Maddie Kurtz is a dance artist currently based in Tallahassee, FL, where she serves as the Research Associate at the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography at Florida State University, as well as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Dance at FSU. She holds a BA in Dance and Religious Studies from Colby College and an MFA in Choreography from SUNY Brockport. She continues to teach and choreograph throughout the Southeast and beyond, setting pieces at studios and on her company, MKrep, and she is a national competition adjudicator with StarQuest, Inspire, and Impact Dance Adjudicators. www.madelinekurtz.com or follow on IG: @maddiekurtz92Support the show (https://www.instadancecoach.com/thank-you-for-supporting-my-podcast-colleges-and-careers/)

Karen Stokes is the Head of the Dance Program at the University of Houston.She danced in New York and abroad with David Gordon, Larry Clark, and Stephan Koplowitz. As a choreographer, Stokes has premiered eight evening length projects, and multiple repertory works that have performed in such venues as Zilkha Hall, Discovery Green,the Kaplan Theater at the JCC, Cleveland Public Theater, Weathervane Theater in Akron, Plays & Players Theater in Philadelphia, the Cunningham Studio in NYC, and at the University of Houston.In January 2013, Karen Stokes Dance was the first contemporary dance company in Houston to receive a “Masterminds Award” by the Houston Press.  She is a nine-time recipient of Houston Arts Alliance grants and was co-recipient for the 2008 Buffy Award in Best Evening Length work category (Hometown) for 2003-2008. Stokes’ documentary short on “Framing Dance,” received “Editor’s Choice” for best video from Dance Teacher Magazine in September 2010, and her dance for camera video “Gallery Construction 1” received “Editor’s Choice” for best video from Dance Magazine in March 2012. Stokes has also won the Distance Education Teaching Award at University of Houston, the ACHE Teaching Award, and the Ross M. Lence Teaching Award.Stokes co-founded Travesty Dance Group in 1997, and is now Artistic Director of Karen Stokes Dance. Karen Stokes Dance, a non-profit organization, functions as the producing company for professional projects by Karen Stokes.Phone: 713-743-2915Email: [email protected] Stokes DancefacebookSupport the show (https://www.instadancecoach.com/thank-you-for-supporting-my-podcast-colleges-and-careers/)

Please welcome Jo Rowan and Associate Dean Melanie Shelley from my Alma Mater!Both inspirations to me and my growth as a dancer, I am excited to share their expertise and values at OCU. Jo is the head of the dance department and has been since 1981. Dean Melanie attended school their shortly after and they have been a team ever since. Melanie Shelley, Associate Dean and Professor of Arts Management, has served the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management in many capacities over three decades. She enjoys working with dance and entertainment business students as the Student Success Coordinator and preparing students for professional careers. Dean Shelley serves as Costume Consultant, choreographer, company manager, and professor at OCU. Her choreography has been performed both in the United States and internationally, in Beijing and Taipei, China and her costume designs have been included in the New York City Toy Show. Dean Shelley has been named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers for multiple years, was named Oklahoma City University’s Exemplary Teacher of the Year for 2000, and served as Faculty Fellow and Interim Chair of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning for Oklahoma City University’s Academic Affairs Office in 2006-2007.-------------------------------------------Jo Rowan is a nationally known master ballet teacher and performer and is professor of dance and chairman of the Dance Department within Oklahoma City University’s Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment.Rowan, who was trained at the School of American Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, holds degrees in design and dance from University of Cincinnati and has performed with Cincinnati Ballet, Dallas Ballet, Garden State Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Dallas Opera, Philadelphia Opera, Tulsa Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and as a soloist at Radio City Music Hall. She has been a guest artist with the Baltimore Symphony, Kansas City Philharmonic, and Cincinnati Symphony orchestras. A member of Actors’ Equity Association, Rowan has appeared in more than 60 musicals. She has performed in New York City, as well as at Actors Theatre in Louisville, Maine State Theatre, Playhouse in the Park, Kansas City Civic Center, and Kansas City Starlight Theatre, to name a few. She has also appeared in numerous television commercials and was a regular on the PBS TV show, Consumer Survival Kit. Rowan performed at Lyric Theatre in Grand Hotel as ballerina Grushinskaya and recently choreographed the Dream Ballet in Lyric’s production of Oklahoma!.  She was the chief researcher for How To Make It In Musicals, Michael Allen’s authoritative book on developing a successful career as a musical theatre performer.Formerly ballet mistress of Dallas Ballet, Rowan has taught for all major dance organizations in the United States and has been invited to serve as an Artist-in-Residence for Oklahoma. She has conducted master classes at the St. Louis and Detroit Tap Festivals, has toured America as a ballerina with Dance Olympus, has taught for Dance America and Boston Ballet, and has adjudicated for the North American Ballet Festival Competition in Boston and the State of Tennessee’s Individual Artist Fellowship Award in Dance-Choreography.In both 2018 and 2019 Rowan was selected as one of the Journal Record's 50 Making a Difference during "The Woman of the Year" event. In April of this year, Rowan received The Governor's Arts Award in recognition of her longtime leadership and significant contributions to the arts across Oklahoma.Support the show (https://www.instadancecoach.com/thank-you-for-supporting-my-podcast-colleges-and-careers/)

Academic AdvisorMax Vasapoli, M.Ed. is a graduate and former staff member of the Brind School of Theater Arts at The University of the Arts. He currently serves as an Academic Advisor for High School Programs at The University of Pennsylvania. He is an experienced adjudicator and educator entering his eighth competition season, having adjudicated dancers across the US and Canada for a multitude of companies. Most recently, Vasapoli adjudicated the Season 8 Finale of Lifetime’s Dance Moms and consulted the Wilma Theatre’s production of Pulitzer Prize-finalist, Dance Nation. He is currently on the roster of Impact Dance Adjudicators and regularly contributes to their blog and podcast. Vasapoli was a founding member of North Shore Music Theatre's Youth Performance Academy, danced competitively throughout high school, and was awarded a Promising Artist Award to attend The University of the Arts. Max worked alongside Cirque du Soleil’s international tour and has been a guest speaker at The Arden Theatre Company, The University of the Arts, Temple University, Villanova University, ArtsTechNJ, and Theatre Communications Group. Max is an Emerging Arts Leader by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. He completed his Master's Degree in Education from the Professional Institute for Educators at The University of the Arts. Instagram: @mx_vspSupport the show (https://www.instadancecoach.com/thank-you-for-supporting-my-podcast-colleges-and-careers/)

Noelle Partusch is a Chairperson and Professor of Dance at Mercyhurst University and specializes in Labanotation and Liturgical dance.  She earned her B.F.A. from the State University of New York College at Purchase in 1988, a Labanotation Teacher’s Certificate from the Dance Notation Bureau in New York City in 1989, and her M.F.A. from The Ohio State University in 1992.  Ms. Partusch teaches ballet, pointe, dance conditioning, dance appreciation, kinesiology, Labanotation and has taught a special interdisciplinary course called “The Sacred and the Beautiful.”  Support the show (https://www.instadancecoach.com/thank-you-for-supporting-my-podcast-colleges-and-careers/)

Learn about the Dance in Paris program with the energetic and worldly dance professor, Michael Foley. As the head of the Paris program, Michael has a lot of great insight on what it is like dancing and living in a foreign country. Check out today's episode and see if you can see yourself dancing in Paris or China??You can email Michael at [email protected] regarding any questions about the Paris program!Support the show (https://www.instadancecoach.com/thank-you-for-supporting-my-podcast-colleges-and-careers/)

California Institute of the ArtsLet's learn about California Institute of the Arts: CalArts with Lilia Deering. School of Dance Staff in the tech departmentA small artsy and welcoming school known for it's cross collaboration with other departments.Support the show (https://www.instadancecoach.com/thank-you-for-supporting-my-podcast-colleges-and-careers/)

Point Park University is a great school where you can get a concentration in ballet, modern, or jazz. All dancers take all classes and are taught to be well-rounded. Kiesha Lalama is the head of the Jazz unit and an inspiring and energetic teacher. Support the show (https://www.instadancecoach.com/thank-you-for-supporting-my-podcast-colleges-and-careers/)

Let's learn about the University of Memphis Dance and Theater department with Jill Guyton Nee, the head of dance, and Michael Medcalf, an assistant professor in dance. Dance and theater VisionTo cultivate a diverse community, in which all voices are valued, that fosters excellence in research, production, teaching, learning, community outreach, and collaboration.Mission StatementTo educate the next generation of theatre artists for successful careers in the performing arts, the entertainment industry and arts education and to contribute to the cultural climate of our diverse community, region, and beyond as engaged partners. Central to the mission is the belief that theoretical and practical courses combined with production experiences and personalized mentorship are critical to the education and training of our students.Support the show (https://www.instadancecoach.com/thank-you-for-supporting-my-podcast-colleges-and-careers/)

Ever wonder what it would be like to go to college in NYC? Let's learn about CAP 21 at Molloy College in New York!Kim Schafer has a lot of tips and hints to think about when trying to decide if you want to move to NYC. This theater program we talk about is a musical theater BFA program where you have to learn to be a triple threat. @kimmiedivaSupport the show (https://www.instadancecoach.com/thank-you-for-supporting-my-podcast-colleges-and-careers/)