The WV Contemporary Dance Festival begins Friday, Jan. 31, and ends Sunday, Feb. 2, at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Atkinson Auditorium. The festival offers master classes, concerts, and workshops to interested individuals.

Friday evening’s performance, A Tribute to WV: Coal, is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. The dance concert will feature two extended works and one solo work dedicated to artistic interpretation and expression of the many issues surrounding the West Virginia coal industry. The concert will include over 50 dancers from professional, collegiate, and high school companies.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday classes and workshops in Yoga, ballet, modern dance, Pilates, Classical Indian Dance, hip hop, tap, hip hop tap, dance education, improvisation and jazz will be offered.

The WV Contemporary Dance Concert will be performed Saturday evening at 8 p.m. in Atkinson Auditorium. The program will consist of a group of 11 contemporary dance pieces from professional and regional artists throughout the state and surrounding areas. The highlight of the evening will be Pittsburgh Dance Alloy’s performance of DUST.

All concerts and classes are open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at the registration desk or at the box office the nights of the performances. For more information, please contact Bess Park-Reynolds at (304) 473-8449 or e-mail park-reynolds@wvwc.edu.