What started out as just an idea of Dance St. Louis Artistic and Executive Director Michael Uthoff has exploded into one of the hottest dance festivals in the country. Thirty professional dance companies, three nights, $15 tickets – the Memorial Day Weekend phenomenon, Spring to Dance Festival, returns for its sixth year at the University of Missouri–St. Louis with a smorgasbord of dance styles, including everything from cutting-edge contemporary dance and tap to classical ballet, modern and more.

Dancers from 30 companies across the country will gather at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL for three nights of nonstop performances. It’s the best opportunity of the year to see all types of dance, varying in style and repertoire, from nationally touring professional dance companies in the Midwest and on the East and West Coasts. Presented by Dance St. Louis, the Touhill Performing Arts Center, Edward Jones and Whitaker Foundation, the sixth Annual Emerson Spring to Dance Festival will take place May 23 through May 25.

Spring to Dance has two notable highlights this year: over half of the 30 companies have never participated in the festival and, back by popular demand, St. Louis native, dance extraordinaire and principal dancer of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Antonio Douthit, is performing a duet with the talented and breathtaking Alicia Graf Mack, another Ailey principal who once resided in St. Louis with her husband, a native St. Louisan.

“What’s unique about this year’s Spring to Dance is that 16 of the companies are new to the festival,” Uthoff said. “So while there are some returning favorites like Chicago Human Rhythm Project and MOMENTA, there are also new participants like Camille A. Brown from Durham, N.C., and Robert Moses’ Kin and others from San Francisco.”

Uthoff, who created Spring to Dance in 2008, developed a formula for the festival’s program whereby participating companies are a mix of those that appeared the year before, those that did not appear that year but did appear in previous festivals, and those completely new to St. Louis. This formula ensures the return of audience favorites while keeping the mix constantly fresh.

“Audiences flock to the performances — the price is right and the offerings are generous,” stated Time Out Chicago. “Dance St. Louis has just the ticket,” hailed Dance Magazine.

“Spring to Dance is the most popular event of the season because of its affordability, accessibility and variety, which attract a wide mix of people from the greater St. Louis area and beyond,” Uthoff said. “It’s also a fun and upbeat festival with a convivial atmosphere, making it the perfect way to wind down the season.”

Each evening’s $15 ticket covers three sets of performances. Interactive demonstrations from St. Louis-area arts groups, ranging in style from Irish and African dance to hula and hip-hop, will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Touhill’s Terrace Lobby. Performances by four different professional companies will start at 6 p.m. in the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater, followed by the 7:30 p.m. mainstage performances by another six professional dance companies in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall. A total of 10 professional dance companies will perform each evening of the festival.

Performances in the Lee Theater will begin at 6 p.m. Due to the intimate and limited seating in the Lee Theater, its performances are only open to ticket holders who have special Lee Theater passes. The Lee Theater passes are free and will be handed out in the Touhill’s Upper Lobby beginning at 5 p.m. on the night of the show until all passes are gone. If guests are not able to secure a pass, they can enjoy the interactive performances by local dance troupes in the Terrace Lobby, which will run continuously from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. until the mainstage performances begin in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 per night and available at the Dance St. Louis box office at 3547 Olive Street in the Centene Center for Arts and Education in Grand Center in St. Louis, by calling 314-534-6622 or by visiting dancestlouis.org.

Eight players from the UMSL baseball team received All-GLVC honors. They include (from left) Lucas Matecki, Tyler Bunge, Kyle Renaud, Paul Richmond, Michael Budka, Drew Standefer, Zach Standefer and Nolan Clayton.

The University of Missouri–St. Louis baseball team had eight players earn All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors.

The UMSL Tritons had six of those players earn first team accolades including junior first baseman Michael Budka, junior utility Tyler Bunge, senior outfielder Lucas Matecki, junior starting pitchers Zach Standefer and Nolan Clayton and senior relief pitcher Kyle Renaud. Second team selections were junior catcher Paul Richmond and senior outfielder Drew Standefer.

UMSL finished with a record of 28-19 and took second place in the GLVC West Division title with a league record of 22-10.

The Tritons were the No. 3 seed in the eight-team 2013 GLVC Tournament. The team was upset in the first round by Bellarmine University (Louisville, Ky.), which went onto win the tournament. UMSL bounced back to avoid elimination with a win over Quincy (Ill.) University. The Tritons were then eliminated from the tournament with a loss to Lewis University (Romeoville, Ill.)

Michael Budka
Budka earned All-GLVC honors in his first season with the Tritons. He started 31 of the 37 games played in. He recorded 35 hits, including six doubles and two home runs, while batting .289. Budka also scored 24 runs and tallied 11 RBIs.

Tyler Bunge
Bunge also earned All-GLVC honors in his first season with the Tritons, where he has split time at second base and third base as well as the designated hitter spot. He started all 43 games played in and finished second on the team with 42 hits, including eight doubles, and 21 RBIs. Bunge hit .323 on the season.

Lucas Matecki
Matecki earned All-GLVC playing honors for the first time in his career. The centerfielder started all 47 games and led the team with a .339 batting average. He also topped the squad with 61 hits, including 14 doubles. Matecki also has 16 RBIs and team-highs of 36 runs scored and nine stolen bases.

Zach Standefer
Standefer earned All-GLVC playing honors for the first time in his career. He owned a 1.63 ERA, which ranked 21st in all of NCAA DII, and is 3-3 on the hill in seven starts. In 55.1 innings pitched, Standefer has allowed just 10 earned runs and has posted two shutouts.

Nolan Clayton
Clayton earned All-GLVC playing honors in his first season with the Tritons. He owned a team-best 7-3 record on the mound in 10 starts and held opponents to just a .208 average. In 56.1 innings pitched, Clayton carried a 2.72 ERA.

Kyle Renaud
A three-time GLVC Pitcher of the Week, Renaud earned All-GLVC honors for the first time in his career. He led all of NCAA Division II with 16 saves, which also set a new UMSL single season record. In 26 appearances, he boasted an ERA of 1.64 and allowed just nine earned runs. Renaud also sported a record of 3-1. For his career at UMSL, he has 17 saves, one shy of the career mark of 18 set by Bob Simpson from 1985-87. 

Paul Richmond
Richmond earned All-GLVC honors for the first time in his career. He started 43 games this season and is batted .306. His 41 hits, 20 RBIs and 21 runs scored all ranked in the top five on the team.

Drew Standefer
Standefer, the only four-year member of the program, earned All-GLVC honors for the first time in his career. He has started 34 of 41 games played in. Standefer finished second on the team with a .333 batting average and had 39 hits, 12 RBIs and 18 runs scored.

(Photo by Danny Reise)

For the second time in three years, the University of Missouri–St. Louis men’s golf team has earned a spot in the NCAA Division II Championship.

The UMSL Tritons recorded a third-place finish at the NCAA Midwest/Central Regional, held last week at Strawberry Creek Country Club in Kenosha, Wis., and are one of five teams from the regional advancing to the NCAA Championship May 20-24 at the Hershey (Pa.) Country Club.

It marks the eighth NCAA Championship appearance for the program. UMSL recorded a 15th place finish in 2011, which also came under the direction of fourth-year head coach Troy Halterman.

UMSL finished with a 54-hole score of 866 (283-290-293), seven strokes behind team champion University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg) (287-287-285 – 859). The Mules used a late surge to fend off University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond) (289-294-291 – 864), who placed second.

Fellow Great Lakes Valley Conference member Bellarmine University (Louisville, Ky.) (285-294-295 – 874) and Southwestern Oklahoma State University (Weatherford) (295-287-293 – 875), placed fourth and fifth, respectively, and also advance to the national championship.

Junior Joe Atkisson, who competed in last year’s regional as an individual and placed 95th, took home a third place finish this year, carding a six-under par 210 (68-70-72), bettering his own 54-hole school record of 214, set at the GLVC Championship earlier this season.

Medalist honors went to the University of Central Missouri’s Ryan Hughey, who finished 13 strokes under par with a 203 (65-69-69) to lead the field of 108 competitors. 

Junior Warren Crow (68-74-77) and senior Chase Smith (73-72-74) tied for 18th place, each shooting a 219, while freshmen David Abolt tied for 24th place with a 221 (74-74-73). Freshman Colby Yates rounded out the scoring with a 225 (74-77-74), tying for 53rd place.

The University of Missouri–St. Louis finished third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Commissioner’s Cup, as announced by the league office on Tuesday, marking the athletic department’s highest finish ever.

Points are allocated for the Commissioner’s Cup based on the athletic department’s finish in the GLVC’s postseason tournaments of its seven core sports, including men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, softball and baseball. Each of the league’s members sponsors these sports at the intercollegiate level.

UMSL totaled 75 points to place third out of the league’s 16 members, surpassing last year’s previous high of 62.5 points, which placed them seventh.

UMSL was led by softball’s conference tournament championship, while men’s soccer earned a runner-up finish in its conference tournament. Volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball also each qualified for a spot in their respective conference tournaments.

For the first time in school history, Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., captured the GLVC Commissioner’s Cup, earning 91.5 points over the course of the academic year, besting runner-up Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., (84.5) by seven points. University of Southern Indiana in Evansville (73.5) and Quincy (Ill.) University (73.5) tied for fourth.

The Commissioner’s Cup, instituted prior to the 2002-03 season, has had four different institutions stake claim to the award. Prior to Lewis University earning its first honor, former GLVC member Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights took home five straight and eight Cups in the 10 years it had been presented. University of Southern Indiana was the 2004 recipient, while former league member Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the Commissioner’s Cup in 2007.

The standings for the 2012-13 GLVC Commissioner’s Cup are as follows:

1. Lewis University 91.50
2. Bellarmine University 84.50
3. University of Missouri–St. Louis 75.00
4. University of Southern Indiana 73.50
Quincy University 73.50
6. Drury University 70.50
7. University of Indianapolis 68.00
8. William Jewell College 67.00
9. Rockhurst University 59.50
10. University of Wisconsin–Parkside 55.50
11. Missouri University of Science and Technology 54.50
12. Maryville University 51.00
13. Kentucky Wesleyan College 35.50
14. McKendree University 34.00
15. Saint Joseph’s College 33.50
16. University of Illinois Springfield 25.00

The University of Missouri–St. Louis recorded its highest finish ever in the race for the Great Lakes Valley Conference All-Sports Trophy.

UMSL, in its 17th year as a member of the GLVC, totaled 118 points to place sixth out of the league’s 16 members, surpassing last year’s previous high of 95.5 points.

The University of Indianapolis claimed its second-straight All-Sports Trophy. The Greyhounds totaled 167.5 year-end points for the 2012-13 academic year, which coincidentally was their winning total from last year. Indianapolis earned its fourth All-Sports Trophy in program history by a slim 1.5 points over Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.

The GLVC All-Sports Trophy is presented to the institution that demonstrates the best all-around performance in the league’s 18 sponsored sports. Points are allocated based on overall finish in the league standings and finish in the respective sport’s conference tournament.

UMSL, which sponsors 11 sports, was led by softball’s conference championship, while the UMSL Tritons also posted strong finishes in men’s soccer and women’s golf, which both earned runner-up finishes at their respective conference tournaments.

The All-Sports Trophy was first instituted in the GLVC during the 1981-82 season and seven different institutions have claimed the award.

The standings for the 2012-13 GLVC All-Sports Trophy are as follows:

1. University of Indianapolis 167.50
2. Lewis University 166.00
3. Bellarmine University 153.50
4. University of Southern Indiana 152.00
5. Drury University 136.30
6. University of Missouri–St. Louis 118.00
7. William Jewell College 103.50
8. Quincy University 100.50
9. Rockhurst University 97.00
10. University of Wisconsin–Parkside 92.50
11. Missouri University of Science and Technology 88.00
12. Maryville University 86.30
13. McKendree University 76.50
14. Saint Joseph’s College 75.50
15. University of Illinois Springfield 43.50
16. Kentucky Wesleyan College 42.00

“Commitment Statement: Eddiesha Turner” by Tristian Montgomery is part of the latest PPRC Photo Project exhibit at UMSL.

Past and present students of the Normandy (Mo.) School District are both the subjects and photographers for a new University of Missouri–St. Louis exhibit. Participants included Normandy High School alumni and current students at schools in the Normandy district. Their photos resulted in an exhibit that is the latest in the Public Policy Research Center Photography Project series. 

Mel Watkin, director of the PPRC Photography Project at UMSL, pointed out that the school district is home to many dedicated teachers, students, staff and alumni. And the school district is working hard to regain its accreditation, she said.

“The media often focuses on Normandy’s problems, which tend to overshadow its accomplishments; this is discouraging for all involved,” Watkin said. “To offset this negativity, the goal of the ‘Normandy Proud’ photography project was twofold: to connect accomplished Normandy staff and alumni with youth currently in the school system and to give the people of Normandy a chance to reflect positively on their community.”

Lois Ingrum, a photography project instructor and NHS alumna (1976), trained Normandy students and alumni in digital photography and interview techniques. The participants then photographed and interviewed each other in a series of sessions.

The sessions resulted in the exhibit “PPRC Photography Project: Youth and Alumni – Normandy Proud!” is on display May 14 to Sept. 9 at the PPRC Photography Project Gallery, south end of the fourth floor hallway in the Social Sciences & Business Building at UMSL, 1 University Blvd. in St. Louis County (63121). Gallery hours are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. An opening reception will be from noon to 1 p.m. May 14 at the gallery. 

A duplicate of the exhibit is on display May 14 to June 29 at the Natural Bridge Branch of the St. Louis County Library, 7606 Natural Bridge Road in Normandy, Mo. The exhibit can be viewed from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. An opening reception will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 14 at the library.

Admission to both exhibits is free. 

The pioneering community photography programs established by artist and teacher Wendy Ewald serve as the model for the PPRC Photography Project. Several volunteer St. Louis-area community groups participate in the PPRC Photography Project each year. They learn the basics of photography and then are asked to document efforts to improve their neighborhood’s quality of life. 

The Public Policy Research Center’s goal for the project is twofold: to highlight the undertakings of local organizations working toward the greater good and to inspire people to take a closer look at and get involved with their communities.

The Photography Project is co-sponsored by the Public Policy Research Center at UMSL, Missouri Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts and Regional Arts Commission.

UPDATE: Galande shoots an 82 on day two of NCAA Championship

Senior Shweta Galande (pictured), of the University of Missouri–St. Louis women’s golf team, has earned a spot in the NCAA Championship for the third time in her career as the UMSL Tritons wrapped up play in the East Regional on Tuesday at the Joliet (Ill.) Country Club.

Galande tied for seventh place with a score of 236 (80-78-78) and was one of three individuals not with an advancing team to punch their ticket to the 2013 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships, which will be held May 15-18, at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The University of Indianapolis won the team title with a score of 924 and advances to the championship along with Ashland (Ohio) University (970) and California University of Pennsylvania (971), who finished second and third, respectively.

The other two qualifying individuals were Kasey Frazier of Wheeling (W.Va.) Jesuit University, who claimed medalist honors with her score of 229 (77-77-75), and Ali Reed of Merrimack College in Andover, Mass., who placed sixth with a 236 (75-82-78).

Galande also qualified for the NCAA Championship as a freshman in 2010 and as a sophomore in 2011.

As a team, the Tritons finished sixth in the regional for the fourth straight year, shooting a 982 (333-321-328).

Freshman Tayler Hoag tied for ninth place, shooting a 237 (84-76-77) and came up one stroke short of earning a spot at the NCAA Championship.

Sophomore Bailey Hopper tied for 36th place with a 254 (86-82-86), while junior Daniela Viotti tied for 41st place with a 261 (83-91-87). Junior Gabriela Murcia rounded out the scoring with a 43rd place finish, shooting a 263 (90-85-88).

Day one recap: Galande opens NCAA Championships with a 79; tied for 39th place after 1st round

Jim Henry, director of choral studies at UMSL, conducts University Singers, a UMSL choral group. Henry also serves as the Acappellooza Summer Camp’s men’s chorus and mixed group director. (Photo by August Jennewein)

The College of Fine Arts and Communication at the University of Missouri–St. Louis has announced Acappellooza Summer Camp, an a cappella music camp for students in grades 9–12. For four days, from July 16–19 students will be immersed in singing led by some of the world’s most prominent names in a cappella music, including members of the internationally famous Ambassadors of Harmony and Jim Henry, director of choral studies at UMSL.

Music and learning tracks will be sent to participating students in advance so that they can come together to perfect their skills in preparation for a one-of-a-kind a cappella concert featuring all Acappellooza Summer participants sharing the stage with the world-renowned a cappella ensemble Vocal Spectrum.

In addition to the intense rehearsals, this will be an opportunity for students to have fun with a pool party, karaoke party, movie night and more.

Jim Henry is Acappellooza Summer Camp’s men’s chorus and mixed group director. Henry holds degrees in vocal music education, music theory and music composition. As director of choral studies at UMSL he conducts University Singers and Vocal Point and teaches choral methods, choral arranging and choral conducting. In addition, Henry is the musical and artistic director of the Ambassadors of Harmony, a 160-voice men’s a cappella chorus that performs barbershops, jazz, and light classical music.

Debbie Cleveland, choral director at Gaither High School in Tampa, Fla., is the camp’s women’s chorus director. Debbie serves 165 students each year with a full program that includes three choruses, and SHOWCASE, a pop music ensemble consisting of 16 singers accompanied by a live 10-piece band. Debbie currently performs as lead singer of the 2005 International Champion Quartet the BUZZ and is a studio singer for Warner Bros. promotional materials for educational choral publications.

The registration fee for the four-day camp is $225 through May 31 and $250 after. This fee includes admittance to the camp, professional instruction, fun activities, a T-shirt and lunches and dinners. A housing and meal option can be purchased for $94. Housing will be at Oak Hall, a residential hall on UMSL’s campus, featuring four-bedroom suites with a shared full bath. The meal option includes breakfast. Limited partial scholarships are available.

For more information and to register, call 314-516-6590 or visit acappelloozasummer.com.

About the University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Professional & Continuing Studies: The University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Professional & Continuing Studies provides courses, programs, conferences, and events that fulfill degree completion, professional development and personal enrichment goals for the lifelong learner. For more information, visit pcs.umsl.edu.

UMSL Chancellor Tom George will be the guest monologist for the May 15 performance by The Improv Shop at the Touhill Center at UMSL. (Photo by August Jennewein)

The Improv Shop, featuring guest monologist Tom George, chancellor of the University of Missouri–St. Louis, will bring its improvisational comedy to UMSL. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. May 15 at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. 

Founded in 2009, The Improv Shop is St. Louis’ only long-form improvisational comedy training school and theater. This performance will feature the Armando format – Tom George will tell a personal tale about summer vacation, and the improv troupe will build a series of hysterical vignettes that interweave characters, plot, story and other details.

George is a community leader and fundraiser. As a professor of chemistry and physics at UMSL, he’s an internationally recognized as an active researcher specializing in chemical-materials-laser physics and nanoscience, including nanomedicine. 

George is also an accomplished jazz pianist, who has performed extensively at venues throughout Missouri and Illinois, as well as universities in China, Hungary, Romania, Kuwait, Bosnia and Croatia.

The Improve Shop performance is for mature audiences. Tickets for the show are $10-$15 and can be purchased at the box office, online at touhill.org or by phone at 314-516-4949.

The University of Missouri–St. Louis softball team has cracked the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Top 25 Poll for the first time this season, coming in at No. 22 in the latest poll, released on May 8.

The No. 22 ranking marks just the third time in program history that the UMSL Tritons have been nationally ranked. UMSL last saw national attention during the 2009 season when they debuted at No. 15. UMSL was also ranked during the 1989 season.

The Tritons, who received 25 votes in last week’s poll to sit just outside the top 25, garnered 62 votes and are one of two Great Lakes Valley Conference teams in the poll, with the University of Indianapolis maintaining its No. 1 ranking for the sixth consecutive week.

The NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions.

UMSL is coming off the 2013 GLVC Tournament championship and will be the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Midwest Regional #2 this weekend.

The Tritons (39-11) travel to Allendale, Mich., and will face conference foe Southern Indiana (29-20) on Friday at 12 p.m. (EST). Grand Valley State (39-6) will serve as the host and is the No. 2 seed and will play No. 7 seed Ferris State (29-14) at 2:30 p.m. (EST).