On Sunday, October 23 we were honored to host, for the second time, a Tap Dance Workshop, conducted by MEGAN DAVIS.
The event was coordinated by our Tap Director, TANYA PICARD and attended by tap students enrolled in our tap dance program as well as tap students from our community.
Our thanks to MEGAN DAVIS and TANYA PICARD for making this event possible.

​Megan Davis started dancing in Austin, TX studying with Tri-Tone (under Tasha Lawson) and Tapestry Dance Company (under Acia Gray). In 2013, she moved to Chicago to pursue her dance and STEM career, earning a M.S. in pure mathematics in 2017. While studying, she was privileged to perform with MADD Rhythms (under Bril Barrett), Tapman Productions (under Tristan Bruns), and Stone Soup Rhythms (under director Lane Alexander and artist in residence Daniel Borak). Most recently, she performed in “Rhythm ISS… Returns!”, “MADD Rhythms: A Journey of the Dance Through Music”, and at various events for Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World Tap and Percussive Arts Festival. She debuted her choreography through Audible Odyssey’s artist in resonance program in “Persist: Tap Dance Made by Women”. In 2017 she was one of 25 dancers chosen to participate in the Jacob’s Pillow summer tap program directed by Michelle Dorrance and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards. Her choreography has been presented at Navy Pier through the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World Tap and Percussive Arts Festival and MADD Rhythms Chicago Tap Summit.

​On Friday, August 29, John Tubbs took his last class at Urbana Fine Arts Center Student. After five years with us John moved to North Carolina where he will finish High School attending the North Carolina School of the Arts’ Program.
We are all so proud of John for this great accomplishment and for everything else he achieved during the past five years. John represented our studio at three Youth America Grand Prix regionals in Indianapolis and Chicago. In 2019 John performed in New York, after “Unaffected When We Join”, the ensemble piece he performed with Jade O’Connor and Jasmine O’Connor, choreographed by Andrew Cribbett, was invited to the YAGP finals.  He also earned a scholarship for the Bolshoi Academy’s Summer Intensive after his participation at the YAGP.
It has been such a privilege to watch him grow.
It is always hard to say goodbye to students that leave, but this time it is especially hard and that is why the occasion deserves special attention.
John was the first student enrolled in our program, alongside Victoria Bagby. During our first recital, the two of them posed for the photo (courtesy of Greg Pluta) that became the trade mark of our studio and the two of them danced together again in this years’ recital, John’s last recital as a UFAC student.
We all hope to see John in the near future when he visits his parents in town and we all hope to have John back in the years to come as a guest dancer or teacher, if he chooses to continue in the performing arts field. He certainly has the qualities needed for a successful dance career.
Our thanks to John for bringing so much joy to our classes and performances and to his parents Catherine and John, for all the support given to us over the past five years.

Above:
John Tubbs and Victoria Bagby in 2017 and 2022.

Above: John Tubbs with Jasmine O'Connor and Jade O'Connor performing "Unaffected When Ee Join, choreographed By ANDREW CRIBBETT at the YAGP Finals, NY, 2019.

Above: John at the Urbana Fine Arts Center in 2017 and 2022.

Above: John performing in "Don Quixote, at the UFAC Recital 2019. John's favorite picture.

​This was certainly the busiest and most successful YAGP season for the Urbana Fine Arts Center.
We attended two regionals in Chicago and we again, made it to the finals with three ensemble pieces.
At the February Chicago Regional (Feb 10-13), our student LILLY BRADLEY placed Top 12 with her classical solo “The Harlequinade”. Our duet “Counterpart”, choreographed by JAYLEN DE’ ANGELO CLAY and performed by LYLLI BRADLEY and JANET SAAVEDRA, placed Top 6. Three of our ensembles were invited to perform at the YAGP Finals in Tampa, FL: “Counterpart” (mentioned earlier); “NPrint” also choreographed by JAYLEN DE’ ANGELO CLAY and performed by VICTORIA BAGBY and NATALIE POCIASK; and “A Night at the Louvre”, choreographed by JADE O’CONNOR and performed by JANET SAAVEDRA, LILIANE CHEMLA, KENDALL KUKA, NATALIE POCIASC and LEYLA COHEN.
At the March Chicago Regional (Mar 17 to 19) our student ELLE GRAHAM placed Top 12 with the classical solo “Fairy of Kindness” from The Sleeping Beauty. LILLY BRADLEY placed Top 12 with the Contemporary solo “You are Mine!”, choreographed by JAYLEN DE’ANGELO CLAY and JOHN TUBBS placed top 24 with the classical solo “Pas de Trois Variation” form Swan Lake. Both classical pieces mentioned were choreographed originally by MARIUS PETIPAS and coached by LUCIANA REZENDE.
Enjoy the photos!

Pictures above:
Left: Janet Saavedra (left) and Lilly Bradley (right) showing the Top 6 Ensemble Diploma.
​Right: ​Janet Saavedra and Lilly Bradley performing "Counterpart"

 Above:
Right: Victoria Bagby (left) and Natalie Pociask (rigth) performing "NPrint"
Left: left to right: Leyla Cohen, Janet Saavedra, Kendall Kuka, Liliane Chemla and Natalie Pociask, performing "A Night at the Louvre"

Above: Urbana Fine Arts Students at the YAGP 2022 Chicago February Regional.

Above:
Left: From left to right: Elle Graham, John Tubbs and Lilly Bradley at the YAGP 2022 Chicago March Regional.
Right: John Tubbs performing "Pas de Trois Male Variation", from Swan Lake. At the YAGP 2002 Chicago March Regional.

On October 27, 2021, we had the honor to host a master class conducted by professional dancers from Philadanco.
The class was taught by company members JANINE BECKLES, JAMEEL HENDRICK, FLOYD McLEAN JR. And LAMAR ROGERS, with percussionist AARON WILSON. 

Despite all the challenges and obstacles brought to us by the pandemic, we managed to continue providing classes and training our pre-professional program students to participate at the YAGP 2021.
Our students’ dedication, the support from their families and the great works from our UFAC teachers and choreographers ASHLEY THOPIAH, JADE O’CONNOR, JAYLEN DE’ ANGELO CLAY and guest chorographer CORBIN PHILIPS, allowed our students to perform great quality works at the event.
MAEWYNN EAGLES, LILLY BRADLEY, JANET SAAVEDRA AND VICTORIA BAGBY made it to top 12 in their categories at the Chicago Regional and LILLY got the 3rd placed with a contemporary solo choreographed by JAYLEN DE’ANGELO CLAY. She was also invited to participate at the YAGP Finals in Tampa, FL, where she again, gave a beautiful performance on stage.

We are open for in-person classes.
All classes are now offered in-person and virtually.
The safety of our students and staff is our priority, therefore we have implemented new procedures and we practice IDPH approved safety guidelines.
For detailed information, please contact us:
​[email protected]

Dear Urbana Fine Arts Center Families,
With the recent updates from our governor concerning closures, the studio will be closed until further notice.
We will be holding classes online starting on March 30.
Please watch your emails, our website and our social media sites for updates.

​Dear Urbana Fine Arts Center Families,
 
In response to growing concern for the COVID-19, we would like all families to know that we have been monitoring the Public Health statements for their recommendations and we have been taking precautions.
For the past week we have been sanitizing the studio daily and every student prior to attending classes is being told to wash their hands or given hand sanitizer.
We have been implementing hygiene practices directly with the students in each class.
At this time, we are remaining open for the remainder of this week, with classes through Saturday March 14th. We will be closed for spring break March 16th through March 21st & will continue to follow the statements and recommendations of the Public Health authorities.
Please make sure that when sending your students to class that they are free of illness. Students with excessive coughing, sneezing, or congestion will not be permitted. Remind your students to not touch their face and to wash their hands frequently. All of these measures will help ensure that we have an environment as safe as possible.
Use discretion regarding your student and their attendance, we will respect your decision. Make-Ups for classes missed will be available per our policy already in place.
We wish everyone a fun, safe, and healthy spring break and look forward to seeing you when our classes resume.
We will keep you updated of any changes to our plans.
Best regards,
Urbana Fine Arts Center