dance faculty

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/George Mason University)

George Mason University’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 George Mason University’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

Lawrence M. Jackson

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

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

Associate 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 Associate Professor of Dance at The George Mason University 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

Victor Adebusola

Pam Muirheid — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 18:40:17 +0000

Victor Adebusola Pam Muirheid Tue, 01/12/2021 - 13:40

Programming and Engagement Manager, Center for the Arts, CVPA and Adjunct Faculty, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Campus: Fairfax
Building: deLaski Performing Arts Building
Tel: 703-993-8670
Email: vadebuso@gmu.edu

Biography

Vic Adebusola is a seasoned dancer, instructor, and arts manager. Vic is the Commercial Dance Director for Metropolitan School of the Arts, leading the organization's after-school hip-hop and contemporary dance programs. He also serves as the Programming and Engagement Manager at the Center for the Arts at George Mason University. Vic has danced, taught, and choreographed for several studios, schools, and organizations in the D.C.-metropolitan area. He graduated from George Mason University with an MA in Arts Management. Vic is an adjunct instructor in George Mason University's School of Dance, teaching hip-hop and club-style dances. He was artistic director of Culture Shock Dance Troupe, captain of Capital Funk DC, and established Project VictorAde, which debuted in 2017. Vic has performed and taught in Los Angeles, San Diego, New York and Canada. He continues to spread his knowledge and love for dance to all communities and people who share his passion and strives to bring awareness of the talent of the DMV-dance community to broader audiences.

Degree:

MA, Arts Management, George Mason University, 2023

Shaun Boyle D'Arcy

admin_alpha — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 23:12:02 +0000

Shaun Boyle D'Arcy admin_alpha Tue, 02/06/2018 - 18:12

Assistant Professor, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Campus: Fairfax
Building: de Laski Performing Arts Bldg
Mail Stop: 3D4

Email: sboyleda@gmu.edu

Biography

Shaun Boyle D’Arcy is a dance artist and educator with an extensive performing career, dancing in classical ballet and contemporary companies including BalletMet (USA) and Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet (USA). She danced in a broad spectrum of works by leading choreographers such as George Balanchine, Edwaard Liang, Jodie Gates, Larry Keigwin, James Kudelka, August Bournonville, David Dorfman, Alonzo King, David Nixon, Marius Petipa, Emily Molnar, and Benoit-Swan Pouffer.

Shaun’s own choreography stems from this lineage, intertwining her roots in ballet and contemporary styles. Her work has been presented internationally at venues at the Joyce Soho Theater (USA), Ailey Citigroup Theater (USA), Bonnie Bird Theatre (UK), Robin Howard Theatre at The Place (UK), Officina Giovani (Italy), Markgrafentheater (Germany), and the Kennedy Center (USA), amongst others. Additionally, she has presented at several national dance platforms including The DanceNOW Festival (NY), The Dance Gallery Festival (NY, TX), Breaking Ground Contemporary Dance and Film Festival (AZ), The Women in Dance Leadership Conference (LA), and the American College Dance Festival where her work was selected for the biennial National Festival on two occasions. Shaun is a recipient of The Field's Artist Residency grant (NY), the Djerassi Resident Artists Program (CA), and the prestigious choreographic initiative DanceLines at the Royal Opera House in London where she received mentorship from English choreographer Wayne McGregor.

Shaun holds degrees from New York University (BFA), Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (MA), and George Mason University (MFA). Before serving as a full-time faculty member in the School of Dance at George Mason University, she held academic appointments at the University of California, Irvine and the University of Utah. Additionally, Shaun continues to teach and choreograph as a guest artist at dance organizations in the United States and abroad.

Degrees

MFA, George Mason University
MA, Choreography (with Distinction), The Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London
BFA, Dance (with Honors), NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts

Susan Shields

admin_alpha — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 23:30:01 +0000

Susan Shields admin_alpha Tue, 10/20/2015 - 19:30

Professor, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Phone: 703-993-1114
Campus: Fairfax
Building: de Laski Performing Arts Bldg
Room A300C
Mail Stop: 3D4

Email: sshields@gmu.edu

Biography

Susan Shields is the recipient of the 2006 Choo-San Goh Award for Choreography, has created dances for numerous professional companies and universities. Her work appears in the repertoires of Ballet West, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Washington Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Nashville Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, The Juilliard Ensemble, Boston Ballet II, and City Dance Ensemble. She has created work for George Mason, Harvard, the University of Richmond and Shenandoah University. In 2005, Shields was given a commission from the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts to create a ballet for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, which premiered at the Filene Center that summer. She has performed nationally and internationally, most recently as a member of Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project. In addition to performing the works of numerous contemporary choreographers, she was partnered by Baryshnikov in Mark Morris’ acclaimed dance, The Argument. She was a member of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company for eight years, performing a substantial part of his repertory. She performed with the Mark Morris Dance Group in The Hard Nut, and has performed with Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, Eliot Feld Ballet New York and the Washington Ballet, where she received her training. Shields has taught at universities throughout the world. She served as a trustee on the board of Dance USA for several years. She has a BA in Philosophy from SUNY Empire State, an M.F.A from George Mason University and was the Director of George Mason School of Dance for 7 years.

Degrees

MFA, Dance, George Mason University

Karen Reedy

admin_alpha — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 23:27:01 +0000

Karen Reedy admin_alpha Tue, 10/20/2015 - 19:27

Director, School of Dance & Associate Professor, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Phone: 703-993-9767
Campus: Fairfax
Building: de Laski Performing Arts Bldg
Room A300A
Mail Stop: 3D4

Email: kreedy@gmu.edu

Personal Websites

Karen Reedy Dance

Biography

Director of the School of Dance and an Associate Professor, Ms. Reedy is a choreographer, dancer, and educator. A highly musical artist with strong choreographic sensibilities for pattern, texture and emotion, her works span the continuum of classical and contemporary dance in traditional as well as site specific performance. Her work is often highly collaborative with musicians and visual artists. Ms. Reedy is the founder and artistic director of Karen Reedy Dance, and her choreography is in the repertory of companies and colleges throughout the country.

As a dancer, Ms. Reedy has performed with The Mark Morris Dance Group, Robert Battle, Eric Hampton Dance, DC Dance Theater, Luis Johnson and Sue Bernhard among others. As a dance educator, Ms. Reedy has been among the faculty at the Juilliard School, The Mark Morris Dance Group, The Washington Ballet and The Chautaqua Institution.

Ms. Reedy is also a member of the Faculty Senate.

Research

Alexandria Commission for the Arts, 2015
Bossak-Heilbron Charitable Foundation, 2013
Alexandria Commission for the Arts Organizational Operating Grant, 2013

Honors and Awards

Online Excellence Award 2017. (Open Portfolio Review Spring 2017: Dance Appreciation Fall 2016), Office of Distance Learning, George Mason University.
The Mathy Junior Faculty Award 2014-2015 (A semester sabbatical (Fall 2014) for creative research “Dance for Camera”), George Mason University, College of Humanities and Social Science
Metro Arts Incubator 2012-2013 (Artist in Residence for the creation of Albatross), American Dance Institute
University Life Fellowship: Course release for Spring 2011 This fellowship was for my collaboration with Lauren Long, GMU Director of Student Involvement. Our work together involved planning for a campus-wide Event called the Mason Dance Jam , Mason University Life
Kennedy Center Local Dance Commissioning Project 2008. Choreography Commission Sleepwalking. Performed September 11 and 12, 2008, Kennedy Center
The Thomas W. Iszard III Alumni Service Award 2007 , George Mason University College of Visual and Performing Arts

Degrees

MFA, Dance, George Mason University
BFA, Dance, George Mason University

Christopher d'Amboise

admin_alpha — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 23:24:01 +0000

Christopher d'Amboise admin_alpha Tue, 10/20/2015 - 19:24

Associate Professor, School of Dance, CVPA

Contact Information

Phone: 703-993-1114
Campus: Fairfax
Building: de Laski Performing Arts Bldg
Room A300E
Mail Stop: 3D4
Email: cdambois@gmu.edu>

Biography

Christopher became a principal dancer in the New York City Ballet, where he worked closely with George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, dancing all the major roles, as well as originating several works. He left the company in 1983 to pursue other interests, including performing in the Broadway production of Song and Dance, which earned him a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for a role in which he only danced. From 1990-94, he was artistic director, president, and CEO of the Pennsylvania Ballet. His choreography explores the integration of text, dance, music and drama and seeks to reinforce a positive perspective of humanity. He's created more than 80 ballets for numerous international companies. His Tribute premiered with the New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center in 2007. For musical theatre, he choreographed productions of High Society and the rock musical William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, a project conceived by his brother-in-law, Terrence Mann. Television credits include appearances on the Kennedy Center Honors, Live from Studio 8H, and the Emmy-winning documentary He Makes Me Feel Like Dancing. He has initiated outreach programs and taught master classes and workshops at schools and universities worldwide.

Degrees

MFA, Dance, George Mason University