MISSOULA –

The American College Dance Festival Association chose The University of Montana Dance Program to perform at the National College Dance Festival to be held May 24-27 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, D.C.

The biennial national festival showcases 30 dance pieces selected by adjudicators at regional conferences based on outstanding artistic excellence and merit.

After performing two pieces in March at the ACDFA Northwest conference at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UM dancers were selected to perform at the national festival. While both pieces were eligible for selection, three renowned adjudicators chose “MEAT” to be performed on the national stage.

Missoula native and former UM student Brian Gerke co-choreographed the piece with his dance partner Steinunn Ketilsdottir for 11 UM dancers. Dancers include Clare Antonioli of Missoula; Collin Ranf of Lincoln; Roxanne Madler  of Whitefish; Amanda Pool of Hamilton; Claire Christensen of Missoula; Allison Herther of Aberdeen, S.D.; Richard Cline of Cut Bank; Megan Mullowney of Billings; Regina Rawlings of Victor, Idaho; Kaitlin McEwen of Kalispell; and Brooke Carlisle of Hillsboro, Ore.

This is the second consecutive national festival for the UM Dance Program. At the 2010 festival, UM dancers performed “Prey,” a piece created by internationally acclaimed choreographer Bebe Miller.

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