page 8
daily nebraskan
thursday, September 28, 1978
IOTP!
arts and entertainment
Dance in education a process of developing the self
By Alexander Germaine
Part of the problem of getting students
interested in dance may often have to do
with the title with which it is presented.
"Dance is misunderstood by most
people," according to Maria San wick, head
of the dance division of the physical edu
cation department at UNL.
"Most people identify dance as an enter
tainment but it also exists as recreation.
And for many on the UNL campus, it is
recreation.
"For a few it is an art form and very
few people understand what we are trying
to do with dance in education," she said.
Being part of the physical education de
partment instead the music or threater de
partments would seem to be a drawback
for some.
"We feel that the dance is more of a
process than a product," Sanwick said.
"We are concerned with the development
of 'self in what is important, not the fact
that when they (the students) are finished
they are good technicians. It doesn't
matter where one dances as long as one
does dance."
Dance to the top
Most of the dance majors at the uni
versity are there because "they like to
dance," Sanwick said.
"They really don't have much idea of
where they may go or what they may do
with it after graduation. She said they
work to get to the highest possible level
they can and audition for the division
lecture-demonstration group which is
like a little dance company.
According to Sanwick, a new course
called "dance appreciation," is being
offered to orient students to the entire
field and what can be done with their
skills." What the outside world is really like
for dancers is answered to a small degree
and the course is open to all university
students regardless of their major."
"We don't ever tell a student that if
they want to dance professionally that this
is the best place for them," Sanwich said.
"You've got to go to New York and dance
all day long."
Nebraska a 'good' start
Sanwick says most students eventually
teach in different parts of the country.
Many are teaching all over the state of Ne
braska. She points out that Nebraskans
have made it to the professional world of
dance.
She said she felt Nebraska is a good
starting ground and that the students will
leave when they are ready.
This year the dance division received a
grant from the Nebraska Arts Council to
try some new ideas.
Fred Mathews is coming in to choreo
graph 'A Dance For Nebraska' which will
be taught to the dance company and then
performed for NETV in a half-hour tele
vision special.
Fred Mathews is a dancer-choreographer
and has been with the Jose Limon Dance
Company. He also has taught in several col
leges across the country, including UNL.
Campus disco night
"As with the case of many grants it did
not completely fill our needs and the stu
dents have been raising money from busi
ness and private donations. We are planning
to raise the rest of the money by present
ing a disco night on ihe university campus
for the student population.
'Our majors will teach disco in a kind
of master class format and coordinate the
event into an evening of dance on
campus." The date set for the dance is Oct.
18th at a place yet to be announced.
The dance division will present an addi
tional guest lecture-demonstration this year
by Janette Anderson, a world game finalist
and Pan -Am game gold medalist in gymnas
tics. "She is going to have a clinic for
gymnasts and dance students," Sanwick
said . "She is going to do a demonstration
of 'free exercise' which is a combination of
gymnastics and dance steps. She will teach
a techniques class Oct. 25 through 28.
Open to all students
This demonstration and participation
also is open to students not directly associ
ated with the program, Sanwick said.
"We will probably have some master
classes with the Martha Graham Company
when they come."
She said there probably will be three
classes and anyone can come as a specta
tor. However, the spots to work out with
the company are usually filled by dance
majors.
In February the UNL dance company
will perform its annual concert in Kimball
Hall.
"At that time we will again perform the
piece that is going to be performed for
NETV", Sanwick said. "Then we will do
a five-town tour to bring dance to more of
the people of Nebraska."
The dance company and the touring
group hold auditions and choose those
people who are willing to make tne
commitment of time and effort.
Interest the young
Tli is is not the same tour done in the
Lincoln grade schools for the past few
years.
"We have another group of undergrad
uates who take dance out to the elemen
tary schools to awaken the interest of
smaller children in the experience of
dance," she said.
Sanwick said the creative movement
should be in the schools so every child has
the experience just as they do for reading
and writing.
Sanwick danced professionally before
teaching, but no longer. She teaches tap,
square, social and modern dance as well as
beginning ballet.
"Dance is for everyone, not just for the
few skilled," she said. "We want to pro
vide a rounded foundation to point our
students to the direction they might want
to go.
"I believe that those interested people
want to peek into another world that they
might have only dreamed about before,"
she said.
. - I ( -sss
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7. V -
Nebraska provides a good starting ground for professional dancers, according to Marie Sanwick, leader of the above group of potential professionals.
Jazz society's concert series swings into new season
Photo by Mark Billingslay
Some people contend that in the past
five years, jazz has increased in popularity
throughout the nation. More people are
aware of it and the jazz audience is grow
ing. Jazz has become more popular in
Lincoln, too, said Andy Rowan, vice pres
ident of the Lincoln Jazz Society.
"The Lincoln Jazz Society has brought
in good people and put on concert series
that are on top, and as a result of this,
there has been an increased interest in jazz
in the Lincoln area," he said.
This year's Lincoln Jazz Society concert
series will be opened on Nov. 11 by Joe
Pass, a solo guitarist.
"He is one of the best in the country,"
Rowan said.
Pass plays tunes with complex chord
changes and modulations. Some of his
classic tunes include, "The Song is You,"
"Sound Midnight," "Night and Day,"
"How High the Moon," and "Cherokee."
He does melodic improvisations and a great
deal of ad-libbing.
Jazz singer Betty Carter will come to
Lincoln nn Dec 4. Carter now is enjoying
more popularity than she lias since her pro
fessional singing career began.
Carter is a scat-singer, which means she
does away with the lyrics and literally sings
like an instrument. Her tone is smoky most
of the time but it remains clear and her
voice ranges from a low growl to a siren's
call.
Carter takes melodic liberties with pop
ular songs. Backed by her trio of John
Hicks on piano, Stafford James on bass,
and Clifford Barbaro on drums, she pro
duces her own style of music.
On Feb. 21, Max Roach, a jazz drum
mer, will be the featured artist.
Roach was one of the first jazz artists to
express black -cultural self-determination.
In 1961 , he combined his music with singer
Abby Lincoln, who was then his wife, to
create a controversial and effective work:
"Freedom Now."
Concluding the 1978-1979 Lincoln Jazz
Society season will be the Toshiko-Taback-in
Big Jazz Band.
The writing of Toshiko and the distinct
ive tenor and flute work of Tabackin form
a unique combination.
Rowan said, "All four of the artists per
forming in this concert season can be con
sidered highlights, but Betty Carter may
just be the best of the entire series."
The four concerts, will be at Kimball
Recital Hall and will cost $6 a ticket. Sea
son tickets for society members are $18
and $20 for non-members.
Rowan said he also hopes to bring
artists in for a residency period.
"In addition to the regular concert that
would be performed, the artist could als"
put on mini-concerts and speak at the
University. In this way, the whole com
munity would have a chance to experience
an artist for several days and would gain a
better understanding of jazz," he said.
Dragons coming for concert
Stopping halfway through a 36-city
tour, Captain and Tennille will arrive in
Lincoln tomorrow to take part in Lincoln
General Hospital Auxiliary's 16th annual
fashion production.
"There has been quite a lot of interest
this week," according to Auxiliary Chair
man Sandra Crimmins, who said ticket
sales were going well.
The seven-member group, formed in
1974, has four gold albums, two platinum
albums, five gold singles and a platinum
single to its credit.
Love songs sure to be heard Friday
night at Pershing Auditorium are their gold
singles, "I.ve wijj Keep us Together."
"The Way I Want To Touch You," "Musk
rat Love," "Lonely Nights," and "Shop
Around."
The gold and platinum single "Love
Will Keep Us Together" won the Grammy
Award best record of the year in 1975.
The 7:30 event begins with a "Clothes
Encounters' fashion show featuring 15
Lincoln merchants who will provide a host
of clothing, jewelry and coiffures. Captain
and Tennille will perform after the style
show.
Tickets are $7.50 and $10.00 but
Cnmmins said students can use S2
discount coupons attached to "Cloth "
tncoumers": displays at the Union
