Spring 2016, Issue 9: March 21-27

House Keeping I hope everyone had a great Easter holiday. I hope all the chocolate bunnies survived. We are now back for only five full weeks. Let’s make every moment count.

Picture for Reflection Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of 12 refugees Thursday at a migrant center in Castelnuovo di Porto outside of Rome, Italy. The ceremony took place as part of the observances of Maundy Thursday, the Holy Thursday before Easter that dates back to the story of Jesus’ Last Supper.

In a powerful gesture of interfaith embrace, the pontiff knelt down before a group of eight men and four women, among whom were Muslims, Coptic Christians and one Hindu.

“All of us together: Muslims, Hindus, Catholics, Copts, Evangelicals ... all brothers and children of the same God,” the pontiff said during a Mass before the foot washing ceremony. “We want to live together in peace.”

And since it is spring, I share with you a poem.

Spring by Bill Vartnaw

Spring & for all the craziness & death, I find I’m still in love with, among others, myself

O, adventurers would find me boring as they venture up their mountain I’m nowhere near their trail, still spring courses through me like a fifth cup of coffee in an hour

I walk monoxide sidewalks, searching for something in the windows to redeem my idle habits—mere objects have never held me for long, unless they have meaning to engage my wit, otherwise they’re just someone else’s elevators going up to a price tag

I’m not willing to pay. The traffic (& yours truly) always has had a mind of its own that honks when it thinks it’s right

Do I ignore responsibility? We can think we do Everything that is done to/by/for us— Well, we can choose the moon. It enters our lives on such a regular basis we nearly take it for “granite”?

Then, one night much like any other, except it’s this night under this deepening blue sky with all its bright twinkling thisses

The—moon appears— big & pale crescent yellow, just above the hill— reflecting off electric skyscraper windows— Everything I feel tells me: Honk! what is distance when Spring is coursing through

American College Dance Conference

Faulty members Ann Gavit, Lisette Tarin, members of CDT and myself traveled to Western Texas A & M University to attend the American College Dance Association South-Central Region’s annual conference over Spring break. We traveled by charter bus with faculty and dancers from UTEP and El Paso Community College. On Thursday, March 17, Ann adjudicated her choreography Baggage and Colette and Jermey adjudicated their choreography The Manipulator. There were 39 dances adjudicated over four concerts. From these 39 dances, the adjudicators choose

11 dances to be performed at the gala concert. We were honored that both our dances were chosen. This is a national conference year and from the gala concert 2 dances were be chosen to go to Washington D.C. to perform at the Kennedy Center. The Manipulator came in 4th place. We are very thrilled with our successes. Thank you to ASNMSU for funding 40% of the cost to attend this conference.

College of Education – Core Values

EXCELLENCE INTEGRITY DIVERSITY TRANSPARENCY LEADERSHIP INNOVATION

EXCELENCIA INTERGRIDAD DIVERSIDAD TRANSPARENCIA LIDERAZGO INNOVACIÓN

DanceSport off to Baltimore

On March 31, NMSU DanceSport will head to Baltimore, Maryland to represent NMSU at the 2016 USA Dance National DanceSport Championships. The championships will take place April 1-3. DanceSport Company members qualified for this event by attending and competing at the Manhattan Amateur Classic in January. At this event the very best in dancing from Pre-Teens to Senior III, across all disciplines, from all parts of the USA, will compete for the coveted title: United States National DanceSport Champions. And for some, the opportunity to represent the USA in the 2016 World DanceSport Federation Standard, Latin, and 10-Dance World

Championships. We wish Hannah, Betty, and all the DanceSport members the best of luck!

Visiting Chinese Professor We have been so blessed to have had Tong Zhang with us since the beginning of the semester. What a very special person that has graced our halls and studios. She is flying back to China today. We had a small farewell gathering at my house. We are hoping to have her back and hoping to visit her in Baoding China at Hebei Agricultural University where she is a professor of dance.

Upcoming Performances We have three upcoming dance events. Tickets are on sale in the KIND office. Get your tickets today.

Auditions Viva! El Paso Auditions March 28-29 at EPCC

Auditions for the 2016 edition of the beloved historical musical Viva! El Paso are Monday, March 28 and Tuesday, March 29 at the El Paso Community College Transmountain Campus Forum Theater. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. each day in the foyer.

Interested performers should wear clothing that will allow movement on stage. They must prepare and perform a two-minute acting monologue and a one-minute music selection (bring sheet music).

Also required: an 8 X 10 black-and-white photo headshot; a performances and production resume; identification for work (photo ID, passport, work permit, Social Security card); and a list of school/work/production conflicts that may exist during the months of May through August

Rehearsals begin May 2 at EPCC Transmountain. Most will be from 6-9:30 p.m. A rehearsal schedule will be handed out during auditions.

Viva! El Paso will be performed weekends June 17 through August 7 in the McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre (two Sunday evening shows will be July 3 and August 7). EPCC theater’s Keith Townsend will direct.

Viva! El Paso is produced by a partnership between the El Paso Community Foundation, El Paso Live and EPCC. For more information call Artistic Director Keith Townsend at: 915-637-4029, keitht@epcc.edu.

Important Dates March 29 7pm Tuesday Night Social Dance Classes. 7-8pm free Tango taught by William Bohaty and at

8pm Valeria Zerecero will teach Bachata for a $5 donation.

April 8 & 9 7:30pm Motions Studies – Contemporary Dance Theatre in concert at Las Cruces H.S Auditorium.

April 15 & 16 7:30pm Rhythm Nights: Emoji – DanceSport in concert at the Grapevine Plaza. April 17 2:30pm

April 23 7:30pm Viva España – Sol Y Arena Flamenco Dance Company in concert at the Rio Grande April 24 2:30pm Theatre.

Celebrating our Birth

Happy belated birthday: Ernie Olivas 3/22 Have a great week!

Debra, Director of Dance at NMSU