January 20, 2016 (Jackson, Miss.) - M.F.A. candidate Clara Grace Watson will present her thesis concert on Saturday, January 30 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This free performance will be a traveling concert that begins and ends at the Bitsy Irby Visual Arts Building. It explores the degrees in which spectators can become performers. Attendees should wear walking shoes and attire for outdoor weather.
Watson, from Grenada, Miss., received her B.F.A. in dance education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2011 and decided to continue her education at Belhaven. She will be the first graduate student from Belhaven's Master of Fine Arts in Dance. Watson chose Belhaven because it is the only Christian university in the nation to offer a master of fine arts in dance. “I experienced an environment where I was lifted up and guided in my faith and artistic goals,” said Watson. “Here at Belhaven, I have learned that both artistry and Christianity can be pursued synonymously; for it is through the Creator we find creativity.”
Emily Wright, Associate Professor of Dance and M.F.A. Program Director, said, “She has grown as a technician and choreographer during her tenure as a graduate student and has developed a thoughtful scholarly voice and regularly contributes in a leadership role in our dance department.”