Source: Julie Pentz, 785-532-5411, jpentz@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Megan Wilson, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008
K-STATE DANCE PROGRAM ADDS TAP DANCE ENSEMBLE
MANHATTAN -- The dance program at Kansas State University has added a 12-member tap dance ensemble. The group of K-State tap dance students is available for performances on campus and in the community.
The ensemble offers a program of up to eight different tap dance pieces of various styles, including rhythm tap dance, musical theater tap dance and Latin jazz tap dance. Members also perform a tap demonstration that allows participants to learn a portion of a tap-dance piece.
The ensemble is available for "tap-a-grams," tapping telegrams that can be sent to someone, and for performances for local schools and community groups. In addition, the ensemble will perform at K-State's SpringDance and with other K-State dance ensembles.
The ensemble was assembled in fall 2007. Julie Pentz, assistant professor of dance, said she began the program after receiving feedback from dance patrons expressing a desire for more tap dance in their shows.
"Last June I was contacted by a local tap dance enthusiast. She was looking for entertainment for a reciprocity lunch and happened to see one of my tap dances being performed on the K-State television station," Pentz said. "That interaction was the beginning of the formation of the tap dance ensemble."
More information on the tap dance ensemble is available at http://www.k-state.edu/dance/tap.html
K-State students involved in the tap dance ensemble include:
Monette McKeeman, graduate student in speech, Abilene; Autumn Scoggan, sophomore in theater, Beloit; Kelsey Zirkle, senior in theater, Harper; Candace Wright, senior in arts and sciences-open option, Inman; Mindy Von Elling, junior in public relations, Lenexa; Lindsey Liotta, junior in pre-professional business administration, Manhattan; Jennifer Grantman, senior in public relations, Overland Park; Katie Lero, sophomore in public health nutrition, Parsons; and Jenny Karlan, junior in hotel and restaurant management, Topeka.
From out of state: Cali Dunham, senior in kinesiology, Newton, Iowa; Meg Wilson, senior in interior architecture and product design, Swansea, Ill.; and Annie Tipton, junior in mechanical engineering, Smithville, Mo.