The National High School Dance Festival, the first in three years, will return to Point Park University’s Downtown campus March 1-5, with 1,200 students from more than 70 high schools across the country participating.
The announcement noted that, during Point Park’s spring break in 2020, high school dancers from around the world came to Pittsburgh to perform, take master classes and audition for top university dance programs. A week later, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down gatherings worldwide.
High school students take part in a class during the 2020 National High School Dance Festival in the George Rowland White Performance Center
at Point Park University. (Image by Emma Federkeil)
“We are so excited that Point Park was willing to once again host,” said Dr. Kathryn Kearns, the founder and executive director of the festival. “It’s been really tough on the teachers, faculty and students.”
The event – “the largest of its kind” – provides students from grades 9 to 12 with the opportunity to take classes and perform in Point Park’s facilities with renowned guest artists and choreographers. More than 200 master classes will be held during the festival.
Students also will have the chance to audition for scholarships from dozens of prestigious dance schools, including Point Park, The Hartt School, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee and the Joffrey Ballet School.
“It’s absolutely an honor to continue our association with Kathryn and this festival,” said Garfield Lemonius, dean and artistic director of Point Park’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. “It’s an exciting opportunity for the students and allows us to both recruit and show off our state-of-the-art facilities. We want prospective students to fall in love with everything Point Park and showcase what Pittsburgh has to offer.”
Three local hotels will be used for the event, combining for more than 1,500 room nights.Registration and the welcome receptions will be held at the Omni William Penn, while concerts and closing ceremonies will be at the Byham Theater.
Categories: Arts and Ideas
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