Department of Dance Spring Newsletter 2021

Dear UW Department of Dance Community,

I hope that you are doing as well as possible and giving each other a huge pat on the back for all that you have done and supported.  This past year has tested our emotional and physical endurance as we have faced the pandemic, a divisive political climate, physically-distanced life, the ongoing impacts of systemic racism, climate change and more.  It also has shown us our strength, resilience and resolve.  We condemn the intolerance that continues to plague our communities and stand in support and solidarity with our students, faculty, staff, neighbors, and all who have experienced racism, discrimination, bigotry, hate, violence, and have lost loved ones. 

I have been inspired by the Department of Dance students, staff and faculty who have forged ahead, ever adaptive and ever dedicated to the study and creation of dance.  Following  COVID-19 safety and prevention protocols, we offered both in-person and online courses, including courses in dance making, dance science, dance studies, and a variety of forms of dance technique. These courses were enriched through workshops with guest artists.  Students and instructors worked as hard as ever and adjusted brilliantly.  We learned new skills as we have been premiering works by faculty, guest artists and student choreographers in three digital concerts featuring student dancers: UW Dance Presents, the upcoming the Dance Majors Concert (April 16-May 2) and the upcoming MFA Dance Concert (May 28-June 13). We have welcomed new students, new faculty, and new staff.  And now, we are proudly seeing students graduate and move into the next stages of their lives.  

Digging deeper into our own work to advance diversity, equity, inclusivity, and access, we have focused on curricular revisions such as changing course names, developing new courses, approaching pre-existing courses through new lenses, and revising our B.A. degree.  We recognize that we still have much to do and that each of us must continuously work on ourselves.  We are encouraged through our support of each other, through our conversations with students, and through our ongoing healing Circles with Dr. E. Jabali Stewart of the organization Huayruro.

Gratitude and hope fuel my heart.  I am grateful for support from you, the UW Department of Dance community.  I am grateful for the faculty, staff and students of the Department, and for the support of the wider campus community.  We made it, and in many ways we thrived.