Choreographed for Success

TAMPA, FL--(Marketwire - February 24, 2010) - The Florida Dance Association names Tampa and University of South Florida School of Theatre and Dance as its 2010 location for Florida Dance Festival, the state's preeminent professional dance training program and the foremost annual dance workshop event in the southeastern United States.

The 10-day workshop event will take place on the University of South Florida campus starting June 16. Florida Dance Festival attracts dance students and professionals from across the state and around the globe for an intense study with some of the field's outstanding, contemporary master teachers and choreographers.

"Florida Dance Festival showcases the best choreographers and talent that emerge from Florida," says Bill Doolin, director of Florida Dance Association, a nonprofit organization established to support the development of dance in Florida and increase opportunities for all people to experience dance and the arts. "Through the festival, we not only help give Florida dancers access to major career opportunities, but we also expose entire communities to diverse forms of dance that are preformed in major metropolitan cities across the country."

Some of the distinguished faculty members for the event include: Jennifer Archibald, founder and artistic director of Arch Dance Company and known nationwide for her hip hop repertory (www.jenniferarchibald.com); native Brazilian and international performer, Augusto Soledade, founder, artistic director and resident choreographer of Brazz Dance Theater, known for his afro Brazilian dance technique (www.brazzdance.com/augustosoledade.html); and Manhattan-based David Dorfman, founder and artistic director of David Dorfman Dance, who has received national acclaim for his modern dance community-based performances that deliver important messages and reflections on today's society and culture (www.daviddorfmandance.org).

"Florida Dance Festival is one of those rare opportunities for aspiring dancers to have absolute access, training and exchange of ideas with the top professional choreographers and dancers in a noncompetitive atmosphere," says Doolin. "Through the festival, we have given hundreds of Florida dancers the opportunity to study and work with major companies from throughout the country."

Dancers with a minimum of 1-2 years of dance training may enroll for the full program. Students who want to secure a dormitory on the University of South Florida campus must register by May 10. The last day to advance register is June 4, but space is limited so students are encouraged to register early and secure their spots. A select number of merit scholarships are available for full or partial tuition waivers as well as staff assistant and counselor positions. Applications for financial assistance must be received by April 9. For information about enrolling in Florida Dance Festival visit: www.floridadanceassociation.org.

Established in 1974, Florida Dance Association is Florida's statewide arts/dance service organization. The first Summer Dance Workshop, known today as Florida Dance Festival, was held in Tampa, at University of Tampa, in 1979. Florida Dance Association is one of the oldest dance service organizations in the country and serves as a successful model for similar organizations and programs throughout the United States.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Amy Summers 727-848-1618 ext. 202 Pitch Inc.