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IU Northwest invites community to meet Renaldo Gardner of Alvin Ailey dancers on Feb. 8

Gary native is part of renowned New York dance troupe

Indiana University Northwest's African American Studies Program, Department of Minority Studies, and Black Student Union invite the campus and community for a unique opportunity to meet a region success story.  Gary native Renaldo Gardner, who attended the city’s Emerson School for Visual and Performing Arts, joined the renowned New York dance troupe Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2011.  Prior to that, he danced with Ailey II, a showcase for rising young dancers and choreographers.

Gardner will be at IU Northwest for a meet-and-greet event scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Bruce W. Bergland Auditorium, located in the Savannah Center.

Attendees may be part of a taping to be aired later on local cable stations. IU Northwest alumni and adjunct faculty member Mark Spencer will record the event.

As stated on the dance troupe’s Web site, “Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater grew from a now-fabled performance in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African-American modern dancers, that performance changed forever the perception of American dance. The Ailey company has gone on to perform for an estimated 23 million people at theaters in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents -- as well as millions more through television broadcasts.”

For more information, contact Dorothy Mokry at (219) 980-6629.