This is the first of our “Dance In The U.S.” series, where 4dancers will be covering studios and organizations from all the US states throughout the year. Today we have some information and background on the Alabama Dance Council that was shared by Rosemary W. Johnson, D.M.A, Executive Director of the Council…

Can you tell me what is unique about your organization? 

The Alabama Dance Council is a statewide dance service organization working in partnership with the Alabama State Council on the Arts. The mission of the Alabama Dance Council (ADC) is to promote the study, creation, performance, and enjoyment of dance in all forms. The ADC offers a forum for communication about dance and provides services that support the artistic work of professional dancers, choreographers, and dance educators, and advance the artistic experiences of dance students and audiences. By providing statewide leadership, the Alabama Dance Council enhances the infrastructure for dance creation, performance, education, and audience development.

The Alabama Dance Council is best summarized through its core values and vision for dance. We value..

• The diversity of dance in all genres and forms. The ADC strives to be inclusive in its membership and in the services provided to members. We celebrate dancers as performers, choreographers, teachers, students, and community members. We seek to represent and serve dancers in professional, educational, and recreational settings.
• Sharing dance as an art form. We value the dance community and supporting dance as an art form. We believe that the Alabama Dance Council can strengthen and promote dance by providing a network for the sharing of information and resources for dance. By uniting as a dance community, dancers can increase the visibility of dance throughout the state and build audiences for dance.
• Access to Dance. We value making dance available and accessible to everyone, for dancers and non-dancers.  We strive to provide opportunities for the learning, creation, performance, and enjoyment of dance. We believe that dance plays an important role in arts education in the schools and in the community. We believe that everyone in Alabama should have the opportunity to study dance; to perform; to create; to pursue dance as a career, avocation, or recreation; and to enjoy dance as an audience member.

Our vision for supporting dance includes:

• Providing a comprehensive network of information and resources
• Developing and enhancing educational opportunities
• Advancing audience development and community outreach
• Building an effective advocacy strategy and network
• Expanding membership and member services
• Developing a diverse base of funding support
• Creating a dynamic and supportive organizational structure
• Maximizing and improving the visibility of dance 

Can you tell me who should consider joining your organization, and what the benefits are? 

Anyone may join the statewide network of dance professionals, educators, students, organizations and patrons. Memberships begin July 1 and expire June 30.

Annual Dues:
Organizations: $75.00/year
Individual: $30.00/year
Individual Artist: $20.00/year
Student*: $15.00/year
*(Students under 18 and college students with current ID)

Member Benefits:

• Electronic subscription to all Alabama Dance Council publications, including the biannual magazine Synchronicity and weekly email newsletter Footworks
• Promotion of events, activities and opportunities in Footworks and Synchronicity
• Discounted advertising on the Alabama Dance Exchange website and in ADC publications
• Discounted Registration Fees for the Alabama Dance Festival and other ADC-sponsored events
• Discounted tickets for selected dance events around the state
• Free Associate Membership to Fractured Atlas, the nation’s fastest growing arts service organization providing access to insurance (health, liability, etc.), jobs, press and publicity services, online classes, and a member directory. Contact us to sign up for your free membership.

Organizational members receive the following additional benefits:

• Free ADC membership for the staff of the organization, excluding company dancers and students
• Opportunities for performance at the Alabama Dance Festival and other ADC-sponsored events
• Discounted fees for consulting or technical assistance services by ADC staff 

I'd like to mention the Alabama Dance Festival...that is that something you put together, correct? 

The Alabama Dance Festival, (http://www.alabamadancefestival.org) the largest dance event in Alabama, exists to showcase the diverse talent and excellence of dance throughout Alabama, to bring the dance community together to promote good will and networking, and to provide high quality classes in technique, dance education, and choreography. The Festival celebrates the diversity of dance, unifies the Alabama dance community, and provides community engagement in the art of dance.

Held annually since 1998, Festival attendance has grown from 180 who attended the first one-day event to over 4,000 who participated in the 2009 Festival. Over 1,000 performers, teachers, students, and dance enthusiasts from across the state participate in Festival classes, and over 3,000 people enjoy the numerous performances presented during the Festival weekend, representing 10 states, 41 counties, and 76 organizations and schools.

The Alabama Dance Festival features performances by internationally-renowned dance companies and showcases of Alabama dance companies, in addition to over 70 workshops and master classes featuring a diversity of dance styles for pre-professional students and professional artists. Previous guest companies have included Donald Byrd/The Group, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Philadanco, Rennie Harris Puremovement, River North Chicago, Bridgman Packer Dance, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

The 13th annual Alabama Dance Festival will take place on January 13-17, 2010, and features three performances by Battleworks Dance Company as the guest company-in-residence, an Alabama Dance Showcase, a Birmingham Dance Showcase, master classes and workshops taught by nationally-renowned faculty for pre-professional and professional dancers, and free community classes to engage everyone in the art of dance.

The free community classes are included in a one-day celebration of dance during the Festival called Dance Across Birmingham: A Community Celebration (http://www.danceacrossbirmingham.org). Dance Across Birmingham, the newest addition to the Alabama Dance Festival, is a day of FREE community classes for anyone to experience a dance class in styles ranging from hip-hop, ballroom, praise dance, African dance, Latin dance, swing dance, dance fitness, and tap!

Never danced before? No problem! Our classes are designed for beginners of ALL AGES. Come out for a day of fun and bring the whole family. Special creative movement classes for pre-schoolers will be available.

Browse the exhibits at the Alabama Dance Exchange in the BJCC Theatre lobby to find information on the many dance resources available in our area. Expanded and improved, the Dance Exchange will include exhibits by dance companies, dance studios, artists, arts organizations, vendors, and much more!

Lunch will be available from BJCC concessions. Eat in the BJCC Theatre while watching the FREE Birmingham Dance Showcase and discover for yourself what the Birmingham dance community has to offer!

Join us at the BJCC Saturday, January 16, 2010, from 9:00am-4:00pm for a FREE day of dancing with Birmingham’s best.