Claire Ittner Named as Assistant Professor of Art History
Claire Ittner is a historian of modern and contemporary art in the Americas with particular interest in the art and visual culture of the African Diaspora in the American South and the Caribbean. Her research interests include questions of mobility and migration, patronage networks and theories of artistic value, and notions of expertise and training.
Her current book project, Fellow Travelers: The Artist-Researchers of the Rosenwald Fellowship Program, 1928–1948, examines the relationship between the non-profit sector and the arts, focusing on the merit-based fellowship programs that emerged as an important source of artistic support in the first half of the twentieth century. Examining one such fellowship program, the Julius Rosenwald Fund Fellowship program, the project tracks the ways its support was utilized by a generation of Black artists and its role in forging new ideas about artmaking as a form of research. (more…)
Student Led Event Creates Unity in Diversity
According to Merriam-Webster, unity is “the state of being one; oneness,” while diversity refers to “variety, assortment or mixture.” Jamaas Britton (’24 MFA Drama) thinks there can, and should, be both. So, he created “Unity in Diversity,” an event for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) to showcase their talents. According to Britton:
“Diversity can mean a multitude of things. There’s diversity in the sense that this group of BIPOC students are here in the CVPA. You can also see the diversity in talent and the way we are bringing different arts disciplines together. I want to celebrate the richness and representation of our art in a way that is broad enough to not feel exclusive.”
Britton’s path to UNC Greensboro started in Fort Mill, South Carolina where a high school drama teacher made a lasting impact. Along the way, he has constantly sought and found or created ways to make connections:
“I was a high school football player. I dreamed of playing professionally. But a football career can end with just one injury, and everyone told me to have a back-up plan. I am good at math and tried some engineering classes, but that was not for me. I love art—ceramics, painting, digital design—but that wasn’t completely it either. I was still looking for something that made me feel whole.”
Britton found that when he took his first drama class: (more…)
UNC Greensboro School of Dance Opens Its Doors for Community Dance Day
On March 1, 2024, the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) School of Dance will host Community Dance Day, welcoming students from high schools across North Carolina and Virginia. The initiative aims to engage the broader community by offering a comprehensive program encompassing various dance classes, performances, workshops, and discussions.
School of Dance Director Lee Walton says the event will involve approximately 180 High School dance students and their teachers, many of whom are UNCG alumni.
“With a diverse array of activities and expert guidance, this Day of Dance promises to be an enriching experience for all involved. This event underscores the School of Dance’s commitment to community engagement and UNCG’s vision to ‘redefine the public research university for the 21st century as an inclusive, collaborative, and responsive institution making a difference in the lives of students and the communities it serves.’”
During the event, which runs from 8:30 am–3:00 pm, participants will experience a series of activities, including up to four dance classes led by UNCG faculty and graduate students. These classes will cover a diverse range of dance styles, such as jazz, contemporary, ballet, safety release technique, Afro contemporary, Afrobeats, samba, salsa, Afro Cuban rumba, yoga, Pilates, and percussion workshops.
Dalia Razo Named as Academic Professional: Assistant Professor of Music Education
College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean bruce d. mcclung has announced the appointment of Dalia Razo as Academic Professional: Assistant Professor of Music Education.
An elementary general music specialist, Razo is a proud graduate of UNC Greensboro’s School of Music. She focuses on the needs of people and music that have been historically marginalized within the curriculum and supports music educators with the necessary tools to better understand music beyond the Western canon. Her dissertation, “Native American Music Instruction in the Elementary Music Classroom,” explores the instruction of Native American music in North Carolina elementary general music classrooms.
Razo’s additional research interests include music educator’s perceptions of English Language Learners, the retention and attrition of music educators in K-12 settings, and the experiences of BIPOC music education students in K-12, undergraduate, and graduate music education programs. (more…)
Lindsay Kesselman Named Assistant Professor of Voice and Choral Music
College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean bruce d. mcclung has announced the appointment of Lindsay Kesselman as Assistant Professor of Voice and Choral Music.
Kesselman is a two-time GRAMMY-nominated soprano known for her warm, collaborative spirit and investment in personal, intimate communication with audiences. She regularly collaborates with orchestras, wind symphonies, chamber ensembles, opera/theater companies, and new music ensembles across the United States, often premiering, touring, and recording new works composed for her by living composers. She is a passionate advocate for contemporary music and has commissioned/premiered over one hundred works to date. (more…)
