dance faculty

New School of Dance Partnership Connects Students and Faculty Across the Pond

Emily Schneider — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 01:22:09 +0000

New School of Dance Partnership Connects Students and Faculty Across the Pond Emily Schneider Thu, 08/15/2024 - 21:22

In This Story

Dance artist Shaun D’Arcy knows firsthand the impact of sharing new ideas in the world of contemporary dance. With the inauguration of a brand-new partnership between ��AV’s School of Dance and England’s Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD), students from both prestigious institutions will have the chance to learn, explore, and build together.

D’Arcy leading a dance class at NSCD in January 2024. Photo by Amelia Perry-Falvey

"This partnership with NSCD aligns perfectly with our mission to foster innovation and excellence in the arts," said D’Arcy, an assistant professor in the School of Dance. "We look forward to the many opportunities this collaboration will bring for our students and faculty."

The partnership, beginning in Fall 2024, represents a shared interest from both institutions to foster creativity and academic excellence and marks a significant step forward in bridging the worlds of contemporary dance and higher education. Both institutions are renowned for their dedication to dance training and academic research at the highest level.

In addition, both schools’ strategic visions encourage collaboration with business, alumni, and community partners. This common goal provides opportunities for joint research initiatives, which will benefit students and faculty while cultivating a deeper understanding of different cultural and educational perspectives.

"We are thrilled to embark on this collaborative journey with ��AV. This partnership will not only enhance the educational experiences of our students and faculty but also contribute significantly to the discourse in contemporary dance and academic research," said Matthew Slater, interim head of undergraduate studies at NSCD.

A performer caught mid-movement at NSCD. Photo by Elly Welford

NSCD is a leading center for contemporary dance in the United Kingdom and is currently the only institution to offer conservatory-level professional dance training in England outside London. Founded in 1985 by pioneering dance educationist Nadine Senior MBE (1939-2016), NSCD offers undergraduate and post-graduate degrees and has since gone on to produce some of the leading names in the world of contemporary dance today. Alumni include the internationally celebrated Akram Khan (1998), independent choreographer Gary Clarke (2001), and Tamsin Fitzgerald (1998), founder and artistic director of 2Faced Dance Company.

While living in England for three years, D’Arcy completed a master's degree, taught dance, performed, and presented her own original works of choreography. During this time, she noted similarities and contrasts between contemporary dance practices in the United Kingdom and United States. After returning to the United States in 2012, D’Arcy remained determined to maintain those connections and open international doors for her students. A promising pilot program at the University of Utah in 2014 gave D’Arcy the chance to test the idea of a dance exchange with NSCD. Now, as a professor in George Mason’s School of Dance, she has brought this exceptional opportunity to dance students and faculty here in Virginia.

Innovation is at the core of the partnership with a central component being the robust exchange of knowledge, ideas, and cultures. In this early stage, the partnership is intentionally designed to allow organic evolution and growth, aiming to make way for potential exchange programs (both remote and in-person), joint research ventures, and artistic collaborations.

George Mason students striking a pose during a promotional photo shoot. Photo Credit: Tim Coburn

At George Mason this fall, D’Arcy will teach a special topics course that will support this initial phase of the partnership. Students in the class will explore the work of UK-based contemporary dance companies and choreographers, as well as take part in dialogues with NSCD faculty and students who will attend some sessions via Zoom. The course will allow for introspection, reflection, and discussion among George Mason students as they draw connections between contemporary dance practices in the United States and the UK.

Beyond the class structure, D’Arcy plans to pair students from both schools to encourage one-on-one relationship-building and conversations about their future plans and personal experiences as emerging professionals in their field. Similarly, as faculty from both institutions get to know one another and their areas of research, the open and evolving nature of this partnership allows for ongoing growth and change as new ideas emerge.

Looking ahead, both NSCD and Mason’s School of Dance are hoping for the chance to arrange in-person opportunities for students and faculty alike, but are also eager to explore the all together different possibilities and pathways that unfold in the coming months as this partnership blossoms.

Follow along with George Mason's School of Dance on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and with NSCD on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) as well as on their website.

Topics

Dance

dance education

dance faculty

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

Campus News

Strategic Direction

Mason’s School of Dance Presents Annual Gala Concert at the Center for the Arts

Zoe Harr — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 20:02:31 +0000

Mason’s School of Dance Presents Annual Gala Concert at the Center for the Arts Zoe Harr Thu, 02/22/2024 - 15:02

In This Story

Karen Reedy

Susan Shields

Amanda Snellings

Buy Tickets to Mason School of Dance Gala Concert

Learn More About Mason School of Dance

School of Dance students rehearse Robert Battle’s “Awakening” for Mason’s 2023 Gala Concert.
(Photo Credit: Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications/��AV)

��AV’s School of Dance presents the 2024 Mason School of Dance Gala Concert on March 22 and 23, celebrating a rich array of diverse choreographic voices that span from the early days of modern dance to the freshest perspectives of today. As such, this year’s program showcases Mason’s School of Dance students in four varied works by well-known choreographers and dance educators Kyle Abraham (Drive), Rena Butler (This, That, and the Third), Martha Graham (Steps in the Street), and Susan Shields (Visions and Miracles).

“We are thrilled to present this year's Mason Dance Company Gala Concert performances, featuring works by such renowned choreographers including our very own Susan Shields,” said Director of the Mason School of Dance Karen Reedy. A hallmark of our program is our strong connection to the professional field. Our dancers grow tremendously through working closely in residency with these important dance artists. They heighten their professionalism, make connections for their careers, and truly grow from students to artists. We invite audiences to join us to witness the stunning results of our dancers’ hard work. For those who would like to take their support of the School of Dance a step further, we hope to see you at the Mason Dance Fête on March 23.”

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham performed at the Center on February 17. (Photo Credit: Courtesy A.I.M by Kyle Abraham)

Commissioned for New York City Center’s Fall for Dance Festival in 2017, Kyle Abraham’s Drive is a memory-infused piece celebrating the ecstasy of a dance club. Abraham has shared that his origins in dance began in the club world when he was a teenager growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This personal experience inspired the high-energy propulsive work set to club beats, which features an ensemble of eight dancers. This performance is staged by Jae Neal. In addition to Abraham’s piece being included in Mason’s School of Dance Gala, Abraham’s contemporary dance company, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, is a 2023/2024 Mason Artist-in-Residence which included masterclasses with Mason School of Dance students and the local community prior to their performance at the Center for the Arts on February 17.

Rena Butler’s This, That, and the Third premiered in 2019 as part of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Forge Forward program. The work explores themes of otherness and code-switching. Over 23 minutes, Butler introduces each member of the six-person cast through distinctive solos and intimate duets. The result is a powerful piece in which the ensemble finds connection through shared experience, revealing the power of multiplicity and a progressive future. This performance is staged by Rena Butler and Madison Pineda. For a special preview of Butler’s piece, watch the video below.

Premiered at New York City’s Guild Theater in 1936—as part of a larger piece entitled Chronicle—Martha Graham’s Steps in the Street was created in response to the rise of fascism in Europe. The rhythmic piece is performed by 12 women, who depict the tragedy and isolation of war through a new dance vocabulary developed by the iconic Graham. The original program notes from the full work’s premiere reads, “Chronicle does not attempt to show the actualities of war; rather, by evoking war’s images, it sets forth the fateful prelude to war, portrays the devastation of spirit which it leaves in its wake, and suggests an answer.” The piece is staged by Elizabeth Auclair.

This piece will also be featured in ��AV’s Center of the Arts’ Martha Graham Dance Company performance on April 13.

Mason School of Dance Professor, Susan Shields.

A joyous and colorful celebration of music, Susan Shields’ Visions and Miracles will remind audiences that spring is right around the corner. The large ensemble piece debuted in 2012 as part of The Juilliard School’s “New Dances” project. Set to a lively score by composer Christopher Theofanidis, Shields choreography resonates with vibrancy and serves as a metaphor for Mason’s emerging young performers as they embark on their journeys. Shields is an alumna of, and currently a professor in, Mason’s School of Dance. This piece is staged by Shields and assistants Lauren Ciccolini and Nateisha Reaves.

Prior to the March 23 performance, supporters will attend the Mason Dance Fête at 5:30 p.m. in the deLaski Performing Arts Building. This intimate benefit event is a special celebration of Mason’s School of Dance faculty and students. Guests will enjoy open studio demonstrations of works by leading choreographers, including those featured in the Gala Concert program, as well as a food-and-drink reception. All net proceeds from the Mason Dance Fête go toward Mason School of Dance student scholarship funds. The event is co-chaired by Kimberly K. Eby and Julia G. Morelli and Platinum Sponsors of the event are Dr. Peter N. Stearns and Ms. Donna L. Kidd. To learn more about the hard work and art created by Mason School of Dance, watch the video below.

Witness the impressive future of dance and purchase tickets to Mason School of Dance Gala Concert on March 22 and 23. For sponsorship inquiries and questions about Mason Dance Fête, please contact Amanda Snellings at 703-993-1593.

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

Dance

dance faculty

Students

Sophie Zuehl

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 14:59:17 +0000

Sophie Zuehl Pam Muirheid Thu, 10/13/2022 - 10:59

Production Manager, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Campus: Fairfax
Building: deLaski Performing Arts Building
Room: A410
Email: ssotsky@gmu.edu
Tel: 703-993-3634

Biography

Prior to her position as Production Manager in the School of Dance, Sophie Zuehl (neé Sotsky) lived and worked in New York City. She was a dancer, choreographer, lighting designer, and production manager. Sophie had the pleasure of Production Managing at venues including Danspace Project, of dancing for choreographers including Chafin Seymour, and designing lighting for artists including Sibyl Kempson and Peggy Gould. As a choreographer, Sophie was recognized as a 2016/2017 Fresh Tracks artist at New York Live Arts. Her choreography has been supported by the GO! Emerging Artist Commission at the Elizabeth Streb Lab for Action Mechanics (2016 and 2019), as well as by Salem Art Works, the Jonah Bokaer Arts Foundation, Mount Tremper Arts, and Gibney Dance Center.

Degree:

BA, Dance and Psychology (honors in Dance), Wesleyan University

Celine Berthaud

Pam Muirheid — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 21:37:07 +0000

Celine Berthaud Pam Muirheid Wed, 10/12/2022 - 17:37

Adjunct Faculty, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Email: cberthau@gmu.edu

Biography

Celine Berthaud began her formal dance training at the Boston Arts Academy where she graduated as a Dance Major. Upon graduation, she attended ��AV on a performance scholarship receiving her Bachelors in the Fine Arts for Dance. As a member of the Mason Dance Company, Celine has been featured in guest works by choreographers such as Camille A. Brown, Kate Skarpetowska, Robert Battle, Mark Morris, Christopher d’Amboise, and others.

Celine received the professional advancement in dance award from The School at Jacob's Pillow, participating in their first Hip Hop Continuum Program. She has studied at The Ailey School, Earl Mosley's Institute of the Arts, and the Contemporary Masters Series at Steps on Broadway. Celine has trained with artists such as Ronald K. Brown, Desmond Richardson, Camille A. Brown, Sidra Bell, Dana Foglia, Nathan Trice, Rennie Harris, and Tai Jimenez, Erika Pujic, and others.

Celine is certified by the National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM) for personal training, group fitness, and nutritional coaching. As a trainer and active performer represented by Clear Talent Group, she has worked with choreographers such as Luam Keflezgy, Jessica Castro, and Rich & Tone Talauega. Outside of her own performance endeavors, Celine continues to work closely with renowned dance institutes and training programs such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Steps on Broadway, Rock the Industry, ��AV School of Dance, and The School at the Washington Ballet to provide elite conditioning, and dance education to artists worldwide.

Constance Walsh

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 17:09:16 +0000

Constance Walsh Pam Muirheid Thu, 09/15/2022 - 13:09

Adjunct Faculty, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Campus: Fairfax
Building: A300 deLaski Performing Arts Building
Tel: 703-993-1114
Email: cwalsh24@gmu.edu

Biography

Constance Walsh began her training in New Jersey with Vitale Fokine. She continued her training at The French School of Ballet and with William Inglis at the New Jersey School of Performing Arts. After a summer working with Daniel Nagrin, Ms. Walsh moved to New York City to attend the Martha Graham School on full scholarship for 10 years while continuing her ballet training. Ms. Walsh danced with Martha Graham, Pearl Lang, Michael Owens and John Goodwin. In NY she started her own company Lacey/Strom. Her work was chosen by Martha Graham to be in The Young Choreographers Series in 1975. She began her teaching career in the 1980s after moving to DC to dance with Larry Ensign and in 1991 she opened her own ballet studio, ClassWorks Dance Studio, in Easton, Maryland. Designing a four studio/theater space, she created a new company and performance venue, Dance Harrison Street. In 1998 Her work was honored by Gov. and Mrs. Glendening at the Governor’s mansion. Later she was appointed and served for six years on the Maryland State Arts Council. After moving back to D.C. in 2008 she began teaching Ballet at the Metropolitan School of the Arts and BalletNova Center for Dance. She has choreographed many works for BalletNova and directs the adult program. She was promoted to Associate Artistic Director of BalletNova in 2013 and continues in that role. She enjoys teaching all ages, and coaching and mentoring young dancers to become the artists of tomorrow.

Will Waikart

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 17:05:10 +0000

Will Waikart Pam Muirheid Thu, 09/15/2022 - 13:05

Adjunct Faculty and Music Coordinator, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Campus: Fairfax
Building: A300 deLaski Performing Arts Building
Tel: 703-993-1114
Email: wwaikart@gmu.edu

Biography

Will Waikart began accompanying dance classes at Mason in the mid-2000s while studying music across the hall at the School of Music, where he earned his BA. After graduating, Will toured the US extensively with a diverse group of performing artists (Justin Jones, Typefighter, Junior League Band, and The Deadmen), all the while maintaining a full roster of private drum and percussion students. Early on, Will developed a passion for making records and began working as a recording engineer and producer while he wasn’t on the road. Will has accompanied dance masterclasses, intensives, and auditions for Mark Morris Dance Group, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Paul Taylor Dance, Parsons Dance, and many more. Additionally, Will is the modern accompanist for Hope Boykin’s Dance Lab summer intensive at The Kennedy Center. Working in dance has given Will the chance to combine his passion for education with his lifelong love of playing music.

Degree:

BA in Music, George Mason Dewberry School of Music

Antoinette Connell

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 14:51:33 +0000

Antoinette Connell Pam Muirheid Thu, 09/15/2022 - 10:51

Adjunct Faculty, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Campus: Fairfax
Building: A300 deLaski Performing Arts Building
Tel: 703-993-1114
Email: aconnel4@gmu.edu

Biography

Antoinette Hercules Connell, who is originally from Trinidad & Tobago, has been a performing member of the KanKouran West African Dance Company for thirty-five years. She has studied under the guidance of the company founder and artistic director Assane Konte, and promotes intercultural understanding through education and performing arts. Throughout her dance career, Antoinette has traveled in every part of the U.S. and the Caribbean as a performer, choreographer, and instructor of dance. Antoinette’s outstanding reputation with the company has spawned numerous alliances/collaborations with organizations and institutions throughout the United States and abroad. On the local and national levels, these include: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Smithsonian Institution, National Symphony Orchestra, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, California Center for the Arts, Howard University, Model Secondary School for the Arts at Gallaudet University, ��AV, University of Pittsburgh, and Virginia Technical Institute. Antoinette performed at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta Georgia. Internationally, Antoinette has experience at the Island Center for the Performing Arts, St. Croix, and choreographed dances for the performing artists in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. Special projects through the DC Commission of Art and the Kennedy Center include the Progressive Life program where inner-city children learn about African and Caribbean culture through dance and drumming, and Imagine Celebration where children throughout the United States learn about West African and Caribbean dances and music. Antoinette attended University of Maryland and has been a certified personal trainer for the past twenty years; she understands how the body works as a professional ethnic dancer. Currently she teaches West African Dance at Washington Ballet THEARC and is an Adjunct professor at ��AV.

Degrees:

Associate’s Degree, Dance

Lawrence M. Jackson

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:29:44 +0000

Lawrence M. Jackson Pam Muirheid Thu, 09/08/2022 - 15:29

Professor, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Campus: Fairfax
Building: deLaski Performing Arts Building
Room: A300D
Tel: 703-993-1114
Email: Ljacks26@gmu.edu

Biography

Lawrence M. Jackson, holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from The University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Florida State University, serves as Professor of Dance at the ��AV School of Dance. His extensive career in academia includes leadership roles such as Associate Chair of Dance, Associate Professor of Dance, and Director of Graduate Studies in Dance at the University of Alabama. During this time, he also assumed artistic directorship roles for prominent entities like the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, Dance Alabama, The MFA Dance Concert, and Dance Collection within the Department of Theatre and Dance.

Professionally, Lawrence has a rich background with the renowned modern dance company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. He has further showcased his artistry as a guest artist in various concert dance venues. Notably, he presented "I Walk with Spirit" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. As a prolific choreographer, Lawrence has crafted over 95 original works, including the off-Broadway production "Separate and Equal," earning a nomination for an AUDELCO Award for Best Choreography.

Lawrence has contributed significantly as a guest artist, choreographer, and master teacher across numerous institutions and dance organizations such as The International Ballet Competition, Rhode Island College, University of Michigan, California State University Northridge, University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Florida, University of Northern Colorado, West Virginia University and many others. His impact extends to notable events and festivals such as the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, Alabama Dance Festival, and the International Association of Blacks in Dance.

In the realm of scholarship, Lawrence has made valuable contributions, particularly in the field of Black Dance. His noteworthy achievements include authoring, co-editing, and publishing a special edition on Black Dance in the Journal of Pan African Studies, marking a significant milestone in the academic recognition of this dance genre. Currently serving on the editorial board of “Siyabonana: The Journal of Africana Studies,” Lawrence was recently honored with The University of Alabama’s President’s Faculty Research Award for a Mid-Career Scholar, recognizing his dedication to advancing scholarly discourse in dance. In addition to his academic achievements, Lawrence is an esteemed board member of the International Ballet Competition and Ballet 5:8.

Degrees:

MFA, Dance, Florida State University
BFA, Dance, The University of Southern Mississippi

Christina Robson

Pam Muirheid — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:22:48 +0000

Christina Robson Pam Muirheid Thu, 09/08/2022 - 15:22

Assistant Professor, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Campus: Fairfax
Building: deLaski Performing Arts Building
Room: A408
Tel: 703-993-1114
Email: Crobson2@gmu.edu

Biography

Christina Robson is a performer, educator, and choreographer from Boston, Massachusetts. Her extensive performance career includes long term collaborations with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, David Dorfman Dance and Sean Curran Company where she performed historic repertory and premiered several original evening length works at The Kennedy Center, American Dance Festival, Jacobs Pillow, and The Joyce Theater. She has toured two seasons with DanceMotion USA, a cross cultural exchange partnership between Brooklyn Academy of Music and The US Department of State. Robson’s work with Monica Bill Barnes & Company includes collaborations with American Public Radio personality Ira Glass in Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host as well as This American Life Live! at NYU’s Skirball Center. Robson was a performer in the Bessie Award-winning immersive theater show Then She Fell by Third Rail Productions and has decade-long collaborative tenures with choreographers Heidi Henderson and Kendra Portier. Rachel Rizzuto, associate editor of Dance Magazine, described Robson as, “The modern dancer to watch of this next generation. Her ability to mold herself to any number of choreographers’ styles with ease and detail is truly exceptional.”

Christina has been on rotating faculty at Gibney Dance and Peridance Capezio Center, and instructed pre-professional training programs at The Joffrey Ballet, DanceWave, and 92^nd Street Y. In 2018, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company partnered with The Mellon Foundation through Arts Transcending Borders, where Robson facilitated NCAA Division 1 athletes at The College of the Holy Cross in a choreographic residency highlighting the physical negotiation of partnering with the mutual effort of team sports. Robson’s choreographic work has been presented by a range of institutions such as NYU Tisch, Barnard College, SUNY Purchase, Hartt School, The Wooden Floor, Providence Water Fire Festival, Bethany Arts, and Boston University.

Degrees:

MFA Dance, University of Maryland
BA Dance, Roger Williams University

Paul Cassens

Pam Muirheid — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 21:47:17 +0000

Paul Cassens Pam Muirheid Wed, 11/17/2021 - 16:47

Adjunct Faculty, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Phone: 703-993-1114
Campus: Fairfax
Building: A300 deLaski Performing Arts Building
Email: pcassens@gmu.edu
Mail Stop: 3D4
Email: pcassens@gmu.edu

Biography

Paul Cassens is a principal dancer with the D.C. Casineros, a role which has given him the opportunity to perform, teach, and choreograph with the company throughout the United States and abroad. Like many of his Casineros family, Paul was introduced to Cuban music, dance, and culture by Jim Lepore at ��AV. In 2018 the group was invited to give a concert at the Kennedy Center as part of their Artes de Cuba festival, which was streamed multiple times on the island. A frequent traveler to Cuba, Paul has had the opportunity to perform there multiple times since his first trip in 2012. In addition to his responsibilities with the Casineros, Paul is an instructor with Azucar, the GMU Salsa Club - where he was first introduced to Rueda de Casino by Digna Rodriguez, and faculty in the School of Dance where he teaches World Dance courses and is a percussionist. With a background in music, Paul received his BA from ��AV studying under John Kilkenny and Ken Harbison, and pursued graduate studies at the University of Utah.