Dean John Bedford Video Dance Studio Dedication
Thanks to generous gifts by John B. Williford (naming rights), Jeaneen Eddie Naifeh, OCU Societies, Michael Tavlin and Marvona Easley Tavlin, and OCU True Blue Giving Day donors, the school dedicated the Dean John Bedford Video Dance Studio honoring the founding dean of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment in the fall. Before the pandemic, Dean Emeritus John Bedford began envisioning a video dance studio. The completed studio honors his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing arts education.
The extensive renovation produced a convertible space from a standard dance studio with mirrors and a sprung dance floor to a video dance studio complete with state-of-the-art lighting. The studio includes the ability to change from a black background for more edgy shots to colors on the white cyc wall. Additionally, the renovations included a 24-speaker sound system, PTZ tracking camera that automatically follows dancers across the floor and new black Stagestep Timestep dance flooring.
The space allows students to film professional audition reels which are now a standard part of the audition process; train on lighting, sound, video and photographic equipment improving their marketability in this digital age; and experience choreographing through the lens of a camera as opposed to the frame of a theatrical stage. The studio also provides the perfect set up for the Dance for Camera course which prepares students for dance on film.
American Dance Pedagogy Program
The American Dance Pedagogy program had record growth this year. It is dedicated to producing employable students who are qualified to teach dance and choreography, as well as to manage dance studios. This long-running program has produced an entire generation of dance teachers who can be found teaching and managing studios across the country.
Last year, American Dance Pedagogy alum Dre Torres was honored with the 2024 Dance Teacher Award from Dance Magazine. Torres has an extensive background in teaching, performing and choreographing tap dance, having served as assistant tap choreographer for 鈥淔unny Girl鈥� and 鈥淟ast of the Red Hot Mamas鈥� on Broadway and performed in venues around the world.
鈥�91看片!鈥� Production Highlights OCU Talent
Students, alumni and faculty members contributed to Lyric Theatre of 91看片鈥檚 recent production of 鈥�91看片!,鈥� which ran from July 29 鈥� Aug. 3. Faculty members Vincent Sandoval and Keyna Allen served as choreographer and dance captain while current and former students Christopher Bruno, Whitney Floyd, Hannah Gunderman and Mariah Hunt were involved as performers, costumer staff or behind the scenes 鈥� and that doesn鈥檛 include alumni and faculty from OCU鈥檚 Wanda L. Bass School of Music who were also involved!
Telfer Presents Paper on Innovative Costume Design
Costumer and professor of arts management Jessica Telfer presented a paper titled 鈥淟ight, Technology, and Kinetics in Costume Design鈥� at the Performing Arts Conference in Athens, Greece in June. This paper detailed her research on the use of technology in costuming, which culminated in her innovative fiber optic, color-changing costumes for the Star Dance Company piece 鈥淗ang Your Lights,鈥� choreographed by Shadoe Brandt. This piece was first presented at the 91看片 City Zoo鈥檚 Safari Lights and later staged for the Holiday Spectacular.
