Health & Fitness
National Honor for Local Youth Dance Company: Forum Jazz Dance Theatre of Libertyville To Perform in Montreal
FJDT becomes a member of Regional Dance America and is scheduled to study and perform at RDA "Festival de Danse" from May 1 through May 5, 2012.
Forum Jazz Dance Theatre (FJDT) was recently accepted as a member of Regional Dance America (RDA). RDA, established 50 years ago, is comprised of 80 pre-professional ballet companies across the United States. Membership is contingent on an intensive screening process.
Ten years ago, RDA opened membership application to qualifying jazz/contemporary youth companies.
“At that time, FJDT applied for membership and auditioned but did not qualify. “We realized we needed to bolster our ballet training to fit their criteria,” says FJDT Executive Director, Shelley Page-Hoselton.
Find out what's happening in Libertyvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
First Jazz Company Accepted as RDA Member
Now, ten years later, FJDT is the first youth contemporary jazz dance company to be accepted as an RDA member of the Mid-States Region, which consists of 12 states. There are five RDA regions within the United States.
Find out what's happening in Libertyvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
FJDT members will join more than 2,000 pre-professional dancers from all five U.S. regions to participate in “Festival de Danse,” held in Montreal, Canada from May 1 through May 5, 2012. During the past 50 years, there has been only three RDA national events.
Company to Perform Closing Piece
FJDT was not only accepted as an RDA member, but their repertoire was also adjudicated last month and they will be closing the Friday night performance of the five-day RDA national “Festival de Danse.”
There were five pieces from the FJDT repertoire that were adjudicated by RDA, which included works of two company members who are high school seniors. The piece selected as the Friday night finale, “Ehsaas,” was choreographed by FJDT Artistic Director Eddy Ocampo and FJDT Ballet Master Brent Caburnay. The dresses for all dancers performing were designed and made by Caburnay.
“This is such an honor for these dancers. Usually there is a two-year internship that must be fulfilled before dance companies are invited to perform. How excited we are to be included in the performance schedule,” says Hoselton.
Dancers to Audition for Scholarships
Eighteen company dancers from Lake County, Illinois, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, and Racine County, Wisconsin will attend the RDA National Festival’s daily classes and performances each evening. While in Montreal, dancers will be auditioning for numerous scholarships for further dance study and may be offered contracts for professional work.
About Forum Jazz Dance Theatre
FJDT is a not-for-profit youth dance organization based out of Talent Forum in Libertyville, Illinois.
If you would like to make a tax-deductable donation to help support these local dancers, please make checks payable to FJDT c/o Talent Forum, 450 Peterson Road, Libertyville, Illinois 60048.
If you are a dancer, 6th through 12th grades, and are interested in becoming a Forum Jazz Dance Theatre member, auditions will be held at Talent Forum on April 21, with a preparatory workshop available on April 20, 2012.
Forum Jazz Dance Theatre serves as a catalyst for young, aspiring artists to envision, expand, and collaborate on dance works which challenge the artistic depth and creativity involved in contemporary dance. Artists and collaborators achieve this through intense physical training and creative exploration of new vocabularies while maintaining traditional classical technique.
