PAC admits two dance troupes and Chamber Music Society

Performing Arts Council Chairman Ryan Baber recognized that Destination Hip Hop and Soundworks Tap Factory were unique dance troupes with both flair and talent.

Unfortunately, when these two groups first applied last October to become members of PAC, an umbrella organization for all performing groups on campus and the group in which membership is a prerequisite for obtaining funding from the Student Activities Council, they were not accepted.

"We definitely wanted to admit them, but we just didn't have enough space to accommodate their request," Baber, a College senior, said. "We had so many dance groups already and they themselves were not getting all the space they wanted, so we could not very well add new groups."

But at the end of last semester, PAC secured use of the recently-closed Stouffer dining hall and the Annenberg Dance Gallery for rehearsal space.

And at last week's meeting, PAC voted to admit both dance troupes, as well the Chamber Music Society, which was applying for membership for the first time.

"The January meeting was the second time [the two dance groups] appealed to the PAC body, and they were accepted because in the interim we were able to secure a little more space," said Ty Furman, Student Performing Arts coordinator.

Furman said that after deliberating over how to best use the new facilities, the executive board determined that the resources were in place to add new groups to the PAC family.

"The PAC executive board spent time with the administration of Annenberg Center and VPUL [Vice Provost for University Life]... and felt confident that we could support their activities," Furman said.

One of the major proponents for allocating performing arts groups more rehearsal space was the Undergraduate Assembly.

Last fall, the UA backed a proposal that would allow groups to use the vacant space in Stouffer and the dance gallery during off-peak hours.

"PAC approached the UA in the fall of last year and, highlighting the lack of rehearsal space on campus, they noticed there were two particular spaces that could be used -- Annenberg Dance Gallery, that wasn't being used to its capacity, and Stouffer Down Under," UA Chairwoman and College senior Dana Hork said.

Although it was one of the body's major accomplishments last fall, Hork does not consider the proposal's success solely a victory for the UA.

"It was really a victory for performing arts groups on campus who now have more space in which to rehearse," she said.

Members of the newly admitted groups said they appreciated the work done by PAC and the UA.

Katherine Sledge, director of Soundworks Tap Factory and a College junior, said that the group's admittance was even more welcome news in light of the negative recommendation her dance group received in their first meeting with PAC.

Sledge said that in their initial meeting, "Every single comment was about rehearsal space. I was really upset with how it went because I felt that we should be rejected because of [a problem with] our group, not because of a lack of rehearsal space."

However, unlike the dance groups which need a large amount of rehearsal spaces, Baber said the Chamber Music Society did not have strict requirements for space and thus received immediate admittance.

"Their needs are minimal," Baber said. "They can practice in people's homes, apartments, or whatever, so they weren't going to be a drain on rehearsal space."

Vice President of the Chamber Music Society Manoj Susarla said he kept this in mind when presenting his group's case, emphasizing the society's minimal spatial needs.

"By admitting us, they were not sacrificing any rehearsal space," Susarla, a Wharton and College sophomore, said. "I did not see any reason why they would not take us."

PAC members said they were excited at the possibility of putting their newfound space to good use.

"I'm thrilled to add these new groups because they are definitely unique," Furman said. "We like to be able to say that we have an incredibly diverse performance community."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.