Beyond the Stage: UMS Community & Audience Programs 2021/22 Rewind

By UMS Education

Each year UMS Education & Community Engagement programs invite audiences and Southeast Michigan community members to participate in context-building events, including workshops, panel discussions, and post-performance Q & A sessions with the artists. Experiences like UMS 101 and the You Can Dance series invite lifelong learning and creative exploration.

Post Performance Q&A with choreographer and theater maker Ali Chahrour, hosted by Mike Khoury

UMS 101

Developed and presented in partnership with Ann Arbor Public Schools Community Education & Recreation, UMS 101 is a 90-minute workshop tailored for audience members who want to familiarize or deepen their understanding of a particular genre and/or performing artist in a fun, casual learning environment. Each UMS 101 workshop is facilitated by a professional, community-based practicing artist/educator and features conversation, engaging activities, and live demonstrations that enhance each participant’s experience with the correlating performance.

UMS 101 workshop for Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández at Cahoots in Ann Arbor

Our 2021/22 UMS 101 series took place at Cahoots in Downtown Ann Arbor, where artist-educators Susana Quintanilla, founder and director of El Ballet Folklórico Estudantil of Flint, and Paulette Brockington, Michigan State lecturer and Swing dance champion, generously shared historical background, contextual learning, participatory activities, and live demonstrations, all celebrating the vibrant culture of Mexico, Lindy Hop, and Swing in two separate sessions.

You Can Dance!

You Can Dance workshop for Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández at the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti

Previously offered in partnership with the Ann Arbor YMCA, You Can Dance moved to the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti, where dozens of curious movers of all ages and interests gathered to learn some of the signature dance styles of visiting companies from the UMS performance season. Professional artists like Carlos Flavio Antunez Tiburcio, company director of Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández, Lebanese choreographer and theater maker Ali Chahrour, and SW!NG OUT dance artist Laura Glaess shared their time, energy, and movement vocabularies in hour-long dance workshops.

As our season concludes, UMS staff is planning for the return of our popular You Can Dance – Outside! series in late summer/early fall. To ensure you receive the details about these exciting events, be sure to sign up for our Community Newsletter.