New Mexico State University Dance program Director Ryan McMullen (far right) leads a group of NMSU dance students through a rehearsal for Friday’s The Collection Showcase, which will feature several dance styles. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)
Source: NMSU News Release
WRITER: Adriana M. Chávez, 575-646-1957, adchavez@nmsu.edu
After a few years of change and uncertainty, New Mexico State University’s Dance program has a new momentum thanks to a new director, and students who are eager to learn and grow their talents.
The community is invited to catch a glimpse of the revived program at Friday’s The Collection Showcase, which will feature the Contemporary Dance and DanceSport ensembles. The showcase will begin at 6 p.m. at Rentfrow Hall on the NMSU Las Cruces campus. General admission is $10.
The program is led by Director Ryan McMullen, an assistant college professor in the College of Health, Education and Social Transformation. McMullen has been at NMSU since August 2023, and hit the ground running by helping dance students learn different styles and choreography.
“This process started about a year ago, and I wanted the students to have some type of culminating performance,” McMullen said about Friday’s showcase. “The show will be very eclectic.”
The NMSU Dance program started in 1998, and at one point had about 50 majors. However, following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the program had to postpone performances, and many dance faculty members either retired or left the university.
Since arriving at NMSU, McMullen has enlisted the help of a few former faculty members, including Debra Knapp, as well as Joshua Peugh, a professional dance artist who leads Dark Circles Contemporary Dance Company in Las Cruces. The company has toured internationally and is the NMSU Dance guest artist-in-residence this year, teaching several master classes to NMSU dance students. McMullen said he hopes NMSU Dance can soon host a youth summer dance camp and a program for area dance teachers.
McMullen said his mission has been to elevate the program and its dancers, and plans to organize additional performances later this year, as well as host fundraising opportunities for dance students to travel to American College Dance Association conferences to compete and network.
“I feel like we’re a very connected group,” said NMSU dance major Antonella Palma. “We’re with each other 24/7, and it feels like we’ve built a community and a family. I hope the program gets bigger.”
“Most dance programs are traditionally very competitive, but I didn’t feel that way about our program at all,” said Graven Babe, also an NMSU dance major. “We’re very happy for each other when we get to do solos. Everyone here is very mature.”
For more information about Friday’s showcase and to purchase tickets, visit https://thecollectionshowcase.bpt.me/.
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