American College Dance Association

 

What is it?

As a national dance organization, the American College Dance Association (ACDA) is divided into 13 regions and annually sponsors conferences in each region in which participants attend 4 days of master classes, lectures, and performances.

 

Who will attend?

The ACDA conference is attended by faculty and students from colleges and universities in the region. Southeastern Louisiana University is in the South Region. Universities within the region will rotate hosting the festival. Each university selects the dancers they will bring by their own means. There are usually about 500 festival participants.

 

What will participants do at the conference?

Students and faculty will attend master classes and lectures given by the faculty of other universities attending the conference. Participants will also attend daily performances by their peers and professionals. Each university can bring student and faculty choreography to present and perform for all conference attendees. This choreography is adjudicated by a panel of professionals and conference participants will hear valuable feedback on the works by the adjudicators. Conference participants can also attend master classes taught by the adjudicators.

 

When is the ACDA conference?

The American College Dance Conference is held each spring at a different host college or university within the South Region.

 

What benefit will I receive from attending?

Faculty and students will enhance their dance education a great deal by attending the conference. It gives students an opportunity to take multiple classes with various instructors in a variety of dance forms and subjects. It enables university faculty to teach master classes to faculty and students in other dance programs in the region. Presenting choreography at the festival provides the choreographer with the opportunity to receive constructive criticism and feedback from their peers and dance professionals.

 

Will there be scholarship opportunities?

Scholarships to attend workshops at dance schools or with dance professionals are awarded to talented dancers. It is also a great opportunity to meet and talk to professionals about the field of dance and inquire about training and performance opportunities.

 

Are there awards presented at the ACDA conference?

From all of the dances presented at the festival by various universities, the adjudicators select a number of outstanding dances to be presented at the Gala Presentation on the last night of the conference. From these dances, three are selected for the National concerts held at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. at the end of the spring. The National concerts at the Kennedy Center occur in the even years.

 

Southeastern Louisiana University has a reputation of strong choreography and powerful performers; our dances and performers have been honored on the regional and national level.  In 2015, Keith "Skip" Costa's choreography was selected for the Gala Performance in our region.  In 2022, Keith "Skip" Costa and two student choreographers will represent Southeastern at the ACDA conference. Location TBA.