UB Center for the Arts announces residency with River North Dance Chicago

Acclaimed Company to be in residence March 18-22; includes two UB alumnae and a Buffalo native

The Center for the Arts, University at Buffalo, has announced that River North Dance Chicago will be professional artists-in-residence March 18-22. This residency will also include visits to local hospitals in support of the Center's "Arts in Healthcare" initiative. The residency will conclude with a public performance on March 22 at 8 p.m. in the Center for the Arts.

Founded in 1989 by four visionary choreographers, River North Dance Chicago has established itself as one of the nation's leading dance companies, receiving critical acclaim on both a national and international level. River North Dance Chicago embodies a true flavor of "Americana" in its dynamic repertoire and is recognized for its highly emotive stage presence, stimulating music, and bold and commanding choreography. As part of the Center for the Arts' "Arts in Healthcare" initiative, the dancers of River North Dance Chicago plan to work with patients at both Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo.

While in the hospitals, the company will offer a lecture and demonstration of dance to patients and will host a dance activity for young patients. The company will also provide master classes for UB dance students as well as give lecture/demonstrations at Tapestry Charter School and Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts.

The company currently includes two University at Buffalo Theatre & Dance alumnae: Melanie Manale-Horton and Jessica Wolfrum (who is also a Buffalo native).

Wolfrum is celebrating her eleventh season with River North Dance Chicago. She received her early training from the David DeMarie Dance Studio, the Royal Academy of Ballet and the Buffalo Inner City Ballet School. She was a May 2002 graduate of the University at Buffalo with a joint B.A. degree in dance and psychology. While at the University at Buffalo, she was a member of the Zodiaque Dance Company. She was also a principal dancer with the Buffalo City Ballet Company for six years and choreographed its premiere of "Dracula." Wolfrum is also on faculty at the Lou Conte Dance Studio, teaching various levels of ballet and jazz.

Since 1997, the center has conducted more than a dozen professional dance outreach projects to provide arts education for more than 24,000 students at schools primarily in the City of Buffalo. These students have been afforded the opportunity to experience a live professional dance performance in their schools, free of charge, by some of the world's finest companies. In addition, UB dance majors benefit from master classes with members of these professional dance companies.

Tickets for the performance on March 22 at 8 p.m. are on sale now at the Center for the Arts Box Office and tickets.com.

For more information on the Center for the Arts and its activities, visit www.ubcfa.org.