DANCING ON ALL THE BASES: MIAMI BALLET, DUNHAM AND DANCING WHEELS ARE SCHEDULED

The dance in a multiplicity of forms will be presented to local audiences at Southeast Missouri State University during the coming year.

Those will include a performance and workshops by the Miami City Ballet Oct. 21-22, a return engagement by the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe from St. Louis Feb. 1-6 in observance of Black History Month, and a stop by the groundbreaking Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels.

The Miami Ballet presents both classical and contemporary dance, Katherine Dunham is known for Caribbean influences, and the Cleveland company mixes dancers with and without disabilities.

"We're trying to touch a number of bases here to reach out to as many under represented people as possible," says Dr. Marc Strauss, who heads the dance program at Southeast Missouri State University.

Edward Villella is the artistic director of the Miami Ballet. In the 1950s and 1960s, he was the most famous principal male dancer at the New York City Ballet. He is credited with helping popularize the male role in classical dance, and his style is based on the work of legendary choreographer George Ballanchine.

The company has performed at The Kennedy Center, the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival in Atlanta, Wolf Trap Farm Park and the Spoleto Festival U.S.A.

Villella will teach a master class at Southeast and on Oct. 22 will narrate the performance.

"This is a coup for the Cape Girardeau region because of the traditions he represents," Strauss said.

The 25-30 members of the company who will be here will include a strong Hispanic contingent. The company also will perform in Columbia and St. Louis.

Their appearance in the state is a collaboration with Dance St. Louis.

Last year's two-week residency here by the Katherine Dunham dancers drew 2,000 people to 40 different classes. More of the Dunham technique master classes and dance and percussion workshops will be taught, this time on a smaller scale.

A return workshop in Kennett is being schedule.

"We're very excited to have them back. We hope to improve on that turnout and support," Strauss said.

The disabled performers in the The Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels company sometimes dance alone and sometimes with other dancers who don't have disabilities. The dancers also will teach master classes in modern dance and ballet techniques.

The company is one of the first of its kind in the U.S. In March, the Dancing Wheels appeared on a nationally televised benefit performance for the Christopher Reeve Foundation.

All three dance performances will be presented at Academic Auditorium.

The three programs are being funded primarily with a grant Strauss acquired through the state Funding for Results Program. The program tends to support science and technical projects primarily but in this case has provided a grant for the arts.

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri also is furnishing funding.

Entering his fourth year as the head of Southeast's dance program, Strauss remains a one-person department. But he is encouraged by the growth of activities associated with the program.

"We're trying each year to build on whatever we have managed to do previously," he said.

"... We certainly have developed a presence on campus."

Strauss' ballroom dancing class is so popular that another section was added for the fall.

The dance program, now located in Parker Hall, eventually will be moved to the university's new River Campus if that project materializes. He anticipates that the theater and dance departments then would be combined.