contact Sieradzki at asieradzki@ut.edu or (813) 257-3745.