UTDance students tiptoe their way through Europe for the Italian Renaissance

The troupe comprised of several University of Tennessee dance students

tip-toed its way to Europe this past summer to perform in the Italian Renaissance

Festival.

From July 30 to Aug. 3, a dance troupe comprised of 18 dancers from UT

and the Knoxville-based Armfield dance team toured several Italian cities

and presented four dance performances.

The troupe set things spinning when they twirled through Rome, Florence,

Maiori, and Minori where their performances of classical and interpretive

ballet as well as jazz were held.

Besides observing the dancers’ presentations, the Italians were also

introduced to some of the ingredients — the kick line and a “Cats”

showtune — that constitute the recipe for American culture.

“The fact that we went over there with a group who didn’t know each

other, meeting those people and establishing friendships, and then bringing

those friendships back,” was dancer Hannah Biggs’ favorite aspect of

the overseas experience. “Some of the bus rides were two to five hours

long and that was a good opportunity to meet everyone and get to know them,”

she added.

“We went there with a purpose-to perform and not only bring American

dance-but to see and explore Italian culture,” said Emma Hamaguchi,

a dancer on the trip.

Such an experience not only costs plenty of green paper but plenty of

time as well. Besides an airline ticket, practice was the primary ticket

to entering the gates of the Italian cities.

Almost everyday in the Alumni Memorial Gym the dedicated dancers rehearsed

their movements, perfecting their style and grace. The dancers are still

quick on their toes today, practicing and preparing for a competition this

weekend sponsored by the Tennessee Dance Association in which they hope

to seize a scholarship.

Empty-handed or not, the devotion and hard work characteristic of all

of the UT/Armfield dancers will not go unnoticed. The operative word “devotion”

goes a long way in describing the drive behind the individuals involved

in such an art form.

Biggs has been dancing since she was 6 years old.

“I like dancing because of the freedom it gives me,” Biggs

said. “I’m not a speaker. I’m not a writer and through dancing I can

express my feelings.”

Dancer Jeremiah King added, “It’s a good emotional and artistic

experience.”

While many of us are trying hard to express something that is just on

the tip of our tongues, the UT/Armfield dancers are striving to express

something on the tip of their toes.

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