daCi Utah Day of Dance
The daCi Utah Day of Dance is a festival for families, local and rural schools, and dance studios to experience hands-on instruction in cultural dance forms and the creative process, allowing participants to create new dance works, and perform together. Multicultural and creative breakout sessions are taught by highly qualified dance teaching artists and will serve approximately 250 participants, from babes in arms to grandparents. Join us for an unforgettable experience building community through kinetic connections and multigenerational dancing.
Pricing
daCi Utah is thankfully supported by a grant from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums in order to make the experience affordable for all who desire to participate.
Early Bird Registration Prices:
- $10 individual ticket
- $25 family ticket
Prices increase October 10th ($20 individual/$40 family)
Scholarships and group discounts are available. Contact us at daCiUtah@gmail.com.
Location
Nebo School District Summit Center - 165 S 700 E, Springville, UT 84663
For Studios
Workshops for Creative Dance Studios
- 9:30 am Registration
- 10:00 am Opening Ceremony
- 10:30 am Classes and Spacing Rehearsals
- 11:30 am Classes and Spacing Rehearsals
- 12:20 pm Gathering Together
- 12:30 pm Lunch Break and Networking
- 2:30 pm Performance
Studios will perform for the opening ceremonies of the afternoon session (see below).
For Studios and Families
Workshops for Studios, Families, and Friends
- 1:30 pm Registration
- 2:00 pm Welcome Gathering & Dance
- 2:30 pm Studio Performances
- 3:00 pm Break
- 3:15 pm Breakout Session I
- 3:50 pm Breakout Session II
- 4:20 pm Refreshment Break
- 4:40 pm Creative Session
- 6:00 pm Sharing Showcase
- 6:45 pm Surveys and Cookies
Creative Dance Studios in Utah
This document is a list of dance studios in Utah providing creative movement for children. These studios are supported by daCi and its mission to support opportunities for young people to experience dance as creators.
Breakout Sessions
The morning classes will be creative dance classes for the following age groups:
- Littles (Ages 4 - 7)
- Big Kids (Ages 8-12)
- Teens (Ages 13 - 18)
The afternoon breakout sessions will include the following:
- Bhangra Indian Dance
- Puerto Rican Dance
- African Dance
- Creative Dance for Families
- Visual Art
- Halloween Dance Party
Once you register, you should be able to select your top three choices! If you can't find the link in your ticket confirmation, you can also pick your classes at registration.
Presenters
daCi Utah prides itself on curating a teaching roster of highly-qualified dance teaching artists. The following artists will be bringing their artistry and expertise to daCi this year.
- Amy Markgraff
- Chara Huckins
- Yvonne Nsabimana
- Chris Roberts
- Danielle Petersen
- Kathleen Sheffield
- Heather Wilson
- Elicia Gray
- Jocelyn Smith
- Sara Mann
- Miriam Padilla Vargas
- Tami Knubel
- Leslie Sarin
- Lindsey Challis
Read more about our presenters in their bios below!
Presenter Bios
Amy Markgraff is a Professor of Dance and the Dance Education Program Coordinator at Utah Valley University. She began dancing as a child with BYU Young DanceMakers. Amy holds a B.S. in Dance Education/Biology from Utah State University, an M.A. from Brigham Young University, and an MFA from the University of Utah. She is a dance educator who teaches, performs, and choreographs for students of all ages. She instructs modern/contemporary technique and pedagogy courses, dance kinesiology, and other classes from the core curriculum at UVU. Markgraf is a prolific choreographer and dance scholar. Her choreography has been performed, commissioned, and awarded nationally and internationally. Amy has presented at NDEO, IADMS, UDEO, and daCi national and international conferences. She is a co-creator of Body and Brain (B2), a Dance Specific Conditioning, b2conditioning.com, with colleague Kate Monson (Associate Professor, BYU).UVU has awarded Amy the Dean's Recognition Award for Scholarly Creative Work and UVU's Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. Last year, Amy was thrilled to spend her sabbatical learning, playing, and choreographing with Tanner Dance in SLC, UT. She is currently working on opening a dance and Pilates studio in Mapleton.
When she is not dancing, she loves to be with her dogs, garden, hike, boat, and watch good movies, but most of all, spend time with her family.
Chara Huckins is a dance educator, choreographer, performer, curriculum developer, and dance advocate. She earned a BFA in modern dance from the University of Utah and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction Creative Arts in Learning from Lesley University. Chara has an extensive background in performing and teaching historical and contemporary dance forms. She performed with Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) for 19 years where she danced works by (selected) Lucinda Childs, Laura Dean, Zvi Gotheiner, Margaret Jenkins, Hwai-min Lin, Elise Monte, David Parsons, Jo Strombren, Merce Cunningham, Isadora Duncan, Viola Farber, Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Jose Limon, Sophie Maslow, Elizabeth Waters, Helen Tamaris. Chara is a certified movement specialist that has brought the magic of dance to students and teachers with her performances, dance classes, chorography, and professional development workshops through the Utah Artist-in-Education Program. Chara teaches and choreographs for the University of Utah Tanner Dance. She is a dance educator for the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program where she inspires hundreds of students to learn, create, and perform through the art form of dance. Chara was honored with the Sorenson Legacy Award for excellence in teaching dance education. She received the honor of Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals. Chara directs the dance program at two public schools. She has been invited to present professional development workshops and has taught in Taiwan, Australia, Denmark, and Rwanda. Chara serves on the board for the dance and the Child international USA (daCi USA) organization as Membership Liaison where she is responsible for the monthly daCi Delight. She also serves as a Board Member for daCi Utah. When Chara is not in a dance studio, she enjoys dancing, traveling to national parks and exploring them, as well as figure skating.
Yvonne Nsabimana is originally from Rwanda. She received her master’s degree in Public Administration from BYU Marriott School in 2016, and then pursued another master’s degree in Educational Studies with Western Governors University in 2018. She did her undergraduate work in Belgium in Corporate Logistics and Transportation Management.
She is a strong advocate for creating unity and antiracism education through intercultural exchange between all participants of different nationalities and cultures. She believes that: “dance is a conduit of individual and community healing.” (Monteiro, 2011). Having experienced firsthand the benefits of African dance on coping with mental health and war trauma she faced in Rwanda in 1994, Yvonne founded of Ngoma y’Africa Cultural Center, a (501)c3 nonprofit organization comprised of African refugees and immigrants as well as US Citizen families based in Provo whose mission is to preserve and increase understanding of African culture through the arts such as storytelling, languages, music, dance, and other educational experiences. She has been dancing since age 5 and teaches African Cultural Dance at BYU.
Chris Roberts recently retired after 42 years as a public educator. He has served on the Utah Dance Education Organization and also the daCi USA and daCi Utah boards. He became a dance enthusiast after witnessing the positive attributes his daughter was acquiring from her creative dance classes. His first attempt at teaching a dance lesson was with a "how to book" in his hand! From that fumbling beginning he gradually became better and eventually was presenting at state and international conferences. In 2012 he received the Governor's Leadership in the Arts Award.
Danielle Petersen attended Brigham Young University where she received a BA in Dance Education with a minor in Family Life. She has earned her 500-hr yoga teacher certification with the Yoga Alliance and currently directs the dance and yoga programs at Viewmont High School. Danielle also teaches at Illume Dance Company and is a member of the Illume Adult Dance Company.
Dr. Kathleen B. Sheffield has been a faculty member of the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications for over 35 years. She teaches modern dance technique, composition, improvisation and pedagogy classes for children’s creative dance and dance education majors. She has directed the BYU children’s and Teens Creative Dance Program and been the Artistic Director of The Young DanceMakers for the past 20 years. Kathleen enjoys working with dancers of all ages where she focuses on building sound technique while nurturing the individual spirit of each student. Her work has been seen as part of The Provo City Center Temple Cultural Celebration, The Sesquicentennial Spectacular, The Mormon Arts Festival, BYU Women’s Conference, BYU Homecoming Spectacular, “The Light of the World” production in the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City Utah, celebrating the 2002 Winter Olympics, and as a part of the Central Utah region Joseph Smith Celebration in the Marriott Center. Kathleen trained in her early years as a seminary teacher and values every opportunity to make application of Gospel principles in all she undertakes. She is a wife, mother and Nonna (grandmother).
Heather Turner Wilson began dancing at Tanner Dance and Children’s Dance Theater, which is where she was first introduced to daCi, and has participated in countless conferences and events. She received her BFA in Dance from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, and her MFA from the University of Utah in Dance, emphasis in Dance Education. She loves teaching and sharing dance. She has taught in New York, at the University of Utah, Utah State University, Pacific University in Oregon, and is currently thrilled to run her own program (Discovery DanceWorks) and Fine Art Center in Roosevelt, Utah.
Elicia Timpson Gray has a Master's degree in Art Education and has been teaching children and adults in various capacities for more than 20 years. She loves to explore new materials and techniques-- especially messy ones. She loves to brainstorm and invent new lessons and activities for creative kids. Her favorite medium is cardboard and she can frequently be found in the dumpster looking for her next project idea.
Jocelyn Smith is in her eighth year as the program director for Provo High Dance. She is currently the Associate Director for Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company and enjoys creating, organizing, and directing in both capacities. She holds a BFA degree in Modern dance, a BS degree in Dance Education from Utah Valley University, and she is currently pursuing a MFA degree through Montclair State University. Her enthusiasm for life shines in her teaching. She enjoys creating and building legos with her boys and loves chocolate chip cookies.
Sara Mann has been teaching creative dance for 19 years and counting. She received a degree in Dance Education with a focus on K-12 curriculum integration from BYU. Sara has a passion for teaching dance to anybody, any age, and practically any style! While her main passion is creative dance, lately she has been spending time choreographing for local school and community musicals in Utah County. When Sara is not in the dance room teaching, you will find her with her six busy kids (including two 18 month old twins!) out on walks, gardening, hiking or just playing in the sandbox. Sara has the philosophy that dance is as natural to the soul as breathing, we learn about ourselves, our potential, others and our world through movement. She is excited to move with the youngest dancers at the upcoming daCi conference!
Miriam Padilla Vargas- Executive Director of Bomba Marilé
Bomba Marilé, a 501c3 non profit organization, was established November 2017 with the purpose of sharing Afro Puerto Rican traditions of Bomba music and dance with the greater Utah community. Since our initiation, we have organized Bomba workshops with visiting instructors, social events including dominos and picnics, and educational activities including showing documentaries discussing issues related to Puerto Rico. Bomba Marilé has had the opportunity to perform at various cultural events throughout Utah including Living Traditions Festival, West Side Dance Cinco de Mayo Festival, Mondays at the Park, and Utah County Fair. We are grateful for the opportunity to highlight our musical traditions from Puerto Rico and to share them with those who support the cultural arts.
Tami Redd Knubel began dancing at the age of 3 with Virginia Tanner Creative Dance at the University of Utah. She later studied with Pearl Wagstaff-Garff at the Life Arts Center, as well as ballet training at The Christensen Center. During high school, she danced with Tanner’s Children’s Dance Theatre. Tami completed two majors at Brigham Young University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Modern Dance and Social Work. After working for several years with The Utah Division of Child and Family Services, she returned to her love of dance, teaching at the Life Arts Center and serving as Co-Director of Miss Pearl’s Dancer’s Theatre Company, as well as a dance specialist with The Waterford School’s Lower Division. In 2004, Tami opened South Valley Creative Dance in Sandy, UT. She now co-owns this with four other amazing and dedicated artists. She also helped establish and serves on the Executive Board of the Utah Creative Dance Foundation, a 501(c)3. In 2022, Tami began teaching with Repertory Dance Theatre’s “Music in Motion” program at area senior centers. She feels incredible gratitude to be able to work in the art of dance with populations ranging in age from 2 to 90+. She loves to remind her students that we are ALL dancers…some of us just need to be reminded…bringing a new world of immense joy into daily living!
Leslie Sarin is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Utah Punjabi Arts
Academy (UPAA). UPAA was founded in 2018 with the goal to preserve,
promote and perform Punjabi folk dance and music. Leslie has studied the folk
dances of Punjab, India from teachers around the world. She traveled through
Punjab and studied with master Bhangra teachers. She has had the opportunity
to share Bhangra in Utah with students from the elementary to college level.
Prior to her work with UPAA, Leslie owned her own dance studio Creative
Dance Space, where she taught Brain Compatible Creative Dance Education for
10 years.
Lindsey Challis received her BA in modern and ballroom dance from Brigham Young University. After graduation, she returned to BYU to receive her dance teaching credentials. She taught dance full time at Timpview High School for 10 years and coached both the drill team and the dance company there. She is now the mother of four young children and dances with them almost daily in the living room. Lindsey taught with BYU Creative Dance for 17 years. She now teaches with a company called Creative Dancemakers. Lindsey loves to use lots of different methods for improvising and composing dances.
What is dance and the Child International? What value does daCi Utah bring to you and your community?
The dance and the Child International (daCi) organizations sponsor conferences that offer children and people of all ages the opportunity to experience dance as creators, performers, and spectators. daCi Utah provides an exciting and memorable dance event every year where any member of the Utah community can feel safe while experiencing dancing, creating and performing together. Don’t miss the chance to share your art form with your most faithful audience members, your family and friends, at the annual daCi Utah Day of Dance!! Let them feel your passion while they experience the joy of connecting with themselves and others through dance.
“My husband has never been much of a dancer, but the daCi Utah Day of Dance was filled with community unity and exciting dance activities that my husband felt comfortable in participating. He now has a greater appreciation for dance and I we still talk of the fun memories we made that night.” – Adult Participant
How do you pronounce daCi?
The pronunciation of daCi is as unusual and beautiful as the opportunity to dance with people from all generations, it is pronounced, “day-see.” But if you say “dah-chee, or dah-key, we have no problem. We are just happy to hear you are interested in daCi and would love to share the benefits this organization has to offer you and your loved ones.
"I love making up my own dances and it is the best because then you can be creative and express yourself...we get to learn new stuff that we might not have got if we stayed home. I love performing for everybody." Child Participant
Who will come with you? How will your community change because you invited people to dance with you?
The daCi Day of Dance in Utah is an intergenerational dancing event designed to connect people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds while honoring the uniqueness of individuals. Families and groups of all types are encouraged to participate including school groups, neighborhood groups, community centers and friends. During the event, personal expression through dance is combined with traditional experiences in dance to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to connect with others and rejuvenate themselves through dance.
"I could express how I felt and I also could be myself without anyone judging!" – Adult Participant
What can you look forward to at this year’s daCi Utah Day of Dance?
The theme for the daCi Utah Day of Dance is "Building Unity Through Intergenerational Dancing". Along with opportunities to experience all the daCi favorites including cultural dance breakout sessions, creative sessions, and the final performance we will have the introduction of the newly commissioned daCi Utah Folk Dance. Cultural sessions to look forward to this year include Polynesian, African, French Canadian, Mexican, Indian, and Visual Arts. There is something for everyone at daCi! Follow daCi Utah on facebook for more detail on teaching artists and class offerings at the event.
"It was really fun to dance with all my family and with live drummers." – Adult Participant
This event is an entrée to the National daCi Gathering hosted in Michigan summer of 2020. (See details here.)This is a unique opportunity to unite as dancers to build relationships within our community through dance with a culminating national event. We need you. Please bring your family and friends and come dance with us!!