WV DANCE COMPANY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TO TEACH
MODERN DANCE WORKSHOP

WHEELING, W.Va. (May 19, 2009)- - Donald Laney, co artistic director of the West Virginia Dance Company, will teach a weeklong Modern Dance Workshop at Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance in Wheeling.

Designed for ages 8 and up, the workshop will be held from 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12. Participants will learn dance history, anatomy, basic music and improvisation; explore how the body is built and how it works for dancers and discuss the intention, initiation and integrity of movement.

Donald Laney graduated from the University, of California, Irvine, with a master’s of fine arts degree in dance. Before entering the graduate program at UCI, he performed with the West Virginia Dance Company, Houlihan & Dancers (Miami, FL), Randy James Dance Works (New York City), X-Factor (North Carolina), and the Charleston Ballet. While attending UCI, he had the opportunity to perform for Donald McKayle, Loretta Livingston, Lisa Naugle, and Christine Chrest, as well as presenting his own choreography, which was chosen to represents the university at ACDFA in 2003 and 2004. His work with Lisa Naugle and John Crawford has produced three dance videos that have been presented at the Lincoln Center and in dance video conferences in Yugoslavia, Japan, New Jersey, Michigan, Arizona, and at American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina. Laney was the 2005 West Virginia Governor's School instructor in dance.

Laney is also a freelance artist in teaching, choreographing and costume design and construction. His choreography has been presented by the WV Dance Company, Charleston Ballet, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Lees-McRae College, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, NC Stage Ensemble and various high schools throughout West Virginia.

For more information and to register for Donald Laney’s Modern Dance Workshop at Oglebay Institute, call 304.242.7700.