Traveling Dance Ensemble

The University of Arizona School of Dance Traveling Dance Ensemble (TDE) connects dance with communities in Tucson and beyond through performance, education, and outreach. The ensemble provides dance majors with meaningful, real-world experiences as performers, educators, choreographers, and community ambassadors through school visits, community performances, and collaborations with local arts organizations.

A key component of TDE is its partnership with Saguaro City Music Theatre’s U Dance Program, where University of Arizona dance students gain hands-on experience teaching inclusive dance to individuals of all abilities. Through supervised community-engaged teaching, students learn to adapt movement and instruction to meet diverse physical, cognitive, developmental, and neurological needs while developing skills in communication, leadership, collaboration, and inclusive pedagogy.

TDE also provides students with opportunities to perform in professional and community settings, giving them valuable experience in touring, production, and representing the University of Arizona as emerging professional artists. Recent opportunities have included performances with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and on the national stage at The Joyce Theater in New York City.

Through these diverse experiences, TDE prepares students to perform, teach, collaborate, and engage meaningfully with communities, while demonstrating the belief that dance is for every body and has the power to connect, inspire, and create community.