The newly appointed director of UW–Madison’s Division of the Arts, Chris Walker, who is also a professor in the School of Education’s Dance Department, was featured in the Capital Times in an article that is headlined, “New Division of the Arts director Chris Walker plans to support art and student activism.” The article highlights Walker’s vision, including initiatives that …
The latest edition of Learning Connections, a magazine for alumni and friends of the UW–Madison School of Education, is now posted online. The Summer 2021 issue centers on the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the many lessons learned. The cover story, headlined “Within every challenge, an opportunity,” spotlights how COVID-19 presented an unexpected crisis. But …
By Käri Knutson, University Communications Chris Walker, an artist and an experienced and influential leader in the arts on campus, has been named the new director of the Division of the Arts. Walker is a professor in the School of Education’s Dance Department and founding artistic director of First Wave, a nationally prominent scholarship program known for pushing the …
UW–Madison alumna Anna Halprin, “a dancer and choreographer who sought to move beyond what she saw as the constraints of modern dance,” died on May 24 at age 100. Halprin earned her bachelor’s degree from UW–Madison’s Dance Department in 1942. “Ms. Halprin knew her family wanted her to attend college,” explains an obituary for Halprin …
The Capital Times published a feature story about Litza Bixler, UW–Madison’s spring 2021 interdisciplinary artist-in-residence. Describing Bixler as a choreographer, writer, teacher, costume designer, visual artist, and filmmaker, the article notes she might be best known for “a movie scene in which everybody is doing the same thing.” It goes on to explain that Bixler …
Recent UW–Madison graduate Courtney Kopchinski (BFA Dance, 2021) will present her senior honors concert, “(begin)ning,” at two locations on Saturday, May 22, and Sunday, May 23. “(begin)ning” is a collaborative concert consisting of five works created with varying artists and audiences. The collaborative aspect of the works stemmed from a desire to understand the true nature of the …
UW–Madison’s Peggy Choy will host a webinar, “Performing Body, Mind, Spirit: Community Healing in the Time of #BLM, Anti-Asian Violence, and BIPOC Solidarity,” on May 6, from 6 to 8 p.m., via Zoom. Choy is an associate professor of dance and Asian American studies at UW–Madison. This national event will bring together an innovative community of movers, …
UW–Madison student Amanda Kolsch (BS Dance, Pilates Certificate, 2021) and the School of Education’s Dance Department will present Kolsch’s senior honors concert, “it’s good to watch the rain from a dry place,” on Saturday, May 1, at 2:30 p.m. The concert will be streamed live on the Dance Department’s YouTube channel. The concert explores the effects of pre-collegiate …
The work of UW–Madison’s Li Chiao-Ping and her dance company, Li Chiao-Ping Dance, was selected to be presented at the World Dance Alliance (WDA) Americas 2021 Virtual Conference and Festival Assembly on Thursday, Apr. 22; Friday, Apr. 23; and Wednesday, Apr. 28, all at 6 p.m. (Central time). Li is a Vilas Research Professor with …
The UW–Madison Dance Department presents the H’Doubler Concert, a livestream event of new student work from 13 student choreographers, including Alexis Baynard, Jessica Billings, Olivia Bruhn, Akiwele Burayidi, Sarah Dewey, Courtney Kopchinski, Sarah Langdon, Emma Miquelon, Caitriona Quirk, Katie Soldatke, Abbi Stickels, Grace Stuckey, and Rakhi Winston. The works have been scheduled in three separate programs and …