One of my favorite parts of the many worlds of Dance and Choreography is the work done in schools and studios, and the process of artist development that happens in those programs. Naturally, it's great to see something like the "Give and Take" premiere by Giordano Jazz Dance at the Harris where a respected company and a great choreographer are at a major venue in front of three thousand people. But I've always found an equal enjoyment in watching that same process in younger companies or in schools, where the dynamic of exploration and co-operation is played out with the same dedication and excitement, but with different experience sets and maybe more adventurous expectations. That's why I was really excited to see the development of Hilliary Murphy's new work "Trek".

It's an appropriate title in many ways --- Hilliary has been commissioned to create a work for the Dance Program at the Apple Valley High School, which will be premiered at "Dance Works 2009" on May 14, 15, and 16 at the Apple Valley High School Theatre in Minnesota. In order to work with Hilliary, eighteen students from the program made the journey to Chicago for three days in early March to begin working on what Hilliary describes as "a work of discovery and connection" in the context of constant changes of surroundings and environment. Composer Kevin Shields was the inspiration for the work, which features three distinct tracks. More on this project as it moves forward.