Western Dance Project

The Western Dance Project is the Department of Dance’s touring ensemble. This group of 10-12 students provides concert performances, lecture-demonstrations and master classes in schools, community centers, and at festivals statewide, regionally and nationally. Each year students learn repertoire from guest choreographers from across the United States. Department of Dance alumni are also engaged to create dances for the ensemble.

Under the direction of dance professor David Curwen, ensemble members have represented the university at the Oakland Dance Festival, the east central and national conferences of the American College Dance Festival Association, Michigan Dance Council Dance Day, RADFest and more.

The Western Dance Project was invited to perform in the Dance Chicago 2009 Grand Finale concert in Evanston, Illinois on December 12, 2009. This concert featured dances that represented the “best of festival” from Dance Chicago’s two week festival earlier in the year. The Western Dance Project performed the dance Yes, and . . ., created by Chicago choreographer, Autumn Eckman. “Yes, and…” was one of thirteen dances selected from nearly 300 dances in the two-week festival. The creation of the dance was commissioned by the Western Dance Project as part of its touring repertoire.

For more information about the Western Dance Project, contact David Curwen at david.curwen@wmich.edu or 269-387-5707.