Auditions

All students interested in performing or choreographing for the Ursinus College Dance Company are required to attend and participate in a structured group audition led by all of the UCDC choreographers.

Students will complete audition forms on the date of the audition listing their preferences and any conflicts that they have in the spring semester.

5:30 to 5:45 p.m.: Arrival and sign-in

5:45 to 6:00 p.m.: Warm-up—Dr. C.

6:00 to 6:20 p.m.: Modern audition—Dr. C.

6:20 to 6:40 p.m.: Tap audition—Professor Michael J. Love

6:40 to 7:00 p.m.: African Dance audition—Professor Whedai Sheriff

7:00 to 7:20 p.m.: Hip Hop audition—Professor Josh Polk

All dancers will participate in all dance forms, including Modern (bare feet—no socks); Tap (wear tap shoes or other shoes suitable to dance in); African Dance (bare feet—participate even if not currently registered for DANC 240); and Hip Hop (wear hip hop shoes or sneakers not worn outside).

Student Piece Auditions:

Wednesday, February 19, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
(more information to come)
Weekly Rehearsals:

African Dance Residency:

Choreographer, Whedai Sheriff and Master Drummer/Collaborator, Steve Jackson
Mondays, 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., beginning Monday, January 27, 2025

Modern piece:

Choreographer, Dr. C.
Tuesdays, 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., beginning Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Hip Hop Residency:

Choreographer, Joshua Polk
Wednesdays, 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., beginning Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Tap piece:

Choreographer, Professor Love
Thursdays, 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., beginning Thursday, January 30, 2025

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Featured Choreographers:

Nai-Whedai Sheriff, African Dance Residency

Nai-Whedai Sheriff, founder of Dancing Heals Project, has been performing, teaching and choreographing dances for over 20 years. She coached and choreographed for many dance studios, after school programs and pre-professional dance programs. She conducted workshops and taught classes in Italy at Dance Masters, in Barbados at the University of West Indies and in Pennsylvania at the University of the Arts, Neumann University, Muhlenberg College and Temple University. Trained in Ballet, Modern dance, Hip Hop and Afro-Caribbean movement, Nai-whedai danced with companies such as Something Positive in NY and Kariamu & Company in Philadelphia and is currently dancing with Grateful Praise Dance Company in Philadelphia. Nai-whedai received her Bachelor’s in Business. She completed her Master’s in Dance Education (Ed.M) from Temple University in May 2014. In recent years, she has spent time teaching dance in the NYC Public and Charter School Systems. In 2019, she choreographed her first full length 90 minute Dance Production of all original choreography. Her choreographic work has also been showcased in The Valley, Anguilla BWI. Currently she is using her dance talents and influence to inform audiences of different ethnicities about the African diasporic experience in Americas.

Joshua Polk, Hip Hop Residency

Joshua Polk, entertainer, educator, and innovator, is the embodiment of the modern Hip Hop artist: a student of the culture, an advocate for the preservation of the culture, and in the vernacular of the times, “a sick-wit-it” dancer! A performer in high demand, J. Lee has graced the stages of The Victory Theater in New York City, the African American Museum of Philadelphia, PA, and he is a consistent performer at The Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to name a few. He has also been seen internationally on the small screen as a guest performer on BET’S hit show 106 & Park. J. Lee strongly believes in preserving the art form of Hip Hop dance. As a keeper of the flame, he is constantly involved in facilitating lecture/demonstrations at high schools, colleges, summer camps, and after school programs; if youth want to learn about this art form, J. Lee makes the time share! When J. Lee dances the showmanship of such historical iconic performers such as Stump & Stumpy, Sammy Davis Jr., and James Brown come to mind. He dances with his spirit, he dances like no one is watching, and he dances for life! Experience the man who is proclaimed by those in the hip hop world as the one and only ‘He Locks’!