January & February 2017 College News

DANCE Dance Studies, Per formance & Choreography, Single Teaching Certif ication, & Dual Teaching Certif ications FACULTY ACCOLADES Ana Baer and Michelle Nance received a Study in America Program development grant to explore their summer courses in NYC. [ 1 ] Kaysie S. Brown was invited to join the Austin based Creative Learning Initiative [ 2 ] and the Arts Education Organization, MINDPOP as a Dance Educator Ambassador for AISD. LeAnne Smith had the privilege of sitting in on an interview with dance legend, Stuart Hodes who danced with Mr. Hawkins in two of his earliest works. These dances, Stephen Acrobat and John Brown, will be re- staged in collaboration with Shay Ishii Dance Company and the Erick Hawkins’ Foundation. Nicole Wesley was accepted in the Body-Mind Centering Conference in July of 2017 for Impacting the Artist: How The JUSTICE Project evokes a deeper, more thoughtful awareness of self, purpose and connection to community through an authentic performance practice. She will be co-presenting with Darla Johnson. Her collaborative work I.L.O.T.H. was accepted for performance at the 2017 New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival. STUDENT ACCOLADES Students Lindsey Gerson and Lynson Alexander’s video dance pieces were selected for the Gala of the Dance Shorts College Film Festival at Arizona State University. ALUMNI ACCOLADES Rae Deanna Collins received the Dance Teacher of the Year Award for K-12 Dance Education at the TAHPERD (Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance) State Conference. 1 2 3 Ana Baer and Michelle Nance filming The Wall in New York City Kaysie S. Brown at the Austin based Creative Learning Initiative Texas State Strutters in Washington DC for the Presidential Inauguration 8 | January & February | College News JANUARY 20, 2017 Tammy Fife traveled with the Texas State Strutters to Washington DC for the Presidential Inauguration in January. [ 3] They performed several times while in Washington DC. They performed in the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center, outdoors at the World War II Memorial and at the Texas State Society Black Tie and Boots Gala. They finished the trip marching down Pennsylvania Avenue on national television in the Presidential Inaugural Parade and were one of only 40 groups selected out of over 2700 applicants. Tammy also facilitated Strutter Julianne Way’s piece from Choreographers’ Showcase performed for 300 high school seniors at Texas Dance Educators’ Association in Houston on January 7 and this was a wonderful recruiting opportunity for Strutters and the dance division. College of Fine Arts and Communication | 9