UALR’s Department of Theatre and Dance is hosting a major regional conference this spring expected to bring more than 400 visitors from 28 different colleges and universities from 10 different states.

The 2014 south conference of The American College Dance Festival Association will be held March 21 through 24. Dance students and faculty from as far away as Baja, Calif., have registered to attend performances, workshops, panels, and master classes that will be taught by visiting faculty and internationally known guest artists, according to chair of the department, Dr. Jay Raphael.

The primary focus of the ACDFA is to support and promote the talent and creativity prominent at college and university dance departments across the nation. Raphael said the regional conference will also provide an opportunity for students and faculty to have their dance works adjudicated by a panel of nationally recognized dance professionals.

“The conference is a primary means for our students to gain exposure to the diversity of the national college dance world,” he said. “For our program to be only five years old at this point and to host a regional conference of this magnitude is a major accomplishment.”

UALR reinstated its dance major in 2009, and today it is the only Bachelor of Fine Arts dance performance program in the state. Hosting the ACDFA further solidifies the reputation of the dance program at UALR and helps to promote Little Rock as a beacon for performing arts professionals, according to Raphael. ACDFA has 12 regions throughout the country, which include the south conference. It also sponsors the National College Dance Festival.

Two works presented in Little Rock will be chosen for presentation at this event, which is scheduled June 5 through 7 at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. For tickets and more information, contact the box office at 501.569.3456.