The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is currently going through a retrenchment process. As a result of this, on Monday, May 4th, in a meeting with the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor recommended that the Dance Department be eliminated completely. This is after several people not just from the university itself, but also in the Arts world had written letters showing the importance and legitimacy of keeping the Dance Department at UA Little Rock and reshaping it to see the continued growth that it has experienced in these recent years.

          The recommendation to eliminate the Dance Department came as a great shock to all faculty and students, as many have been advocating for the department for numerous years.  As of now, the students in this department will be taught out, but many people are still working to reverse this ruling and showing how this program not only positively affects those in Little Rock, but in the state of Arkansas and beyond. UA Little Rock is the only university in Arkansas that offers majors in dance and has seen an obvious growth in the department in these past years.

         Seeing that it is a University that offers both music and theatre along with dance this gives way to multiple collaborations that are scarcely found at other universities. The Arts are incredibly important and we believe we need to let our voices be heard. Eliminating this department would not just be a disservice to the faculty, students, and future students, but a disservice to Little Rock and our wonderful home state of Arkansas. We ask that you please sign this petition to save our department so that we can continue to help build confident, well-rounded artists who go on to make the world a better place for everyone.