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On the night that dance major Janel Wirley ’20 was supposed to perform in the Spring Dance Happening (April 29), she instead will be logging in to an online meeting with all the other performers, choreographers and dance majors, going through their rituals and commemorating the annual event digitally instead of on the stage. While she is disappointed not to be performing in person, she isn’t dismayed.
On the night that dance major Janel Wirley ’20 was supposed to perform in the Spring Dance Happening (April 29), she instead will be logging in to an online meeting with all the other performers, choreographers and dance majors, going through their rituals and commemorating the annual event digitally instead of on the stage. While she is disappointed not to be performing in person, she isn’t dismayed.
The concept was inspired by a class Wirley took at UT on working with diverse populations (age, physical limitations, mental capabilities) and fit requirements needed for two culminating capstone projects — one for her major and one for the Bonner Leader program.
“The first goal of the Bonner Leader Program is for students to contribute in meaningful and impactful ways to the Tampa Bay community,” said Ian McGinnity, director of the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement. “They are able to gain increasing responsibilities, manage their own projects and initiatives, and be viewed as member of the team.”
Since she was four years old, Wirley has been dancing. Photo courtesy of Wirley
When Wirley graduates in May, she’ll do so with two certificates in addition to her degree, one in international studies and one in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She completed an international internship in Italy last year, teaching English through dance at a summer camp, and has worked as a dance instructor at Ms. Lisa’s Dance studio in Tampa. She hopes to combine her interests with a career in choreography or performance. Looking back on her time at UT, Wirley is grateful for being a Spartan.
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