SEMO dance instructor to switch roles in New York

A Southeast Missouri State University dance instructor will be heading to New York in September and changing roles from teacher to student.

Kari Schroeder, one of the newest members of Southeast's Department of Theater and Dance, has been chosen to study at the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Company in New York City from September to June.

The Ailey dance company has been seen by an estimated 21 million people throughout the United States and in 68 countries. Founder Alvin Ailey established the dance school in 1969.

For Schroeder, a 28-year-old dancer trained in ballet, modern dance and jazz, it will be the opportunity of a lifetime. "It's one of the premier modern dance companies in the world," she said.

The selection surprised no one more than Schroeder. In February, she took some of her students to Chicago to try out for the school. On a whim, Schroeder decided she would also try out. Her students didn't make it, but she did.

Schroeder said part of the reason the audition was successful was because she didn't feel pressured. "I wasn't nervous at all because I was kind of doing it for fun. I wasn't really thinking about it, since I had been focusing on teaching so much. It was one of the easier auditions I've ever done."

Studying at the famous school was a chance she couldn't pass up, she said, because dancers' careers are often so short due to the rigorous physical demand.

The university has been very supportive of Schroeder, offering her a leave of absence for a year and expressing pride in her accomplishment. Schroeder will study ballet, modern dance and jazz dance with an acclaimed professional dance faculty.

"In a lot of ways it's like me going back to school, which is really exciting because it's part of my professional development," said Schroeder.

Schroeder will likely return to Southeast after the school and hopes to apply what she's learned to teaching her students.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182