Congratulations to all of our participants in the 2021 UHSDF. We enjoyed getting to know you through your movement. While this festival felt different we hope that you felt like it was a valuable experience.
The following pieces were selected as judges choice awards:
Soldier On
Farmington High School, choreographed by Alisha Erasms
https://drive.google.com/file/
Gestalt- the Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts
Hunter High School, choreographed by Jennalee Clawson & Hannah Cox
https://drive.google.com/file/
Avarice
Hillcrest High School, choreographed by Sophie Greenwood
Water Memory
Granger High School, choreographed by Jayden Herman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Six Feet Apart
Crimson Cliffs High School, choreographed by Emma Young
https://drive.google.com/
Utah High School Dance Festival
We are elated to announce the Utah High School Dance Festival is going virtual for 2021. We know that this year, teachers may have felt like it has been a struggle to offer their dance students an authentic experience- it is our hope to hold a festival that inspires your students and continues to elevate dance in the state of Utah. Registration will open for the festival by January 15th 2021.
The festival will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021 from 9:00 a.m.-12:30. We will be offering a contemporary masterclass, a hip-hop masterclass, and will be doing virtual awards. We are currently confirming artists, but this format has allowed us access to artists that typically could not come to Utah for the festival. The cost will be $150 per school. Additionally, a University session will be held for all Seniors. This session will be an opportunity for colleges to explain what their audition process looks like and what they look for in dancers who choose to audition for their programs.
We will still be offering a chance to have your pieces adjudicated. Beginning January 15th and going until February 20, each school will be able to submit two pieces of student choreography for adjudication. Videos need to be submitted via Google Link or Vimeo. Adjudication will be done virtually and you will receive voice feedback after the festival. The virtual festival will end with awards.
We know that this year, especially, it may be hard to gather your team for the traditional UHSDF. This is why we have also decided to offer a recording of the festival to schools that are interested. It is our hope as the UDEO board that you feel that this experience will be valuable to the artistic growth of all your students.
-Kathlyn Anderson, UHSDF 2021 Chair
Schedule
Virtual UHSDF on March 6, 2021
7:45-8:45: University Session
8:45-9:00: Welcome
9-10:20: Contemporary Masterclass
10:30-11:20: Hip Hop Masterclass
11:30-12:30: Inspirational Message from Travis Lake and UDEO, Awards
Adjudication will be emailed to UHSDF participants the morning of March 6, 2021.
A link to the festival will be emailed out to all participants at the conclusion of the event.
Travis Lake
Photo from travis-lake.com
Travis Lake is a multidisciplinary artist focusing on choreography, music composition, and photography. He holds a BFA from the University of Utah (Dizzy Feet Foundation Scholarship) and he is currently an MFA candidate at Sam Houston State University (Graduate Assistantship).
His distinct choreographic voice has been commissioned by Noble Motion II, Expansion, University of Minnesota, Brigham Young University, West Virginia University, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, among others.
As a composer, he creates soundscores for companies including Ballet West and Netherlands Dance Theatre alongside universities, television networks, and independent filmmakers.
Travis is the recipient of the National Scholarship awarded by the Dizzy Feet Foundation (2014), a Joffrey Ballet School scholarship (2015), and a Graduate Assistantship at Sam Houston State University (2019). His work for Brigham Young University received two Innovative Choreography Awards from the National Dance Alliance (2013 & 2014).
Bashaun Williams
Photo by Tori Duhaime
Bashaun started dancing at the age of 16 in Texas with Ballet Lubbock under Yvonne Racz-Key, Artistic Director. As a Junior and Senior, he was captain of his Basketball team and a member of Ballet Lubbock’s pre- professional Company. Bashaun attended the University of Utah of both academic and artistic merit scholarships, in the department of ballet. While at the U, he danced Principal and Soloist roles in the department’s resident company.
It was in 2011 that Bashaun joined Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. He has toured throughout the United States, Africa, France, Mongolia and South Korea as a performer and educator. While with RW, he also has had the pleasure of working with renowned choreographers such as Stevan Novakovich, Edward Truitt, Val Caniparoli, Rick Tija, Johannes Weiland, Bill T. Jones, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Doug Varone, Yin Yue, Raja Feather Kelly and Daniel Charon, among others. Bashaun is forever grateful for the opportunity to perform, teach and grow alongside such a wonderful community of people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I submit a professional piece?
Our thinking about changing this rule was to give the students the best opportunity to learn from the experience. When adjudicating professional pieces, the focus is primarily on the performance and dancer connection to the choreography, as the choreographer is not present. On a normal year, we understand that this is a time where schools like to gather to show their best so we have always allowed professional pieces. This year with the virtual format and no gala event, we as a board felt that the students would be better served getting detailed feedback on student choreography.
What are the filming parameters?
The UDEO board has had many conversations about filming parameters. We are aware that some schools have access to a professional videographer, while some teams might only be able to film a single wide-shot in whatever space is available.
Because of this, we have decided that any film will be accepted with the caveat that adjudicators will only focus on the content of the dance not the quality of the technology used. This will be communicated to all adjudicators.
Please make sure that whatever format you choose to use in filming allows adjudicators to focus on content- a really blurry video will not allow them to do so.
How do I submit my video/s?
Please upload video to Vimeo or Google Drive and provide us with the link through registration.
What is happening during the senior session? When is it? Where is it? How much does it cost?
The senior session will be held from 7:45-8:45 a.m. on March 6. The senior session will be held via Zoom and will not cost extra for your dancers
Are there still going to be t-shirts?
Yes! Make sure your order is placed (within the registration form) by February 20th. Congratulations to Lillian Francom from Hunter High School for winning the t-shirt design contest!
What happens if my team can’t get together on March 6?
This is a real possibility for teams as many schools enter shutdown because of Covid. Hopefully, as "test to play" is happening at more and more schools- our teams are able to gather regularly without the interference of quarantines. However, if your team is not able to meet on March 6- a recording of the festival will be provided to all teams that register for UHSDF. This way if you can’t gather on March 6, you are still able to participate in the two masterclasses and the awards session.
Is there going to be a gala?
No. At least not in the traditional sense of how we have done the gala. The day of the festival we will post links for teams and coaches to access. These links will show videos that have been chosen for Judges Choice Awards. These will be available for viewing directly after the festival. You may also chose to show these during classroom time.
How will we be receiving feedback on our pieces?
You will be receiving feedback on your pieces the morning of March 6. Feedback will be verbal recordings that our professional adjudicators will provide. Just as always- there will be three adjudicators per session/dance. By providing these to you the day of the festival, it is our hope that you are able to integrate personal feedback and adjudication into your unique festival experience.
I understand that there may be some additional questions. I would like to invite you to participate in a Zoom session so that you can ask any questions and receive prompt answers.
I will be holding a session on February 11 from 3:00-3:30 p.m. and February 16 from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Please feel free to drop in, ask your questions, and then continue on with your day. https://graniteschools-org.zoom.us/j/87573768211?pwd=K2RJazIvTFpvOUh0a05mUXJ4WXREZz09
