Four Alabama State University’s BFA Dance majors received full scholarships to attend the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Exploration Lab in Birmingham on March 24-25. The scholarship covers the full cost of the training workshop.
At the two-day, mini-intensive lab, Janiya Douglas, Isaac Vilbrun, Taylor Jones and Kamaria Roberson will receive first-hand experience in the Ballet Company’s distinguished training, including classes in ballet, contemporary, LINES repertory and improvisational movement creation and development.
“I'm most blessed and honored to have this opportunity to be a part of the LINES Ballet scholarship initiative,” Jones. said.
Dr. Wendy Coleman, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts said the BFA/Dance Program continues to shine on every level.
"The students take their craft very seriously and are poised for tremendous success in the field. We are so very proud of this program, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year,” Coleman said.
James Atkinson, associate professor of Dance, said the lab is designed to expand the technical and artistic exploration of intermediate to pre-professional students.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for our students to be introduced to a legendary African-American choreographer and teacher of the Contemporary Ballet Program, Taylor Ostronic, who is the Lined Ballet Birmingham coordinator and co-director of Gradient Dance. This opportunity will reinforce the teaching within the BFA dance program and provide select students with an opportunity to expand their skillset within classical training. I am excited about the opportunities and collaborations this will offer the ASU BFA dance program in the future,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson noted that LINES Ballet has collaborated with noted composers, musicians and visual artists from around the world to create performances that alter the way we look at ballet today.
“This program will serve as a valuable opportunity for Alabama dancers to train and audition for LINES Ballet summer program and training programs at no extra charge,” Atkinson said. "Its unique artistic vision adheres to the classical form the linear, mathematical and geometrical principles that are deeply rooted in the pre-existing East-West continuum."