Discover the Stories Behind Dance: SUU Streams Acclaimed Lecture Series

Published: January 14, 2025 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 3 minutes

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Logo. The Dance Historian Is In.The Southern Utah University Dance program will once again offer the community a chance to engage with some of the foremost scholars in dance history through the streaming of The Dance Historian Is In lecture series, presented by The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. All sessions will take place at 11:00 a.m. in the Sharwan Smith Student Center Theater on SUU’s campus.

The spring 2025 lecture series is again presented in collaboration with Tiffany Patrick, Production and Outreach Coordinator at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The schedule includes the following sessions:

The Dance Historian Is In provides a unique opportunity for both students and the public to connect with contemporary dance historians and their groundbreaking research.

SUU Dance professor Danielle Lydia Sheather expressed her enthusiasm for continuing the partnership with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. “This is truly an opportunity to interface with an American legacy institution and current dance historians who are looking deeply at the framework of their research. To find this kind of programming in southern Utah is a one-of-a-kind experience.”

Last semester’s successful run of the lecture series drew interest from both the campus community and beyond, providing valuable insights into the world of dance history and scholarship. This semester’s sessions promise to be equally compelling, offering a deep dive into influential figures and movements within dance.

Professor Sheather further highlighted the importance of this collaboration for dance students at SUU, emphasizing the broader career possibilities available within the field, beyond performance. “Building and maintaining connections with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is an important aspect of the education that dance students receive at SUU. I truly believe that going beyond the curriculum to expose students to researchers working in the field in real time allows students to see a model of a future that is possible for them. Oftentimes, society believes that performing is the only profession a dance student might pursue, and while many of these researchers have had illustrious careers in dance performance, they have also maintained active research agendas, elevating the field beyond that limited scope. Further, this lecture series is accessible to anyone, not just a dance-specific audience. The lectures aren’t full of dance jargon that can ostracize the general public; instead, scholars invite us into their worlds through storytelling and engagement.”

The SUU Dance program invites students, faculty, staff, and community members to attend the sessions in person at the Sharwan Smith Student Center Theater. For those who prefer to watch remotely, registration links are available through SUU’s Events Calendar. For more information, please contact Danielle Lydia Sheather at daniellesheather@suu.edu.

 

About the College of Performing and Visual Arts

The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.

Tags: Dance Theatre Arts and Dance Community History College of Performing and Visual Arts

Contact Information:

Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu