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Page 1 of 5 History:
Colleges have played a major role in the unprecedented development of
dance since the 1960's. In order to acknowledge and foster this
development, the concept of a national organization that would sponsor
college/ university regional conferences* and national dance festivals
was presented by Jean Erdman and Betty Lind for discussion in October,
1971. Plans were formulated and the concept initiated under the
leadership of Lydia Joel, former editor of Dance Magazine; and Jeanne
Beaman, Director of Dance, University of Pittsburgh.
The focus of these conferences and festivals was to be on dance as a
performing art; the aim was to encourage and recognize excellence in
performance and choreography on the college level. The
conferences and festivals would have multi-dimensional purposes:
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to raise standards of excellence in college and university dance program;
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to provide an opportunity for college dancers to have their works adjudicated and critiqued by established professionals;
- to provide professional classes, workshops and performing
experiences as well as other opportunities for interaction among all
participants;
- to provide students the opportunity to perform outside their own
academic setting and be exposed to the diversity of the national
college dance world;
- to build a network of communication within the college dance
community and between the college and the professional dance world; and
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to provide regional and national visibility for college-trained choreographers and performers.
In the spring of 1973, a pilot Regional Conference was hosted by the
University of Pittsburgh. Jeanne Beaman served as Chairperson of
the Regional American College Dance Festival Committee and was assisted
by Lydia Joel, Chairperson of the National Committee. Three
adjudicators, Hanya Holm, Rod Rodgers and Marian Van Tuyl, traveled to
25 colleges and universities in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West
Virginia and viewed some 65 pieces of choreography from which material
was selected for the two Conference concerts. Workshops, master
classes by professional artists, and informal presentations of student
works were an integral part of this conference and set the pattern for
later conferences. Attendance numbered over 500 participants
representing 59 colleges from 18 states. After the Pittsburgh
conference, the "American College Dance Festival Association" was
established as a non-profit corporation. Adam Pinsker, director
of the Association of American Dance Companies, was instrumental in the
establishment of the organization and provided valuable support
services. Originally formed with 13 charter member colleges and
universities, membership currently stands at over 300 institution
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