Kids on tap at dance festival

By Julie Rausch

WSU’s dance program will host its second annual Children’s Dance Festival at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, in Miller Concert Hall.

The concert is presented by area dance academies and school programs and includes works choreographed by WSU’s dance faculty. About 80 children in grades three-12 are expected to participate.

WSU dance director C. Nicholas Johnson recently returned from a two-week stint choreographing "Alice in Wonderland" for a community theater dance presentation with 85 children in Tucson, Ariz. Teaching workshops for youngsters is something Johnson enjoys and has been doing for 19 years.

"In order for dance to grow as a concert experience, venues must be created to encourage visibility where dance can be recognized as a performance art," Johnson says. "Young talent is a resource that demands our attention."

The challenges of working with youth include teaching them discipline technique and dealing with behavior, he says. The great part about it, Johnson says, is that "it’s playtime with a purpose. Also, children have sincerity, honesty and enthusiasm that I relate to."

Johnson says he believes the power of children’s dance and theater should reflect the essence of art through children.

"I don’t think the arts are about competition," Johnson says. "It’s about potential, seeing children present themselves as dancers, and the aesthetics. Other than a handful of dance programs at a university level, the art of dance in Kansas, for the most part, exists in studio and dance academy settings. The future growth of the arts resides in the commitment of these dance educators to train and inspire young talent."

Johnson is choreographing a love story that takes place in a cemetery. Although death is one of the themes, so are humor and passion.

"I don’t think death should be treated as a big hush secret," Johnson says.

Other works choreographed by WSU faculty are a quirky, contemporary dance to the music of Peter Gabriel by instructor Sabrina Vasquez and a ballet by Denise Celestin, associate professor.

Tickets start at $6 with discounts available. Call 978-3233 for reservations.