News

The Dance Program recently presented five undergraduates with awards celebrating ongoing achievements in the discipline.   “Congratulations to all the awardees. Three of our Dance majors received awards: Joey Rauch for the Julia Wray Award; Alyssa Shi for the Clay Taliaferro Award; and Nicole Schwartz for the Dance Writing Award. In addition, I would like to acknowledge two students who have been actively involved with the Dance program: Sierra Putney, also for the Dance Writing Award; and Tia Smith for the Dance… read more about Dance Awards Five Students »

As the annual spring dance between fauna and flora plays out across campus each spring, the Dance Program prepares for a concert of its own: ChoreoLab. The annual performance showcases original works from both Dance faculty and Duke students. “This annual concert series provides an excellent opportunity to present and experiment with new choreography while introducing students to the behind-the-scenes mechanics of a concert performance,” explains Professor Michael Kliën. “We’re always excited to see the… read more about Dance Provides Ph.D. in Literature Student Space to Grow as an Artist and Scholar »

To strengthen the role of the arts at the university and to attract nationally and internationally known artists to the faculty, Duke should establish a new tenure track for visual and performing artists, a faculty committee reported to the Academic Council Thursday. The special pathway in the report would be part of the university’s normal appointments, promotions and tenure (APT) process and would allow for appointments (external or internal) of tenured full professor or professor of the practice to attract the most… read more about Academic Council Considers Tenure Pathway for Creative Artists »

In partnership with Directors of Academic Engagement, faculty and students from across Trinity programs took time this year to explain the value of research experiences for undergraduates and break down the elusive process of finding a research project. From Dance and English to Biology and Neuroscience, these faculty demonstrate the various types of research available to students in all areas of Duke while breaking down myths that research is out of reach. Iyun Ashani Harrison was one of the faculty who discussed… read more about Iyun Ashani Harrison: How Undergrads Can Engage in Research »

At Duke, Lihua Mo-Hunter (B.S. Neuroscience; minor Dance and Linguistics ’23) has been laser focused on a pre-med track. She’s found that her coursework in neuroscience has provided more niche topics to study: cellular and molecular neurobiology, effects of marijuana on the brain and even functional neuroanatomy — which allows her to work with brain specimens. Mo-Hunter drumming with Ugandan schoolchildren. This summer, Mo-Hunter worked with the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI)… read more about Dance Provides a Humanistic Outlook for a Future Neurosurgeon  »

The Duke Dance Program has welcomed its fourth MFA cohort to campus. Julia Piper and Angela Marina Arriaga are the latest multi-faceted artists to join the Master of Fine Arts in Dance: Embodied Interdisciplinary Praxis (MFAEIP) Program. The Duke Dance MFAEIP is a two-year, full-time terminal degree program dedicated to expanding dance and embodied knowledge across cultures, communities, and contexts. The program endorses dance as a transformative force in society and engages students whose research centers around… read more about MFA in Dance Welcomes its Fourth Cohort »

Sarah Wilbur's debut book Funding Bodies: Five Decades of Dance Making at the National Endowment for the Arts has been shortlisted by the Dance Studies Association for three annual book awards, each of which celebrates and acknowledges scholarly excellence in dance studies.  Wilbur is the Director of Graduate Studies (MFA in Dance: Embodied Interdisciplinary Praxis) and Associate Professor of the Practice of Dance Program, as well as Associate Professor of the Practice of… read more about Sarah Wilbur's "Funding Bodies" shortlisted for three book awards »

The Duke Dance Program MFA in Dance: Embodied Interdisciplinary Praxis (MFAEIP) presents an exciting two-part movement and creative practice intensive designed to support the artistic evolution of Duke graduate dance students and alumni. The six-week program consists of the inaugural MFAEIP Alumni Hothouse, running June 6-17, 2022, and The Arks Incubator, presented in collaboration with the American Dance Festival (ADF) and running June 20-July 15. Across six weeks, Duke graduate dance artists participate in morning… read more about Duke Dance Program launches summer intensives to support MFA artistic research »

Avery Lythcott-Haims (B.A. Dance and Cultural Anthropology ’23) is no stranger to dance. Dancing for 18 years, the rising senior has performed in, choreographed or managed nearly 10 productions at Duke — and shows no signs of stopping.  Her dedication and talents haven’t been lost on audiences or faculty, either. Recently, the Dance Program unanimously named her the recipient of the Clay Taliaferro Dance Award in recognition of her artistic and technical growth, and potential to become a professional dancer, teacher… read more about Summer Internship Reveals What's Behind the Curtain »