World-renowned dancer and choreographer Chuck Davis, Ph.D., will visit the campus of the University of Oklahoma on Thursday, March 2, for two dance classes co-sponsored by the A&S FOCAS* Lecture Series and the Weitzenhoffer College of Fine Arts Department of Dance.

The first class, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in Meacham Auditorium, OMU, is free and open to the public. Those interested in taking the class should call the African and African-American Studies program at (405) 325-2327. This class is open to all levels of dance. An additional dance space will be available at that time in the Reynolds Performing Arts Center, second floor dance studio.

A master dance class will be held at 1:30 p.m. in Meacham Auditorium. Visitors are welcome to observe the class. An additional dance space will be available during that time in the Rupel Jones Fine Arts Center, room 305.

Davis is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina. He graduated from Howard University and began his professional dance career in New York City in 1959 as a member of the Klara Harrington Dance Company. From 1959 to through 1968 he danced professionally with a number of modern, jazz, Afro-Cuban and African companies. Among these are the Olatunji Dance Company, Eleo Pomare Dance Company and Bernice Johnson Dance Company. In 1977, Davis fulfilled his dream to study dance in Africa, and returns each year to further his studies. The Chuck Davis Dance Company was founded in 1968, from which the African American Dance Ensemble arose. The ensemble travels around the nation as artists in residence, passing on the legacy of African dance.

For more information on the ensemble, visit their Web site.