In my interview when I applied for this job in the spring of 2016, I stated that I wished for the position at SUNY Potsdam to be my last job. After many years of having a career in dance that has kept me transient, I wanted a place like the Department of Theatre and Dance, where I could grow roots and strive to make a positive difference in the arts and academia. I believe that combining the facilities, the potential of the students, and the school's legacy in dance and history, this job and SUNY Potsdam have more to offer than a single subject conservatory, and the Dance Program appears to be waiting to go to the next level and turn into something new and innovative.
Some of my long-term goals include gaining full professorship, applying for artist fellowships such as the Guggenheim and Fulbright fellowships. I also wish to become the Program Coordinator of Dance, to lead the program toward a trajectory further developing dance so it remains competitive when it comes to recruitment, program rational, and the necessary flexibility in the delivery. I wish to develop a repertory dance company for purposes such as outreach, marketing, recruitment, and as a model of real world experience for students and younger audiences. I wish to add a BFA in dance to the program, providing more concentrated performance opportunities and studio time, so students who wish to extend their discipline to the next level have the opportunity at SUNY Potsdam to do so. Meanwhile, the BA in dance would still remain, allowing students to explore the academic side of dance as well as other liberal arts subjects. Finally, I wish to open doors for students internationally and once they graduate, so they have opportunities to advance into masters programs. Middlesex University in London is such an example of a partnership I am building. SEE MORE
My short-term goals consist of cross-departmental creative partnering with Dr. Brian Doyle and Dr. William Lake as well as with Iggy Beerbower, combining student works of dance, music, and art in a collaborative work setting. I have enjoyed working with Brian in the past on The Soldier's Tale, and we plan to join forces with Dr. Lake and Iggy to give our students creative cross-disciplinary experiences. I have also worked with students in New Media and plan to continue that collaboration with my students in the Media Dance Works Series. For further short-term goals, please see the list below.
