MTSU will welcome dancers, choreographers and directors from across the state and region this weekend, Oct. 10-11, for master classes and public performances from ballet to ballroom at the annual Tennessee Dance Festival.

MTSU dancers Fernando Ramos Cintron, left, and Amy Huffines perform “Plume” at the 2013 Fall Dance Concert in Tucker Theatre. The annual Tennessee Dance Festival, which will feature dancers from across the region, is set Oct. 10-11 in MTSU’s Tucker Theatre. (File photo courtesy of Martin O’Connor)

The festival, organized by the Tennessee Association of Dance, includes nationally recognized dance artists who will teach a variety of master classes, workshops and lectures to dancers ages 12 and up, as well as college and professional level dancers.

The event also serves as professional development for Tennessee’s K-12 and higher education dance teachers.

The Tennessee Dance Gala Concert is the major performance of the weekend and is set Saturday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. inside MTSU’s Tucker Theatre. The performance features state and regional dance companies in an evening of ballet, modern and jazz.

Tickets are $15 each and may be purchased at the Tucker Theatre door.

Additional performances include the Cathie Kasch Student Choreography Showcase on Saturday at 1:10 pm, and “Celebrations: The Members Showcase” on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1:30 pm.

These free public showcases, also set for Tucker Theatre, are aimed at developing leadership and creativity in student dancers and promoting the future of dance in Tennessee and beyond.

A searchable campus map with parking details is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParking2015-16.

For more information about the Tennessee Association of Dance and its programs visit www.tennesseedance.org. For information about the MTSU Dance Program, visit www.mtsu.edu/dance.