Education
Texas Woman's University | Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy in Dance Studies | Dissertation: “D”-Cyphering the Jit: Dancing Detroit History and Culture | 2019
New York University | M.A. Masters of Arts | John W. Draper Interdisciplinary Master’s Program in Humanities and Social Thought | 2016
New York University | M.A. Masters of Arts | Tisch School of the Arts- Department of Performance Studies | 2012
University of Michigan | M.F.A. Masters of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography and Performance | School of Music, Theater and Dance | 2004
The Ohio State University | B.F.A. Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography and Performance | Department of Dance | 1999
Academic
Conference Presentations
Dance Studies Association |Annual Conference: Galvanizing Dance Studies: Building Anti-Racist Praxis, Transformative Connections, and Movement(s) of Radical Care|
Dance Film Presentation: “Powdered Footwork: “D-cyphering Detroit Jit”
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey| October 2021
Annual International Conference: Keep It Simple, Make It Fast! DIY Cultures and Global Challenges|Dance Film Presentation: “Powdered Footwork: “D-cyphering Detroit Jit”
University of Porto, Porto, Portugal |Cancelled due to COVID19 | July 2021
World Dance Alliance |Americas Conference: Ecologies Of and Through The Body |Dance Film Presentation: “Powdered Footwork: “D-cyphering Detroit Jit”
Virtual Conference | April 2021
PoP Moves Americas | Annual Conference: Higher Ground: Mediating Popular Dance Histories| Accepted Paper Presentation: “#detroitaintdead: Jittin’ Has Risen”
York University, Toronto Canada |Cancelled due to COVID-19 |2020
The International Association for the Study of Popular Music |Annual Conference: BPM: Bodies, Places, Movements |Accepted Paper Presentation: “#detroitaintdead: Jittin’ Has Risen” |University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan |Cancelled due to COVID19 |2020
The National Dance Education Organization|
Annual conference: The Creative Process: Choreography, Choice-Making, and Communication | Miami, Florida
Poster Presentation: “D-Cyphering the Jit: Dancing Detroit History and Culture”| 2019
World Dance Alliance Americas Conference | Spaces and Places: Exploring Dance Narratives Through Alternate Lenses | Paper Presentation: The Jit: An Economy of Gesture | University of Hawaii- Honolulu, July 2015
Dance Under Construction XV Conference | Boundaries, Borders, Bodies: Tracing Edges within Dance Studies | Paper Presentation: The Motor City Machine: Assembly Lines, Techno and Jitting Automatons | The University of California at Riverside, April 2015
In the Balance: Indigeneity, Performance, Globalization Conference | Paper presentation: Bolivian Tinku: Manifesting Visibility, Identity and Citizenship | The University of London, Royal Holloway | London, England 2013
Awards and Fellowships
Dance Studies Association I Mellon Pre-Conference Seminar for Emergent Scholars| Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois
Awarded a tuition and travel scholarship to present dissertation research and receive feedback from senior and early career scholars in dance studies |2019
Texas Woman's University | Graduate Student Scholarship | Department of Dance |
New York University | The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences | Draper Interdisciplinary Program in the Humanities and Social Thought Merit-based tuition scholarship | 2013 - 2014
New York University | Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Scholarship | Department of Performance Studies | 2012
The University of Michigan | The Julian and Vera McIntosh Memorial Fellowship | Department of Dance | 2002 - 2004
Academic Teaching Experience
Eastern Michigan University | Department of Dance | Modern and Jazz technique | 2004 - 2006
Oakland University | Department of Dance | Hip Hop and Tap technique | 2004 - 2005
The University of Michigan | Department of Dance | Modern, Ballet, and Jazz technique | 2002 - 2005
Guest
Artist in Residence Positions
Centro Artistico Pereyra (La Paz, Bolivia) | Visiting Guest Artist and Artistic Director | 2006 - Present
ARTEMOVIDA Dance Company (La Paz, Bolivia) | Guest Choreographer | Premiered The Van Allen Belts on members of the National Ballet of Bolivia | 2011
Savannah Arts Academy (Savannah, Georgia) | Guest Choreographer/Lecturer | 2010
Eastern Michigan University | Guest Choreographer for the University Dance Company | Premiered HOOD | 2005 - 2006
Teaching
Experience
Centro Artistico Pereyra (La Paz, Bolivia) | Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop and Composition workshops | Modern and Jazz technique | 2006 - Present
The Detroit Windsor Dance Academy | Modern, Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop technique | Choreographer for the Pre-Professional Program and Summer Dance Intensives | 2001 - Present
Hudson Dance and Movement (Hoboken, New Jersey) | Modern and Hip Hop technique | 2012 - 2014
Dance Academy of Boca Raton (Boca Raton, Florida) | Modern technique | 2008 - 2010
Certifications
200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training | Yoga Alliance Certified | Pure Yoga New York City| 2017