Students in the Dance Production class reconstruct folk dances from various cultures and then produce both a community outreach performance for an underserved population and a performance at RU’s Albig Studio Theatre. Community outreach performances have included venues such as a senior assisted living facility, the public library and the Boy’s & Girl’s Club.
RU Theatre students, staff and faculty in conjunction with the Arts Council of the Twin Counties (ACTS) and Carroll County Intermediate School (CCIS) produced a project engaging students from the school's Theatre Arts class, Art class and an after-school project. Directed by RU Junior James K. Harden, Gods and Heroes, was presented to over 200 CCIS students during the day on May 4, 2012, and a public performance was given on May 5 at the school. The project was funded jointly by ACTS and a 21st Century grant through CCIS.
Music major and classical guitarist, Max Hiner, was invited as the solo performer in a concert to benefit the Agape Food Pantry in Wytheville, which provides food to approximately 600 families in Wythe County each month. Max was excited to utilize his music training to give back to the community in such a tangible way. The event took place August 1, 2012 at the Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theater in Wytheville, VA.
While drum circles are frequently scene on campus, the Department of Music provides service learning opportunities through many interesting community outreach methods. They share their love and gift of music with neighboring retirement homes, hospitals, and orphanages. Individual students complete internships and practicums in local schools (Music Education), health facilities (Music Therapy) and retail music facilities and recording studios (Music Business). Music related symposiums and conferences are open to the community.
Future student teacher candidates work with school-age children and instruct interested Highlander Festival visitors in making masks. Above, Natalie Mongol explains ‘symmetry’ to a young mask-maker.
The Department of Dance's Radford University Ballet Youth Program (RUBY) provides serious high-quality ballet training to aspiring young dancers in the community. It also provides its students with unique performance opportunities through its direct association with the Radford University Ballet Theatre.
The Department of Interior Design & Fashion participates in community outreach in a variety of ways. The student organizations associated with the fashion and interiors discipline typically incorporate a community service component as a part of their club’s mission through volunteering or fund raising. The Interior Design majors are required to complete 10 hours of design related community service as a part of their 130 hour internship requirement.
The Art department hosted two preview presentations of the PBS series, ART21. University and community residents were invited. Graphic design graduate student Derek Reynolds designed the poster for this event.
A mainstay of the Department of Theatre's season is the children's show. The production of literature geared toward younger audiences is a longstanding tradition at RU, and has for the past several years played to upwards of 4000 local schoolchildren annually, giving many their first taste of live theatre. In addition, it is often a starting venue for performance students and a proving ground for aspiring directors and designers.
Art professor Drew Dodson and his students collaborate with Beans and Rice, Inc., Empty Bowls Fundraiser which helps raise money to provide meals for children from low income families. Over the last ten years, the bowls they have created have helped to raise almost 50 thousand dollars for the children in these programs. (Above: Student-made ceramics on display at the annual Highlander Festival.)
