Marleneanu Dance Project starts Jan. 31
Henderson State University will host the Kathleen Marleneanu Jazz Dance Project Jan. 31-Feb. 3. Marleneanu, a Henderson graduate, will teach dance master classes in the Arkansas Hall Dance Studio from 3-4:15 p.m. Jan. 31 and 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 2. The classes are free and open to the public.
Rehearsals with the Henderson Dance Company will be 5-9 p.m. Jan. 1-Feb. 2. The rehearsals are open to the public for observation.
An “informance” displaying the new work and providing an opportunity for audience feedback will be Feb. 3 at 3 p.m.
Marleneanu’s personal style of jazz dance incorporates the strong clean lines of classic jazz along with more pedestrian movement and self-expression found in contemporary. It builds on an underlying technique of ballet, and emphasizes high energy, exploration of levels, and most importantly, the pure joy of movement.
Marleneanu started dancing at the age of 10. She attended Henderson State University where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in English and minor in dance, and received the Outstanding Creative Achievement Award. She began dancing professionally in 2008, teaching in 2009, and in 2012, earned her master of education degree in Learning Systems Technology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
At Henderson, Marleneanu trained under Jennifer Maddox and various guest artists in modern, ballet, jazz, choreography, tap, and improvisation, and choreographed for and performed with the HSU Dance Company. She has additional training in contemporary/lyrical, hip hop, African, Latin, and musical theatre dance.
Through the years, Marleneanu has attended numerous intensives/workshops for training and professional development, including the Snowy Range Summer Dance Festival, River North Chicago Summer Workshop, Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop, American College Dance Festival, La JAZDANZ Summer Intensive, and Twin City Ballet Intensive; and has taken classes in Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles.
Marleneanu performed as a principal dancer in a show in Branson, Missouri, (American & international styles) before taking the position of dance teacher at Benton County School of the Arts charter school (now the Arkansas Arts Academy) in Rogers, where she directed the middle school dance program for three years.
Currently, Marleneanu is in her fifth season dancing professionally with New Creation Dance Company in Little Rock, where she trains, performs, and choreographs for, as well as teaches, weekly children’s classes, company classes, and workshops around the state.
She also performs with the New Life Church Creative Company in Central Arkansas, and teaches at various dance studios. Additionally, Marleneanu writes curricula and teaches public school dance residencies for Arkansas Learning Through the Arts and as a member of the Arkansas Arts Council’s Arts in Education Roster.
For more information, contact Jennifer Maddox, artist in residence for dance at Henderson, at maddoxj@hsu.edu. The project is made possible by the Ellis College Margin of Excellence and HSU Theatre and Dance.