General | Dance West

ARCHIVE INFO

If you've stumbled on this page, no you didn't. This is a hidden page for archived Dance West Fest information to live for reference.

Dance West 2021 in its third year brings significant, influential artists to Utah to share their unique artistic perspectives, diverse aesthetics, and approaches to dance.

Dance West Summer Fest is traditionally a three-week workshop/festival committed to the exploration of the creative process, contemporary and traditional techniques, and repertory work. It represents the collaborative efforts of three established artistic entities each with rich histories, Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and the University of Utah’s Salt Dance Fest. With participants from around the world, the workshop/festival nurtures and supports experimentation, exploration, curiosity, and collaboration with varied perspectives that span historical to contemporary points of view.

Participants work intimately with acclaimed artists and educators, as well as company directors and dancers, to develop and explore diverse movement and choreographic practices, pedagogy, somatic modalities, and repertory works. The workshop is housed at the University of Utah and the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center – both hubs of performance and choreographic creation for the American West.

Participants of Dance Summer West Fest select their own unique schedule, engaging with the artists in: Contemporary and/or Traditional Techniques, Improvisational and Physical Practices, Composition/Choreography, Creative Process, Repertory, Dance Writing, and Media Engagement. The workshop/festival additionally includes lectures, panel discussions with the guest artists, an improvisation jam, social events, opportunities to informally present work, and a concert of faculty work. Dance West also has a choreographic mentorship project in which participants are provided free space to work on the creation of one’s own choreographic project. The work is regularly viewed by Dance West artists, in which input and mentorship is provided through one-on-one artist/participant dialogue about the work (see further details under course descriptions).

Workshop participants are expected to be mature, self-motivated dancers and professionals interested in further developing choreographic, creative, performance and movement investigative skills. Participants must be 18 or older and are expected to dance at an intermediate or advanced level. Enrollment is limited, providing more individual attention for each workshop participant. Housing and meals are available at an additional cost. College credit is also available.

2020 Schedule

(for reference)

Choose your own adventure!

We want to make Dance West available to suit your independent needs and desires as artists. When registering, you can select how many weeks and how many blocks in a day you wish to attend.

Each block has three classes available to choose from and new faculty are introduced each week. You can take one class for a single week, or three classes a day for the full workshop and every option in between.

Classes are Monday - Friday, making weekends available to rest or explore the surrounding Salt Lake City area.

REGISTRATION AND PRICES

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

LOCATION AND HOUSING

SUBJECT TO CHANGE FOR 2021

Location:

Dance West is housed on the University of Utah campus in the Marriott Center for Dance for the first two weeks, and the Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Salt Lake City the final week. The Marriott Center for Dance features six large studios and a 330-seat theater. The campus is situated in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains overlooking Salt Lake City. The Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts has multiple studios and performance venues and is the home of Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and several other arts organizations. The surrounding area offers tremendous recreational activities both for urban and wilderness exploration. Salt Lake City is known for its unique, vibrant culture, museums, nightlife, mountains, deserts, the Great Salt Lake and the Salt Flats. Salt Lake City has numerous bus lines and TRAX (an extensive light rail system) allowing for easy travel around the Salt Lake Valley without needing a car.

Arrival & Orientation

Salt Lake City is a Delta hub and served by multiple other airlines. Taxis, Uber, Lyft and TRAX to campus housing and around town are inexpensive. The University is linked to downtown Salt Lake City by light rail (TRAX). Dance West Summer Fest participants should arrive on Sunday, June 7 in order to check-in at the orientation meeting, 7 pm at the Marriott Center for Dance. Out of state participants have also arranged their own housing off-campus through Airbnb.

Parking

Both locations have limited and paid parking. Dance West cannot provide parking. We strongly encourage participants to help our air quality by utilizing public transportation, bikes, and foot traffic whenever possible.

Information on parking at the Marriot Center for Dance on the University of Utah Campus can be found here.

Parking at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center has street and paid parking. Paid lots are around the building.

Rooms & Meals:

Campus housing is available for Dance West Summer Fest participants. Participants may be housed in University dormitories, typically in single rooms. An on-campus meal plan is available; there are multiple other eating options on or off-campus convenient to the Marriott Center for Dance.

On-Campus Housing: must be reserved by May 4, 2020

Three weeks (20 nights) $620 – arrive Sunday, depart Saturday

Two weeks (13 nights) $410 – arrive Sunday, depart Saturday

One week (6 nights) $200 – arrive Sunday, depart Saturday

Additional or fewer nights may be arranged. Those staying on-campus are requested to reserve their room by May 9.

Meals: 25 meals for $200 (plus tax) or 50 meals for $387.50 (plus tax) (rates subject to change)

For questions or to arrange housing, contact Stephen.Koester@utah.edu. To arrange meals, please visit www.dineoncampus.com. Meals may also be purchased upon arrival.

University of Utah, Marriot Center for Dance

COLLEGE CREDIT

Dance West Summer Fest participants may receive college credit for the workshop/festival, 1 or 2 credits at $200/credit. 1 credit for 30 hours of in-class time and research paper, or 45 hours of in-class time. 2 credits for 60 hours of in-class time plus two research papers or 90 hours of in-class time To register for credit contact Stephen Koester at stephen.koester@utah.edu

Credit may be arranged during the workshop.

SALT DANCE FEST

(UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SCHOOL OF DANCE)

Dance West is able to offer one full scholarship for a participant taking the full workshop, all blocks for three weeks. For consideration, please submit via e-mail to dancewestfest@gmail.com:

Brief written description of your dance experience to date or a current resume
Brief description of your goals in dance (approximately 250 words)
Reasons for wanting to specifically attend Dance West Summer Fest (approximately 200 words)
Two letters of recommendation from teachers and/or professionals, no more than one page each.

Dance West is able to offer 3 work-study scholarships, which allows awardees to take the workshop at half tuition in exchange for fulfilling assigned responsibilities throughout the workshop (may include work the week before the workshop for some). Priority will be given to those taking the full workshop, all blocks for three weeks. For consideration, please submit via e-mail to dancewestfest@gmail.com

Brief written description of your dance experience to date or a current resume
Brief description of your goals in dance (approximately 250 words)
Reasons for wanting to specifically attend Dance West Summer Fest (approximately 200 words)
One letter of recommendation from a teacher and/or professional, no more than one page

All application materials must be received by April 1 in order to be considered. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The scholarships/work-study will be awarded by April 15.

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Submit DW applications early to ensure placement with classes of choice. Enrollment is limited in order to offer an intimate working environment and is on a first-come-first-served basis. Once a class is full, DWSF participants may be placed in an alternative block class. Application materials must be completed and tuition paid in full in order to be registered.

Complete the online application and payment here (recommended on a computer, not phone)

Cancellation & Refund Policy
DW tuition will be fully refunded (except for the $20 registration fee) only if written notice of cancellation is received on or before August 1.

Dance West is designed for dancers 17+ at a pre-professional/professional level

Updated COVID-19 protocols (July 29, 2021)

For Dance West 2021 we are prioritizing the health and safety of all students, faculty, and Company members who are dancing with us. With that in mind, the following COVID protocols will be expected of all participants for the entirety of Dance West 2021:

Masks are required for all participants, regardless of vaccination status.
- Due to the recent guidance from the CDC and the fact that Utah is considered a high transmission area, we feel this is the safest option.
Please practice physical distancing by keeping 3 feet between you and others. Classes will be designed with this in mind.
Please practice regular hand hygiene throughout the week.
If you are not feeling well or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 as defined by the CDC, please do not enter the building. We can offer a refund for any dates you are unable to attend due to illness.

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the safest possible experience for all those attending. If you are unable to adhere to these guidelines, we are happy to offer a refund.