Davis Library was quiet around noon on Tuesday. Students were working, or seemed to be at least, to make up for lost time after a snowstorm dropped about a foot of snow on the campus last week and canceled nearly three full days of classes.

But those studious eyes were pried away from textbooks and laptops as large wooden panels were shuffled into the middle of the library by a small group of people.

And within just a few minutes, a large crowd gathered for the impending spectacle as members of the Dorrance Dance company launched into an impromptu show. The performance had tap dancers and soccer freesytlist Indi Cowie collaborating for the show.

The dance company – led by McArthur Genius grant winner Michelle Dorrance, who also happens to be the daughter of legendary UNC women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance – put on these mini shows all over the campus.

This was all part of the Arts Everywhere initiative that UNC Chancellor Carol Folt has made a priority in recent years. This week’s events were coordinated with the launch of a new mobile app aimed at serving as a “one-stop shop” to connect the campus and town communities with arts events happening at UNC.

The most energized member of the crowd at Tuesday’s event may have been Folt herself.

“Dance, creativity, it’s about the buzz and excitement that’s on a great campus,” Folt said.

Emil Kang is the special assistant to the chancellor for the arts, among his other titles at the university, and has been tasked with leading the Arts Everywhere initiative. He said the program will hopefully show the broad reach of the arts among the Carolina campus.

“Showing how creative our fellow students are, how faculty are, visiting artists are,” Kang said, “to realize the breadth and depth of excellence that we have here on campus.”

Folt echoed Kang’s emphasis on the diverse reach of the arts.

“I love the fact that you’ve got athletes and dancers,” Folt said. “You come into the library, and everybody gets energized. And I think it’s about making people realize that they can do anything, and the arts are especially good at unleashing creativity.”

Folt said that the app had already had an impact on the community being aware of different events around campus.

“I think it’s bringing us into this century with the app to get people where they want to go,” Folt said.

The Arts Everywhere app is available for download on iPhone and Android devices.

Photo via Blake Hodge

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