In March, 19 WVU Dance majors and several faculty members traveled to Athens, Ohio, for the American College Dance Association East-Central Conference, hosted this year by Ohio University. During the conference, students and faculty have opportunities to present their own creative work for adjudication and feedback; attend workshops, classes and panel discussions with dance professionals; network with artists in the field and build connections and friendships with dancers from other higher ed institutions.
“Attending the American College Dance Association regional conference every year is such an enriching experience for our students,” said Maureen Kaddar, Teaching Associate Professor of Dance and a member of ACDA’s executive committee. “This year we brought a faculty work for adjudication, Staci Romine's ‘7/4,’ which was very well received and was invited to be part of the gala performance, a special recognition for the WVU Dance program. We are proud of the work we bring to present for each year's conference and celebrate the exceptional creative talent of students and faculty at WVU.”
Romine’s “7/4,” originally performed during “Dance Now!” in spring 2025, was one of nine dances selected to perform in the closing gala. Romine’s choreography had the honor of being the opening act for the final concert.
“Having my piece chosen to represent the University was an absolute honor. I was thrilled when our piece was selected to open the Gala, not only as a recognition of myself as a choreographer, but for the dancers that brought the story to life,” said Romine. “It is a privilege to work with such a talented group of young artists. I truly get so much satisfaction out of the effort and work that we put into creating movement.”
In mid-April, Dance students and faculty will attend the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Richmond, Virginia. NCUR welcomes students and scholars from all higher education institutions and across all disciplines to celebrate undergraduate research and creative activity.
Student works by juniors Sophie Burkey and Brogan Ward were submitted and accepted for presentation at the conference.
Burkey, a junior Dance and Forensic Examiner major, submitted her piece “Strangers” to show that art deserves a place in research spaces.
“Being part of both an arts program and a STEM program, I’ve developed a passion for both areas, and I wanted to show that research doesn’t have to be limited to traditional formats,” she said.
“Dance can express emotions and perspectives that aren’t always easy to put into words, and it brings in the emotional and human side of understanding, which I think is just as important as the analytical side,” she added.
When Ward, a dual major in Dance and Immunology and Medical Microbiology, submitted his piece “Fragments of One,” he was looking to showcase his choreography in a different kind of setting.
“In traditional performances, audiences only see the final product, not the process behind it. This conference provides an opportunity to share not just the piece itself, but also the creative journey where I get the opportunity to receive feedback, answer questions and engage with others from both similar and different academic environments,” Ward said.
“I invested a significant amount of time developing the concept, building a narrative and creating movement that feels very personal to me. This piece holds a special place in my life, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to present it at NCUR,” Ward added. “It is also a privilege to be part of a program that supports student creativity, encourages us to apply ourselves and is willing to travel and invest in opportunities like this.”
Burkey said she was excited that her choreography would be performed for NCUR, but more than anything, she was proud of her cast.
“Choreography is nothing without dancers to execute it. They worked so hard and made my vision a reality. Together we created something I couldn’t be more excited to share at the conference,” said Burkey.
Ward is equally proud of his cast.
“What I am most excited about is seeing my dancers perform the piece one final time and showcase their talent and dedication,” he said. “I’m also looking forward to representing my school and program at such a large conference and highlighting the depth of education we receive in everything from technical training to choreographic development.”
Burkey is looking forward to the post-performance question-and-answer session.
“Hearing feedback from people was crucial for creating ‘Strangers,’ and I would love nothing more than to hear what people outside my community think of my work,” she said.
WVU Dance will wrap their 2025-26 season with “Showcase of Dance” from April 30 to May 2. Tickets can be purchased online at go.wvu.edu/showcaseofdance.
Follow @dance_wvu on social media for updates and learn more about the School of Theatre and Dance at dance.wvu.edu.