DALLAS– Danyale Taylor, artistic and executive director of the Classic Dance Ensemble, has been named president of the Black College Dance Exchange.
The BCDE is an educational organization tasked with promoting interest in dance and training for students in HBCUs. With the motto of “Striving for Excellence Through Dance,” the BCDE is comprised of universities, individual college dance companies, community groups, private studios and other dance organizations.
As president, Taylor will work to increase membership for the organization and improve the quality of instruction and technique in dance programs. “Most HBCUs don’t have dance as a major or minor. They just have dance classes and/or a dance group,” she said. “I would like to see that change over the course of my presidency.”
In 1981, Inez L. Howard, former director of dance at Norfolk State University, conceived the idea for the BCDE. She previously held one day dance festivals for high school dance companies at NSU and desired to create experience on a college level. With four universities joining the BCDE as charter members, the conference was created and offered membership to other schools.
PVAMU hosted the most recent BCDE conference. The event featured training sessions designed to promote interest and proper training in dance for students, with instruction led by leaders in the dance world, featuring master teachers from dance theatres, universities and studios across the country.
