Abridged Curriculum Vita - full CV available upon request
EDUCATION
MFA - Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
MFA degree in Dance Performance and Choreography, Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance
BA - DeSales University, Center Valley, PA
BA degree in Dance (magna cum laude), Minor in Music
TEACHING
DeSales University – Division of Performing Arts, Center Valley, PA
Associate Professor of Dance (2017- )
Assistant Professor of Dance (2011-2017)
Undergraduate Courses Taught:
Modern Technique – all levels of physical practice contemporary modern technique
Composition - introduces the fundamental principles of the choreographic process in solo format
Methods of Teaching Educational Dance - theory and laboratory practice of dance instruction and pedagogy
Creative Process in Dance - exploration of the creative processes of historic and current modern dance choreographers in relation to social, political, and historical factors
Dance in World Cultures – investigation into the study of dance within various non-western cultures from around the world, emphasizing dance and human movement as a form of cultural
knowledge
First-Year Dance Seminar - seminar that enhances students' understanding of careers in dance, performance techniques, and dance improvisation
Dance Appreciation – an online course for students outside the dance major examining dance as a mode of human expression and communication in cultures around the world (developed in
2019)
Temple University – Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance, Philadelphia, PA
Adjunct Faculty (2009-2011)
Courses Taught:
Creating Performance Environments: Graduate Dance Productions
Shall We Dance? Dance as Narrative in American Film
Entry to Dance as Art
Dance, Movement, and Pluralism
Additional Dance Teaching Experience
Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange SpringUp Festival – Modern Technique (2024), Oblique Strategies Workshop (2023)
American College Dance Association – modern, improvisation, oblique strategies composition workshop, tap, and lighting design for dance master classes (2012-2017, 2023)
Lehigh Valley Dance Exchange – adult contemporary classes (2022)
DeSales Summer Dance Intensive – modern, improvisation, composition, tap, repertory classes (2011-2020, 2022-2023)
Moravian College Dance Company – modern master class (2016)
St. Gregory’s University, Shawnee, OK – modern and composition master classes (2014)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Choreographic Research
Sabbatical Research (2021)
A one-semester sabbatical to focus on choreographic research using Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt’s Oblique Strategies as an embodied creative process. During the sabbatical, I was granted a weeklong residency at Modern Accord Depot in Accord, NY. This research resulted in the creation and presentation of an original 60-minute choreographic work entitled Catching Waves: Oblique Strategies as a Choreographic Process at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA in 2022.
DeSales University Choreographic Presentations
Solar – group work for 8 dancers, utilizing Oblique Strategies (2023)
In The Weeds – quartet utilizing 20,000 fall leaves as a set (2020, 2022)
Lure – socially distant quintet (2021)
Jostle – group work for 7 dancers (2019)
Blister – large group work created with guidance from Leigh University Holocaust scholar Nitzan Lebovic and with original music composition (2018)
Flight Risk - trio (2017)
It’s Not What It Looks Like – group work investigating the use of sleeping bags as props (2016)
The Culture of the Sky – duet (2015)
City Birds – reworked group version of 2011 duet (2014)
Tether – solo work, premiered at DeSales University (2013)
Additional performances: Baltimore Dance Invitational, Baltimore (2015); American College Dance Festival, Ohio University (2014); InHale Performance Series, Philadelphia (2013)
The Art of Merging – group work (2012)
Additional Choreographic Presentations
Render – duet exploring the intersection of generative artificial intelligence and dance-making, SpringUP Dance Festival Guest Artist Concert, Allentown (2024)
What’s Inside Matters – Ten Tiny Dances, Bethlehem (2023)
signs | unmoored – Ten Tiny Dances, Bethlehem (2021)
The Sisters of Lourmarin – Bucknell University (2017)
Malarkey – Moravian College (2017)
Limited Time Offer – Ten Tiny Dances, Bethlehem (2016)
…I would rather have birds… - Rivers Merge Dance Festival, Lafayette College, Easton, PA (2015)
Exodus for Three – St. Gregory’s University, Shawnee, OK (2014)
National Water Dance – Lake Nockamixon State Park (2014)
Drawbridge – Ten Tiny Dances, Allentown, solo work (2013)
City Birds – Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Chi Movement Arts Center (2011)
Toggle – Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Community Education Center (2010)
Conferences and Workshops
National Dance Education Organization National Conference
Atlanta, GA (2023); San Antonio, TX (2017); Washington, D.C. (2016); Phoenix, AZ (2015)
American College Dance Association Regional Conferences
Montclair State University (2023); Kent State University (2017); Western Michigan University (2016); Georgia College
(2015); Ohio University (2014); Hofstra University (2013); University of Wisconsin, Madison (2012)
Dance Education Laboratory: Building Anti-Racist Dance Classrooms Workshop (2021)
Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges Universal Design for Learning Workshop (2021)
Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning Workshop (2019)
A Choreographic Mind Workshop with Susan Rethorst – Philadelphia, PA (2016)
Presentations and Invited Panels
Oblique Strategies: Breaking Through Creative Blocks. Guest Blog Post, Shannon Dooling Dances, shannondoolingdances.com (2024)
Oblique Strategies as an Embodied Creative Process. Workshop presented at the National Dance Education Organization conference, Atlanta, GA (2023)
Panelist: Creativity and Inspiration panel. DeSales MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing Winter Residency (2021)
Flipgrid and Practice: Video Discussion Boards in Practice. Co-presented with Eric Hagan and Suzanne Barnhurst at the LVAIC Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning Workshop (2019)
Make It a Duet: Encouraging Creative Choice-making In a Dance Technique Course. Movement session presented at the National Dance Education Organization conference, San Antonio, TX
(2017)
Technical Theatre
Stage Management
Informal Dance Concert. Schubert Theatre, DeSales University (2011-2013, 2017, 2022)
Stories That Invited Me In: Master’s Thesis Concert. Choreography by Beau Hancock and Caitlin Quinn. Conwell Dance Theater, Temple University (2010)
Chloe and Solved. Choreography by Beau Hancock, Colleen Hooper, and Jennifer Morley. Philadelphia Fringe Festival, CHI Movement Arts Center (2009)
Lighting Design
Sudden. Choreography by Julia Mayo. American College Dance Association Conference, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA (2018)
Informal Dance Concert. Schubert Theatre, DeSales University (2011-2013)
Blender. Dangerous and Movin’ Dance Company. Performance Garage, Philadelphia (2011)
Faculty Dance Concert. Conwell Dance Theater, Temple University, Philadelphia (2011)
Stories That Invited Me In: Master’s Thesis Concert. Choreography by Beau Hancock and Caitlin Quinn. Conwell Dance Theater, Temple University (2010)
I Saved This For You. Choreography by Colleen Hooper and Elizabeth Reynolds. Philadelphia Fringe Festival, CHI Movement Arts Center. (2010)
SERVICE
External Service
Board of Directors – Arts Academy Elementary Charter School, Allentown, PA (2016- )
Proposal Reviewer for National Dance Education Organization’s national conference (2018, 2023, 2024)
External reviewer for Bucknell University’s Fall Dance Gala performance (2014)
University Committees and Service
Search committee for Dean of College of Arts, Education, and Humanities (2024)
Reading/Writing Intensive Design Team (2022- )
Safety Committee (2023- )
Academic Technology Committee (2022- ) (chair in AY 2023-2024)
Advising students and student-run organizations (2011- )
Working Group for the Review and Revision of the General Education Core Curriculum (2018-2022)
Academic Affairs Committee – Graduate Studies (2018-2022)
HR Advisory Committee (2018-2020)
Student Satisfaction and Retention Committee (2018-2020)
Character U Peer Mentor Advisor (2014-2020)
Student Life Committee of the Board (2014-2018)
Judicial Appeals Committee (alternate) (2015-2017)
Faculty Steering Committee (2016)
Faith and Reason Honors Thesis Advisor (2016)
Student Affairs Committee (2012-2014)
Choreographer for annual DeSales Dinner Dance fundraiser (2012-2014)
DeSales Experience Committee (2011-2012)
University and Department Recruitment
Scholarship Audition Day (2011- )
Open houses, Information Sessions, Bulldog Bash (2011- )
Recruitment events (NY, NJ, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., or virtual) (2011- )
National High School Dance Festival (2011)
Selected Division and Department Service
Concert Direction/Co-Direction
Dance Ensemble Concert (2011-2016, 2020, 2024)
Emerging Choreographers Concert (2011-2018, 2020, 2022)
Alumni Dance Concert (2015-2016, 2023)
Informal Concert (2011-2013, 2017, 2022)
Rehearsal director for Dance Ensemble guest artists (2012- )
Selected works include: Dr. Jessica Van Oort’s restaging of Doris Humphrey’s Partita V (2015); Jennifer Conley’s restaging of Martha Graham’s Steps in the Street (2020); Matthew
Neenan’s original Douceur (2022); Tendayi Kuumba’s restaging of Urban Bush Women’s Walking With ‘Trane (2024)
National Dance Education Organization and American College Dance Association Institutional Representative
Oversee involvement at American College Dance Association Conferences (2012-2017, 2023)
Search committee for dance faculty (2012-2013, 2019-2020, 2022-2023)
Co-Chair of Dance Department (2019-2020)
Director of Summer Dance Intensive (2017-2020)
Search committee for lighting designer (2017-2018)
Sponsor for senior dance major’s presentation at LVAIC Women’s and Gender Studies Conference (2018)
Dance Specialist for Picnic, directed by Steven Dennis at DeSales University (2018)
Hosted Department Visiting Team (2011-2012, 2017-2018)
Facilitated four (4) Independent Study Projects, 3 of which were connected to Mellon Grant (2015-2016)
Implemented the Performing Arts Division’s first course with an international travel component to Dresden and Berlin, Germany (2015-2016)