The Evolution of Dance at The University of Houston

The University of Houston's dance program has been ranked as one of the top 30 college dance programs in the United States for 2019-2020. Take a look at how far the dance program has evolved over the past 8 years!

2012: Channel 8 covers how the UH dance program prepares students for the professional world.

2013: Bill T. Jones becomes the first guest lecturer of the Mitchell Lecture Series.

2015: UH dance students participate in Dance Boot Camp.

2016: The UH Dance Ensemble performs "HeadSpace" modern dance choreography.

2017: A collection of photos from the UH Emerging Choreographers Showcase.

2018: UH students performing at Ensemble Dance Works.

2019: UH students perform self-choreographed pieces at the MATCH - Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston.

To learn more about the University of Houston's dance program, visit them at www.uh.edu/kgmca or on Facebook.

How I Almost Met Debbie Allen

“Who is your role model?” This is the question that stopped my thoughts when my 8th grade dance teacher was in the process of creating our “Blackout” show programs. I toiled over this question in my head for what seemed like an hour before I wrote down, “Oprah Winfrey.” After all, she did seem like the perfect role model, if I had to choose from the limited encyclopedia of women in power that everyone undoubtedly adores and respects. When my mother saw the finished version of the dance show program, she expressed that she was hurt that I didn’t choose her and I felt conflicted.

I knew that a “role model” was someone I should aspire to be or someone whose characteristics I admired, so I could have chosen my mother. However, I was still thinking of someone I could become and someone whose steps I could follow to reach my ultimate goal of success…but what did I want? Who did I want to become in life? I didn’t find this answer until I left Austin, TX to experience college life in Houston.

Lam Nguyen (Left); Zondra Victor-Johnson (Right).

In Fall 2013, I was an office intern for Aurora Picture Show, a non-profit cinema not too far from the University of Houston. I got to work events during the Houston Cinema Arts Festival and earned the chance to attend any events my pass gave me access to! I saw a few movies, but also attended the highly anticipated Houston Ballet documentary showing that would be followed by a Q & A. The program displayed featured guests and I saw Debbie Allen on that list. I knew I had to at least be in her presence. I was still a part-time dancer at the time, taking classes whenever I could manipulate my college credit hours to align with my Media Production degree program.

I dragged my fellow classmate, Lam, along with me to sit in the crowd, which was a sea of unknown faces. For the record, I also knew no one on the panel…except for the star I came to see. As everyone was murmuring and preparing for the presentation to begin, I heard boots walking down the aisle. I thought, “That’s her!” It had to be since she was the only female on the panel today. I turned to my left, with all the casualness I could muster, and I felt like I was in slow motion. Ms. Allen had on high boots, a dark-colored peacoat, and perfect, long hair that flowed when she walked. After she passed me by, I had an unending smile on my face.

I waited impatiently until the end of the documentary for the Q&A. There was question after question for the other panelists and then…Ms. Allen’s turn. She had a few questions, but not as many as the other panelists. I thought, “Maybe it’s because she was a last-minute addition to the program. Or is it because no one else in this room understands exactly how much she has contributed to the dance and film industries?” There was silence when the time came for her to ask if there were any more questions. Now was my chance. If not now, then when?

The most unnerving thing happened during that silence…I couldn’t speak or think of the one question I had thought to ask. My mind was racing as my palms became clammy. Suddenly, my thoughts and lower-level panic attack were interrupted by the announcement that the Q&A was now over. Should I run down these stairs and introduce myself? My friend, Lam, tried to encourage me to go up and speak, but I was too shy.

My heart was torn and my mind was puzzled as we trailed out of the theater. This was the very first time I had been starstruck, but I knew it had been something more. I realized that Debbie Allen was my first role model.

Nappily Ever After Movie Review

A journey about self-love. *Spoiler Alert*

Nappily Ever After (2018) is a Netflix movie that is more than about hair. Sanaa Lathan dives deep into a journey of finding herself by playing the role of Violet Jones. This movie holds to cliche rom-com themes such as, “by any means get the guy,” and “finding yourself.” On the other hand, it brings a stunning inside perspective on beauty.

Since her younger years, Violet Jones has had a high standard when it comes to self-maintenance. This was no doubt due to her mother’s strict rules on how a lady’s hair should be kept. Pauletta Jones, played by Lynn Whitfield, raised her daughter to believe that presentation was important to maintain the ideal appearance when amongst family, friends, and even when trying to reel in a man. Nevertheless, it all went south when Violet’s longtime boyfriend told her she was “too perfect” to marry right now.

Violet took her range and turned it into an experiment. She dyed and cut her hair, and even tried the “bad girl” persona to show that she could let loose and not be uptight. None of these attempts made her feel like she knew herself, so one drunken night, Violet, fed up with her perfect hair, shaved it all off, kickstarting her journey to self-discovery and loving herself.

This plot alone gives this movie a 7/10, because what rom-com lover doesn’t love a story about a woman doing something bold and taking the chance to find herself. This movie also shows her taking control of not only her self-love but of her career. By befriending a love interest’s daughter, Zoe, she finds that she has a greater role in being a role model and encouraging Zoe to love herself and her God-given beauty.

The ending shows Violet working for a new company and pitching products that she actually cares about. In an unsurprising turn of events, this movie bumps up to a 9/10 because it is not a happily ever after ending. Violet turns down an “almost kiss” from her former love interest in the ending scene, showing that she is invested in building her self up as a person. This movie doesn’t get a 10/10 because it won’t appeal to people who believe hair doesn’t have anything to do with a person’s perception of beauty. Still, this movie gets added to the list of Sanaa Lathan’s best rom-com movies.

*Originally published at submityourassignments.org.