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Dance in the Park

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22 Sep

Dance in the Park

Here we are just before performing at on the Charlotte Dance Festival Stage at Festival in the Park 2013. It was bright and sunny at the time, but the rain quickly moved in and drizzled on an enthusiastic and supportive audience. There was a variety of dance forms represented on the bill, from African to Jewish folk dance to classical ballet. It was a refreshing reminder that dance is not always about technique and perfection, but the passion and devotion of the artist(s). Dance is about expression through movement; some of us just express ourselves in a different way, which is exactly as it should be. On a side note… we all really want to take African dance now.

About The Author

Audrey Baran is the founder and Artistic Director of Baran Dance, a contemporary dance company which seeks to make accessible and inspiring concert work in the Charlotte area. She graduated Magna cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in Dance in 2003 and has since danced with Martha Connerton/Kinetic Works, Queen City Jazz Company, Kim Robards Dance, project incite, and EE Motion. Audrey teaches at Open Door Studios and Charlotte Ballet Academy and has served as an Adjunct Lecturer in Dance at her alma mater. She has performed in the North Carolina Dance Festival, Piccolo Spoleto, Martha Graham's "Panorama" (re-staged by Kim Jones), and the CDF Repertoire Ensemble under the direction of Jennifer Archibald. Her dance film “Arms” was awarded an honorable mention at the Movies by Movers Festival in 2013, and her choreography has received recognition at the Charlotte Emerging Dance Awards four times, including the Choreography Award in 2015, with her friend and Associate Director Kate Micham. Audrey is the resident dance artist for Piedmont IB Middle School and was chosen as choreographer for the CMS Honors Dance Program Finale in 2014. She is currently working towards her MFA in Dance at Hollins University and is excited to help shape the future of dance in Charlote and beyond. Audrey Baran is also a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500-hour level, and continues to share her love of movement and mindfulness throughout the Queen City.