The Big Muddy Dance Fest!

BM_wave

Join The Big Muddy Dance Company for our inaugural Big Muddy Dance Fest! Two days jam packed with classes, workshops, auditions, panel discussions, vendors, and opportunities to connect with fellow dancers and dance lovers.

Saturday & Sunday, November 9-10, 2019

3 Levels of Participation!


  • 1 Open Class
  • Access to Vendor Fair


  • Up to 4 Open Classes
  • Access to Vendor Fair
  • Admission to Morning Mingle Coffee
  • Access to Panel Discussions
  • Ticket to Showcase
  • Ticket to “A Christmas Carol”


  • Unlimited Open Classes
  • Access to Vendor Fair
  • Admission to Morning Mingle Coffee
  • Admission to VIP Happy Hour
  • Access to Panel Discussions
  • Ticket to Showcase
  • 2 Tickets to “A Christmas Carol”
  • Participation in Regional University Dance Audition
  • Dance Fest Vendor “Swag Bag”

  • OPEN CLASSES

    Saturday, November 9

    9:00am - 10:20am

    BEGINNING/INTERMEDIATE BALLET
    Robert Poe, The Big Muddy Dance Company

    10:30am - 10:50am

    INTERMEDIATE HORTON MODERN
    Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Center of Creative Arts, Alvin Ailey

    1:30pm - 2:50pm

    MUSICAL THEATER
    Lara Teeter, Webster University

    3:00pm - 4:20pm

    INTERMEDIATE JAZZ
    Brandon Fink, The Big Muddy Dance Company

    4:30pm - 6:30pm

    THE BIG MUDDY REPERTORY WORKSHOP
    Brian Enos, Artistic Director of The Big Muddy Dance Company

    Sunday, November 10

    9:00am - 10:20am

    INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED BALLET
    Dustin Crumbaugh, The Big Muddy Dance Company

    10:30am - 10:50am

    INTERMEDIATE CONTEMPORARY
    Geoffrey Alexander, The Big Muddy Dance Company

    1:30pm - 2:50pm

    BEGINNING/INTERMEDIATE BALLET
    Jessie Philbrick, The Big Muddy Dance Company

    3:00pm - 4:20pm

    WEST AFRICA DANCE
    Diadie Bathily, Afriky Lolo

  • VENDOR FAIR

    SATURDAY 11/9 and SUNDAY 11/10

    9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at The Marcelle

    Come interact with representatives from dance-specific businesses and organizations, and learn about the great resources available to dancers in St. Louis. Free for all Dance Fest attendees! Level 3 attendees will receive a special Dance Fest swag bag filled with goodies, samples, and coupons from select vendors.

    VENDORS

    • Kranzberg Arts Foundation
    • Dance St. Louis
    • Olivia Castillo, Athletico Physical Therapy
    • Sports Medicine and Training Center St. Louis
    • Pazazz Performing Company
    • St. Louis Ballet
    • The Dance Bag
    • 314 Pilates

    • The Actors Fund of New York
    • Rachel Loeb, Clayton Chiropractic
    • Erica Stearns of Arbonne International
    • Fit Flavors
    • Feldenkrais Movement Academy St. Louis
    • Pure Barre, Central West End
    • Tree 9 Films
    • Carly Vanderheyden Photography

  • THE BIG MUDDY REPERTORY WORKSHOP

    SATURDAY 11/9

    Advanced Ballet with Brian Enos, Artistic Director Repertory Workshop Brian Enos and Brandon Fink, company dancer

    This class-workshop combination serves as a great opportunity to learn advanced repertory, be seen by the director of The Big Muddy Dance Company, and practice being in an audition-like setting. Additionally, dancers can elect to use this workshop as an audition for The Big Muddy Dance Company’s Convergence Trainee Program for the 2020-2021 season.

    ABOUT THE CONVERGENCE TRAINEE PROGRAM

    The Convergence Trainee Program provides aspiring young adult dancers affordable, high quality training, along with performance opportunities, in order to facilitate a smooth transition between dance education and a professional career in dance.
    The program offers:

    • Continued dance education from the highest quality faculty, all with professional performance experience.
    • Training alongside the professional dancers of The Big Muddy Dance Company.
    • Rehearsals to prepare original and company repertoire, as well as supplementary classes in ballet, jazz, contemporary, Feldenkrais, yoga, etc.
    • Opportunities to rehearse with The Big Muddy Dance Company, including opportunities to perform with the company, subject to Artistic Director approval.
    • Opportunities to perform at venues and festivals throughout St. Louis.
    • A photoshoot to help build the dancers’ portfolio and resumé for auditions.

  • REGIONAL UNIVERSITY DANCE AUDITION

    Grand Hall at The Grandel
    Sunday, November 10
    1:30 - 4:30pm

    For current juniors and seniors in high school interested in studying dance in college.

    Upon purchasing the Dance Fest Level 3 package, you will receive details about the audition and a link to continue your registration. We recommend completely filling out the registration form (including the optional fields), in order to best present yourself to the auditioning university programs. Your audition registration must be submitted prior to the Dance Fest weekend.

    The Regional University Dance Audition will consist of ballet technique, contemporary, and improvisation. All portions of the audition will be taught by representatives of The Big Muddy Dance Company, and each auditioning university program will have 1-2 representatives present to observe and adjudicate. Most university programs will also have their representatives at the Dance Fest vendor fair on Saturday and Sunday to answer any program-specific questions.

    UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

    • Friends University
    • Lindenwood University
    • Missouri State University
    • Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
    • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
    • Washington University in St. Louis
    • Webster University
    • Western Kentucky University

  • PANEL DISCUSSIONS

    DANCE IN ST LOUIS PANEL

    Washington Studio
    Saturday, November 9
    12:00 - 1:00pm


    A panel discussion opportunity for dance students and professionals of all ages and experiences. Come hear from panelists with diverse professional dance and teaching involvements, and have all of your questions answered!

    • Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Center of Creative Arts
    • Margaret Dueker, Webster University
    • Christine Knoblauch-O’Neal, Washington University
    • Ashley Tate, Ashleyliane Dance Company
    • Brian Enos, The Big Muddy Dance Company

    ARTS ADMINISTRATORS PANEL

    Washington Studio
    Sunday, November 10
    12:00 - 1:00pm


    A panel created for Dance Fest attendees who work as administrators and staff, we have compiled a group of successful leaders from various organizations across the St. Louis area to share their expertise and insight on leading a successful arts nonprofit.

    • Gene Bradford, Jazz St. Louis
    • Peter Palermo, The Sheldon
    • Kelly Pollock, Center of Creative Arts
    • Chris Hansen, Kranzberg Arts Foundation
    • Erin Prange, The Big Muddy Dance Company

  • THE ACTORS FUND OF NEW YORK

    BUILDING A CAREER: RESOURCES FOR DANCERS

    Kranzberg Black Box
    Sunday, November 10
    11:00am - 12:00pm

    As dancers move from one chapter to the next, learning strategies to manage the transition from training to professional work is essential, not only for dance work, but also for pursuing a rewarding, creative life and career. Learn about no-cost resources for the professional dancer through The Actors Fund, a national human services agency dedicated to the well-being of professional arts workers.

    PARENTING TIPS: SUPPORTING YOUR DANCER

    Kranzberg Black Box
    Sunday, November 10
    12:00pm - 1:00pm

    In this session, take part in a conversation about the challenges faced dancers’ parents as they transition from training to a career. Topics of exploration will include how to successfully monitor the personal, professional, and financial safety of your child, as well as what resources parents can learn about when facing the changing nature of parenting a young adult.

    Patch (Patricia) Schwadron
    Facilitator, The Actors Fund

    Patch is a former ballet dancer and parent of three adult working artists. She has completed graduate training in educational psychology and career counseling, with a focus on the career development and management needs of professional artists. As a career counselor for performing artists, Patch has more than twenty years-experience at The Actors Fund, a national non-profit that supports dancers with no-cost resources and information to help dancers manage their life at every age and stage.

  • DANCE FEST SHOWCASE

    SUNDAY 11/10

    Kranzberg Black Box - 5:00pm

    Level 2 and Level 3 attendees can celebrate the close of our inaugural Big Muddy Dance Fest with a showcase performance, featuring a sneak peek of The Big Muddy Dance Company’s upcoming performance of “A Christmas Carol.” Other showcase performances by The Big Muddy’s Convergence Trainee Program, and various local professional companies and university programs. More information on the showcase location and time will be given upon purchase of a Dance Fest Level 2 or Level 3 package.

    PERFORMING COMPANIES

    • The Big Muddy Dance Company
    • The Big Muddy’s Convergence Trainee Program
    • Ashleyliane Dance Company
    • Collective Motion
    • Consuming Kinetics Dance Company
    • MADCO2
    • Pazazz Performing Company
    • Lindenwood University
    • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
    • Webster University
    • Western Kentucky University

  • NETWORKING BREAKFAST & VIP HAPPY HOUR

    MORNING MINGLE COFFEE

    Levels 2 & 3:
    Saturday, November 9, 2019
    8 - 8:45 am
    The Marcelle,
    3310 Samuel Shepard Drive

    VIP HAPPY HOUR

    Level 3:
    Saturday, November 9, 2019
    6 - 8 pm
    Bulrush,
    3307 Washington Blvd

  • LOCATIONS

Sign up for news and promotions!

Thanks for signing up! You should receive a confirmation email shortly. :-)

The Big Muddy Dance Company BBB Charity Seal

© 2018 | Photos by Gerry Love | Privacy Notice