By Madison Hiser

While the transition from childhood to college years often means new and exciting things for students, it also typically indicates a season of letting go. Gracie Tuohy, a junior broadcast journalism and political science major, considered her dancing years to be over when she came to the University of Arkansas. Three years since arriving on campus, she is continuing her love for dance and the community it creates through the university’s The Movement Dance Company.

Originally founded as an RSO, The Movement Dance Company recently became a part of the university’s Theatre Department. The company’s first show in Fall 2022 was the first time in more than 30 years that a dance company has performed at the University of Arkansas.

Tuohy, who has been dancing since she was five years old, joined The Movement as a sophomore after the company held auditions for the first time.

“Since joining, I have made some of my best friends and have been able to grow my love for dance,” Tuohy said, “being able to continue that sense of community while in college has benefited all of us so much.”

She now serves as the company’s president. In this role she oversees all operations, assists in auditions, helps run practices, organizes performances, and serves as a resource and confidant for the dancers.

The Movement Dance Company currently has 24 dancers of all college ages, ranging from freshman to graduate students. Auditions to be a member of the company are held in the Fall, but any student interested can be involved in The Movement Experience, or member-led dance classes. The classes are beginner-level, and the dance style rotates every week. 

The Movement Experience classes allow dance to be accessible for any student interested.

“Our mission is to bring dance to campus and to cultivate a culture where dance is prominent (at the UA),” Tuohy said.

In this spirit, the company holds The Movement Experience classes every Tuesday night. Prior dance experience is not required to participate in these classes.

“As president, I am really trying to focus on creating a strong foundation for this group so that it will last for many years to come once I’m gone,” Tuohy said.

Leadership opportunities within the company are part of this foundation. The company president explains that leadership roles help her members to grow in many aspects of their life, not just in dance. The company will offer four officer positions in the next year, VP Administration, VP Marketing and VP Community, and any company member can teach a Movement Experience class.

Tuohy says that the most valuable part of being involved in The Movement Dance Company is the relationships she has made.

 “The company is just one big family, and I cherish every rehearsal and moment we have together,” Tuohy said.

The company president also shares that through these cherished bonds company members have been able to endure the growing pains that come with establishing a student organization in a sea of student interests.

“As a company, we have faced some hardships…. we have had lots of trials and errors to overcome, but it has only made us stronger,” Tuohy said. 

One of the most prominent issues the company has faced is finding rehearsal space on or near campus.

“Over the years we have bounced around to wherever has been available to us,” Tuohy said.

Currently the dancers rehearse in either the HPER/UREC building or at Nadine Baum Studios. Out of the two dance studios at the UREC, only one of them is available to the company– a room they have to share with other groups.

“We’ve had issues in the past with scheduling and making sure no other group is conflicting with our scheduled time,” Tuohy said.

To add to this issue, the UREC will be undergoing renovations during the next school year, leaving the company with even less space to utilize. 

“We are really grateful to have Nadine Baum Studios as another space to rehearse, ” Tuohy said, “but we will still have to work with the Theatre Department on scheduling, as different groups also use (the studios) to rehearse.”

As the dance company receives funding solely through the Theatre Department, Tuohy says that she appreciates the support around the addition and the acceptance by the department this last year.

A way that The Movement plans to gain support and put its talent on display is the Spring showcase, Arkansas Moves. The weekend-long showcase, April 5-7 at the University Theatre, featured five company dances, all choreographed by Arkansas choreographers, as well as performances by other local dancers. 

Arkansas Moves allows the company to exhibit the talent within its membership and show off their hard work from the semester, while also allowing a space for other Arkansas dancers to showcase their work.

“We want to show that we are dedicated and hard working dancers that work together to bring dance to campus,” Tuohy said, “getting to see (it all) come together is the best feeling.” 

She expresses her hope that the student body will take advantage of the free performing arts tickets available to them.

“Many people still don’t know that there is a dance company on campus and our goal is to reach as many people as possible and have a presence on campus.”