Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 3/28/00
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple   39

NATIONAL DANCE COMPANY TO HAVE RESIDENCY AT SOUTHEASTERN
     HAMMOND   Members of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange of Washington, D.C. will
present a series of workshops for Southeastern Louisiana University students, community
members, senior citizens and teenagers April 3-7.
     Martie Fellom, director of Southeastern's dance program, said the workshops are part of a
residency funded by a National Endowment for the Arts grant. 
     "The grant was written by Jenny Thompson of the New Orleans Ballet Association  to
unite dance programs from different universities," Fellom said. Participants are Southeastern,
Tulane University and the University of Southern Mississippi. 
     Fellom said members of the  Liz Lerman Dance Exchange will offer concurrent
workshops at all the three universities. At Southeastern, Fellom said company members Vincent
Thomas, Rachel Ripple and Thomas Dwyer will work with Southeastern dance students and
students in disciplines such as social work, teaching and nursing to inform them of opportunities 
to "work within the community."
     "I designed the residency to work with seniors and teens in our community, since I feel
are often left out," Fellom said. "The Lerman dancers will work onsite with the special
populations as well as have training sessions for interested students and the community."
     Fellom said Lerman is well known for her work with special populations and that her
company includes dancers of all ages. 
     "One aspect of Lerman's work is 'personal stories,'" Fellom said. "Through
autobiographies and movement, she has been able to bring communities together and to help
people discover their potential, no matter what age."
     Workshops are scheduled for  6-8 p.m., April 3-6 in the Kinesiology and Health Studies 
                             (MORE)
LIZ LERMAN WORKSHOPS   Add One

Building dance studio. The guest dancers will work with senior citizens at the Tangipahoa
Volunteer Council on Aging at 207 E. Church St. in Hammond from 11-11:45 a.m. on
Wednesday, April 5 and Friday, April 7. On Tuesday, April 4 and Thursday, April 6 they will
conduct workshops for Loranger High School students in teacher Charley Vance's Talented
Theatre Program. 
     Fellom said the Lerman dancers also will offer a concert jazz dance class from 12:30-1:45
p.m., Tuesday, April 4 and a modern dance techniques class from 9:30-10:45 a.m., Thursday,
April 6.
     Liz Lerman personally will conduct the 6-8 p.m. workshop at Southeastern before moving
on the visit Tulane and USM.
     For additional information about the workshops contact Fellom at 504-549-2133 or
mfellom@selu.edu.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp00.htm