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Dance company inspires Austin children
Middle-school students attend performance by Chicago-based Hubbard Street Dance
By David Cabanero
Thousands of Central Texas students entered a theater for the first time on Friday with looks of awe on their faces. Bass Concert Hall hosted an event brought by the UT Performing Arts Center's Lifelong Learning rogram that allowed these children an opportunity to be exposed to the arts.
"Most of these kids haven't been in a theater. This could possibly be their first theater experience. It's good to teach the children what a theater means and to give them a background, let them have this certain comfort zone, so they behave correctly as an audience," said Pebbles Wadsworth, the Performing Arts Center director. The program achieved success in extending the PAC's mission to educate, enlighten and entertain the community with the arrival of 2,500 children for the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Informance. The dance company has always been deeply rooted in community outreach. Founded in 1977 by dancer and choreographer Lou Conte, the program began with dance performances booked at local Chicago community events. As time progressed, the company has gained national acclaim as an institution dedicated to performance, rigorous dance training and community education. The dance company took the stage on Thursday, as it passed through Austin briefly to perform, as well as enlighten, the community and the youth. Leaving on Saturday evening for its first scheduled tour performance in Houston, it allowed groups of students were fortunate enough to capture a glimpse of a professional dance company. Before the performance, Judith Rhedin, the Lifelong Learning Program assistant director, made sure the students attending were prepared for the show. The program invited nine schools from Central Texas and engaged each school individually to prepare and teach the classes on the cultural importance of performing arts. Rows of children filled the seats of the Bass Concert Hall, as the company warmed up on stage. Brette Lea, PAC spokeswoman, walked through the halls making sure the event ran smoothly. The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely.
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