UTM SENIOR PERFORMS AT ACDA SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE GALA CONCERT

The University of Tennessee at Martin dance program under the direction of Sarah McCormick, professor of dance, had seven dancers participate in the American College Dance Association Southeast Conference hosted March 6-9 by the College of Charleston, with one of its dancers’ choreographic work qualifying for the prestigious Gala concert.

Alexandra Webber, a senior veterinary technician major and dance minor from Nashville, was selected out of 45 dancers to take part in the Gala concert. She was among 12 dancers in the Gala to represent the Southeast region. 

Webber choreographed the performance, entitled "Ceratophrys Ornata," and danced in the performance along with dancers Ellyn Beebe, a junior environmental and organismal biology major and dance minor from Jackson; Maleia Bigham, a junior fine and performing arts major from Turtletown; Madison Bixler, a junior fine and performing arts major from Troy; Kayla Mick, a junior fine and performing arts major from Baxter; and Hannah Newman, a sophomore fine and performing arts major from Jackson.

Mage Wilke, a sophomore performing arts major from Lebanon, attended the conference and took part in classes offered there.

“UT Martin has been participating in ACDA for the last four years, and this year was the first time UTM Dance got into the Gala,” said McCormick. “Maleia Bigham (adjudicated concert) and Kayla Mick (informal show) both had solos that were also performed during the four-day conference.”

The dance program’s spring ensemble will be held April 10 and 11 in the university’s Harriet Fulton Theatre. This will be McCormick’s final show, as she is retiring at the end of the school year.