University Dancers

University Dancers/DANC 306 is an auditioned student dance company of the University of Richmond in the Department Theatre and Dance. Students receive academic credit for participating in University Dancers/DANC 306. Founded in 1985 by Myra Daleng, the company’s current artistic director is Anne Van Gelder. Auditions are held at the beginning of the fall semester and students study a variety of dance and movement techniques such as African, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, modern, and non-traditional partnering in company classes (three per week), master classes, and rehearsals. A member of UD (Danc 306) is not required to be a dance major or minor to be in the company. UD is open to all students regardless of academic major. All students in UD receive academic credit for their work in the company, including dance major, dance minor, or elective credit. Students have the opportunity to work with a variety of professional choreographers. Past guest choreographers are Robert Battle, Stefanie Batten Bland, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Alexandra Damiani, Norbert De La Cruz III, Jessica Lang, Francesca Harper, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Sean Aaron Carmon, Sean Curran, Jean Paul Comelin, Stephanie Martinez, Kanji Segawa, Diane Coburn Bruning, Doug Varone, Christian von Howard, and UR dance faculty among others.

The University Dancers perform one main stage concert every spring and there are often additional performance opportunities throughout the academic year. Once they have taken Movement Improvisation and one choreography class, members of University Dancers have the opportunity to choreograph for the spring concert. Student works are accepted for the spring concert following adjudication. Members of UD regularly participate at the American College Dance Association in the spring semester. All dance classes in the academic schedule are open to any student on a level-appropriate basis and students receive academic credit. Students also have the opportunity to audition and perform in the Department of Theatre & Dance musical every other year.