HARTFORD, Conn. — Forty years ago, in the fall of 1969, dance and co-education walked hand-in-hand into Trinity College. To celebrate, the Department of Theater and Dance is presenting "40 Forward!” on Saturday, September 26.

The festivities begin at 11 a.m. with an improvisation jam led by Judy Dworin. Not only was Judy the first female student to graduate from Trinity, she is largely responsible for establishing the dance program at the College and for helping to build its Theater and Dance Department, of which she is co-chair.

Lauren Turlik (‘09) returns to Trinity to perform as part of “40 Forward!”                               photo by Nick Lacy

"Dance in the Academy: Breaking Ground and Making a Difference,” a roundtable discussion among faculty from Trinity, Oberlin College, Wesleyan University, and Wake Forest, will be presented at 2:00 p.m., followed by breakout sessions between alums and students at 3:00 p.m.
The improvisation jam and talks will be held in the Performance Lab at Trinity Commons.

The day culminates with a gala showcase of professional work by Theater and Dance faculty past and present: Rachna Agrawal, Pedro Alejandro, Michael Burke, Lorelei Chang, the Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble, Lesley Farlow, and Nusha Martynuk and Carter McAdams. In addition, choreography by Trinity students and Hartford youth from M.D. Fox Elementary School will be performed.

The gala begins at 7:30 p.m. with a site-specific work outdoors in front of the Austin Arts Center, with performers eventually leading audience members into the Goodwin Theater. Befitting the 40th anniversary of co-education at Trinity, the mixed program address topics of gender across cultures while embracing differences and unity. 

At the gala, Trinity’s fourth annual Dance Pioneer Award will be given to Rabbi Donna Berman, executive director of the Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford. Previous recipients are Cheryl Cutler, founder of the Wesleyan Dance Department; June Kennedy, the first dance consultant to the Connecticut Commission on the Arts; and Cheryl Smith, co-founder and associate director of The Artists Collective.

Tickets to "40 Forward!” at the Austin Arts Center at Trinity College are $10, $5 for seniors and students, free with Trinity ID.

For event information, please call Susan Hood at 860-297-5190. To reserve tickets, call the Austin Arts Center Box Office at 860-297-2199. For parking and directions, visit www.trinity.edu/artsattrinity. 

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