What we're all about...
The University of Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble (PDE) is an organization dedicated to further dance appreciation and understanding. We are a group that allows members of the University community who have danced in their past to continue their passion for dance during their years here at Pitt. Every Tuesday night the Ensemble meets at 112 Trees Hall from 6:00 to 8:00 to partake in a Master class. Every week the Board members of the Ensemble book a different professional dancer from the Pittsburgh community to come and teach their unique style. We have experimented with ballet, modern, tap, hip-hop, improvisation, yoga, and even Thai massage! These Tuesday night classes offer great opportunities to discover many local companies as well as to enhance knowledge and practice of different dance techniques.
The Dance Ensemble's Tuesday night classes are open to everybody in the Pitt community for FREE! Just show up, and you're in! There are no auditions and no "cuts". We encourage everybody to continue their passion for dance with the Pitt Dance Ensemble.
The Dance Ensemble's Tuesday night classes are open to everybody in the Pitt community for FREE! Just show up, and you're in! There are no auditions and no "cuts". We encourage everybody to continue their passion for dance with the Pitt Dance Ensemble.
How to take it even further...
In addition to the Tuesday night classes, PDE provides many opportunities for its members to have performance experiences. Every fall the ensemble performs an "Informal" show and every spring the ensemble performs a "Formal" show. Here is a breakdown of how it works...
Fall Semester
1. Any student who has an itch to choreograph comes forward to "pitch" their idea to the ensemble ( i.e., "I'm thinking of doing a modern piece to Imogen Heap"),
2. The students that want to choreograph then pick a time and place to have their rehearsals (we will offer specified spaces/locations/studios for practices).
3. Members of PDE decide which choreographer/ dance style/ rehearsal time best fits their schedule and then must audition for that particular piece at the choreographer's specification.
4. Around the end of November PDE has its "informal" show. This show is meant for choreographers to present their work-in-progress for feedback or fun. The public is invited to attend this performance as this helps to fundraise for the Spring.
Spring Semester
1. Choreographers from the fall can continue to work on their pieces to lengthen and improve them for the Spring Formal Show.
2. New choreographers with new ideas can follow the process stated prior to create a finished piece for the Spring Formal Show.
3. All of the dance pieces in the Spring must go through an adjudication process to be chosen for the Spring Formal. Because the Formal Show needs to have a time limit, not all of the pieces can be performed. Professional dancers from the community as well as our Faculty Adviser judge the dance pieces according to specific criteria. The guidelines by which your piece will be judged are meant to select the most original and polished pieces and thus create an entertaining variety for the show.
4. Around the end of March PDE has its Formal Show. This performance includes professional photographers, videographers, lighting, sound, and music.
Fall Semester
1. Any student who has an itch to choreograph comes forward to "pitch" their idea to the ensemble ( i.e., "I'm thinking of doing a modern piece to Imogen Heap"),
2. The students that want to choreograph then pick a time and place to have their rehearsals (we will offer specified spaces/locations/studios for practices).
3. Members of PDE decide which choreographer/ dance style/ rehearsal time best fits their schedule and then must audition for that particular piece at the choreographer's specification.
4. Around the end of November PDE has its "informal" show. This show is meant for choreographers to present their work-in-progress for feedback or fun. The public is invited to attend this performance as this helps to fundraise for the Spring.
Spring Semester
1. Choreographers from the fall can continue to work on their pieces to lengthen and improve them for the Spring Formal Show.
2. New choreographers with new ideas can follow the process stated prior to create a finished piece for the Spring Formal Show.
3. All of the dance pieces in the Spring must go through an adjudication process to be chosen for the Spring Formal. Because the Formal Show needs to have a time limit, not all of the pieces can be performed. Professional dancers from the community as well as our Faculty Adviser judge the dance pieces according to specific criteria. The guidelines by which your piece will be judged are meant to select the most original and polished pieces and thus create an entertaining variety for the show.
4. Around the end of March PDE has its Formal Show. This performance includes professional photographers, videographers, lighting, sound, and music.
Now we're really gettin' serious...
PDE is constantly working to enhance your dance experiences. Here are three additional ways to satisfy all of your dancing needs.
1. Dance with a professional choreographer
Each semester PDE hires a couple professional choreographer's from the dance community to work with our students. This is an opportunity for those with a little extra commitment to audtion and then perform a particular trained style.
2. Attend an American College Dance Festival convention (ACDFA)
Once a year PDE attends an ACDFA convention. (This year, we will be attending Mercyhurst College's Festival.) We take master classes, perform, and have our performances adjudicated by celebrities in the dance world. This is a great opportunity to connect with other college dancers and choreographers in the region, especially because PDE covers a majority of the costs!
ACDFA website: http://www.acdfa.org/
3. Take Dance Production 1 or Dance Production 2 for class credit
4. Become a Dance Minor
1. Dance with a professional choreographer
Each semester PDE hires a couple professional choreographer's from the dance community to work with our students. This is an opportunity for those with a little extra commitment to audtion and then perform a particular trained style.
2. Attend an American College Dance Festival convention (ACDFA)
Once a year PDE attends an ACDFA convention. (This year, we will be attending Mercyhurst College's Festival.) We take master classes, perform, and have our performances adjudicated by celebrities in the dance world. This is a great opportunity to connect with other college dancers and choreographers in the region, especially because PDE covers a majority of the costs!
ACDFA website: http://www.acdfa.org/
3. Take Dance Production 1 or Dance Production 2 for class credit
4. Become a Dance Minor