UAB Briefs: Miami dance troupe, sickle-cell researcher, Gardendale clinic
Welcome to another installment of UAB Briefs.
In this weekly online feature, we keep track of interesting people and events on campus.
This week, we take a look at a renowned dance company coming to UAB to take part in the 2019 Alabama Dance Festival.
Know people, places and programs on the UAB campus that deserve a mention? Email jchambers@starnespublishing.com.
EDGY NEW DANCE
The acclaimed Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre from Miami will perform in the Jemison Concert Hall at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Jan. 26, at 8 p.m., according to a UAB news release.
The RHDT also serves as one of two guest companies in residence at the 2019 Alabama Dance Festival, which will take place at several venues in Birmingham from Jan. 18-27.
Herrera is a Cuban-American dancer and choreographer, and the work of her company touches many genres, from theater, performance art and drag to opera and contemporary ballet, the news release states.
On the program for the RHDT are two works, “Carne Viva” and “Make Believe.”
A quartet, “Carne Viva” — the title, loosely translated, means “open wound” — draws on themes of religion and romance and explores “the violence of transcendence,” the release states.
“Make Believe,” which had its world premiere at The American Dance Festival in July 2018, uses religious iconography to explore themes of love and romance.
Herrera choreographed both works in collaboration with her dancers, including Hannah Darrah, Leah Verier-Dunn and Nile Russell.
Tickets are $25, with a limited number of $10 student tickets. To order, call 975-2787 or go to alysstephens.org.
The Alabama Dance Festival — presented by the Alabama Dance Council — is billed as one of the largest gatherings of dancers and dance lovers in the Southeast, with performances, auditions, networking, master classes and teacher training. For details, go to alabamadancecouncil.org.
SICKLE CELL RESEARCHER
UAB has hired a renowned sickle cell disease clinician and researcher.
Dr. Julie Kanter — formerly the director of sickle cell disease research at the Medical University of South Carolina — will serve as director of the Adult Sickle Cell Clinic within the UAB Division of Hematology and Oncology and the UAB Department of Medicine.
Kanter will also serve as co-director of the UAB Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Center, which seeks to coordinate efforts across campus to provide care to sickle-cell patients, conduct research to improve treatment and provide education about the disease to patients, physicians and community members.
“I am eager to serve the patients of Alabama living with sickle cell disease throughout their life span in coordination with the pediatric program, and continue to conduct impactful research that can help others moving forward,” Kanter said.
In South Carolina, Kanter’s interests included improving access to care for sickle-cell patients and the development of new therapies.
BETTER CARE FOR GARDENDALE
UAB has opened two new medical facilities on a 6.2-acre site in Gardendale — a medical clinic and a freestanding emergency department. The facilities were to open for patients on Jan. 15, according to a UAB news release.
They are located in the Gardendale City Center at the corner of Mount Olive Road and Flippo Parkway. UAB and the City of Gardendale held an opening ceremony for the buildings on Sunday, Jan. 13.
The facilities are designed to provide additional access to UAB medical professionals for residents of North Jefferson County.
They will also provide the only emergency medical services on the I-65 corridor between Cullman and downtown Birmingham, the release states.