Jazz Dance World Congress Returns to Buffalo Aug. 6-10

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo Center for the Arts and the internationally renowned jazz dance choreographer Gus Giordano will present the 12th annual Jazz Dance World Congress Aug. 6-10 on the UB North Campus.

This unique global jazz dance event will bring together dancers, teachers, choreographers and dance enthusiasts for five exciting days of jazz dance classes taught by world-renowned master teachers. The congress also will feature nightly jazz dance performances by internationally known dance companies, and the annual Jazz Dance Choreography Competitive Event. This will mark the third time the congress has been held in Buffalo.

Congress registrants will have the opportunity to take class from the entire JDWC master faculty, which includes Gus Giordano, Frank Hatchett, Joe Tremaine, Randy Duncan, Nan Giordano, Liz Imperio, Masashi Mishiro, Tom Ralabate, Janet Reed, Judith Scott, Judi Sheppard Missett and Mark Swanhart, who will teach a special Fosse technique class. Dancers interested in registering for the congress should visit http://www.jazzdanceworldcongress.org.

A highlight of the congress will be the Jazz Dance World Festival, a series of dance performances open to the public, to be held over four consecutive evenings -- Aug. 6-9. Each evening will feature a different program of five or more companies.

Companies scheduled to perform include: Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Janet Reed and Dancers (Buffalo), Masashi Action Machine (Japan), Odyssey Dance Theatre (Utah), Savage Jazz Dance Company (Oakland, Calif.), Battleworks Dance Company (New York City), Instincts Live Media Dance Company (Los Angeles, Calif.), Charles McGowan (Buffalo) and Philadanco! (Philadelphia).

Tickets for the Jazz Dance Concerts, to be held at 8 p.m. include admission to the Leo's Choreography Finalists Performances held each evening at 6:30 p.m.

Premier sponsors of the Jazz Dance World Concert include: Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Leo's Dancewear, Inc., Starpower National Talent Competition, Dance Spirit/Dance Teacher magazines and the Center for the Arts. Other major supporters include Dance Magazine, The Dancer Publication, Ballettanz Magazine, Jazzercise, Inc., UB Department of Theatre and Dance and the Illinois Arts Council.

Tickets for the Jazz Dance World Festival (a program of Jazz Dance World Congress) are $25 for the general public and $10 for UB students. Tickets are available from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a TicketFast location.