'Take Care' student art exhibition closes with Detroit Dance Collective workshop at Riverbank Arts, Feb. 14

"Take Care," an exhibition featuring art created by students from the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, will close its run at Riverbank Arts with a public dance workshop sponsored by the U-M Arts Initiative and developed by UM-Flint dance instructor Emma Davis and the Detroit Dance Collective.

Activities will kick off on Feb. 14 with a special master class at the UM-Flint Dance Studio, 2-3:30 p.m. Taught by Detroit Dance Collective artistic director and co-founder Barbara Selinger, the class is based on the Humphrey-Limón tradition and includes elements of performance, technique, dynamics, and self-expression. Students from the Ann Arbor campus will then engage in a private dance workshop at 5 p.m.

"In Detroit Dance Collective's 45-year journey, we have woven partnerships with many arts organizations, venues and kindred spirits. We are thrilled to share our artistic vision and mission with the Riverbanks Art Gallery by exploring the dynamic interplay between movement and visual expression," said Selinger. "The 'Take Care' project is a partnership in which we aim to create immersive experiences that transcend traditional boundaries, inviting audiences to engage with art in new and profound ways. Our gallery performances and workshops will showcase the elegance and power of dance and highlight the vibrant creativity that arises when different art forms converge. Together with the Riverbanks Art Gallery, we aspire to inspire, educate, and connect with our community, celebrating the transformative power of the arts."

The gallery will open to the public at 6 p.m., and the workshop will begin with a warm-up involving engaging with the art on display. Participants will split into smaller groups to work with a Detroit Dance Collective artist to create movement in response to the art, which they'll share with the larger group, followed by discussion and reflection. Finally, Davis and the Detroit Dance Collective will share a dance performance they have choreographed especially for the event.

"I'm so excited about the partnership between the U-M Arts Initiative, Riverbank Arts and Detroit Dance Collective because it brings together communities from Ann Arbor, Flint and Detroit around the shared theme of art and well-being," said Davis. "These three groups, which span across different ages, backgrounds and interests, will mingle and move together in response to the artwork to reflect on what it means to take care of one's self and community. 

"It's not often these three communities have a purpose to come together, and it's not often that it happens in Flint, which is exciting. People deserve opportunities to see what Flint offers, particularly its strong arts community. By design, this event can bring about new ways to tap into one's expressive experience while building community between students, artists, and the public in a shared experience. As a public institution, it's vital for the university to invest in our community, and I thank the U-M Arts Initiative for its support in sustaining and growing our capacity for the arts on the Flint campus."