USM Dance

10/31/2024

It's OPENING NIGHT for RDC Concert A! Come see 6 new dance works, including dance education senior Seana Rains' work "To Be a Woman" which explores the struggles of being a woman and the perceptions of women as influenced by the idea of 'female rage'.

10/30/2024

Join USM dance for RDC Falls Concert A at 7pm this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

Senior Performance & Choreography major Mary Austin Conner’s work is an exploration of how combining competition jazz with historic jazz can entertain and educate an audience!

10/28/2024

Get your tickets now for RDC Fall Concert A! Link to tickets in profile.

Choreographed by senior dance education major Presley Thames, "Life's Course" is an exploration of life and the different journeys life may take you. It portrays the importance that no matter how hard life gets, there is always someone that you can turn to. You are never alone.

10/22/2024

AUDITION ALERT! Interested in becoming a dance major at USM? See usm.edu/dance to register for our High School Dance Day and Audition #1.

Join us for High School Dance Day on Friday, November 15, 2024 from 10am-3pm. This day is designed for sophomores in high school through college transfer students with an interest in dance as a profession! Current high school seniors & transfer students are eligible to audition for our program by attending this event and registering for the audition-only 3-4pm portion.

09/15/2024

Exciting week ahead as USM Dance majors kick off a dynamic guest artist residency with the incredible Professor (and USM Dance Alum!) Lawrence Jackson from George Mason University! 🦅Ready to learn, grow, and move to new heights!

09/06/2024

Thank you to Dr. M’bewe Escobar for your enlightening lecture today about Pearl Primus!

08/27/2024

USM Dance is back in session! Welcome new majors, and congrats on a great RDC audition dancers—this season is going to be great!

08/05/2024

The 2025 freshman application for admission is now open!

Apply to Southern Miss: bit.ly/3SymWaC

07/04/2024

The School of Performing and Visual Arts is hiring an Administrative Specialist- come work with us! https://usm.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=4189&site=1

04/30/2024

Returning students in Dance: Now is the time to prepare for Fall 2024!

☑️ Registering for fall classes
☑️ Applying for financial aid through FAFSA and the GO System

Returning students: Now is the time to prepare for Fall 2024!

-Register for fall classes
-Apply for financial aid through FAFSA and the GO System

04/27/2024

Choreographer Spotlight: Meg Brooker

Meg Brooker, Artistic Director of Duncan Dance South and School Director for SPVA, is staging Isadora Duncan's iconic "Waterstudy" on senior Emaleigh Ousterhout. "Emaleigh has been a joy to work with and is bringing detail and nuance to her work on this piece. It has been a delight coaching her and sharing this important work from modern dance history." Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) was an early modern dance artist famed for dancing with bare feet in silk tunics and known for her musicality and use of natural and Greek mythological imagery. As a Duncan dancer, Meg's performance background includes national venues such as Nashville’s Parthenon, Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies, and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, among others. For fifteen years (2005-2019), she traveled and performed extensively in Russia as a legacy Isadora Duncan dancer. Recent credits included featured interviews and dance performance for Season 2: Episode 5 of Io e Lei: Isadora Duncan for SkyArte (Italy).
www.duncandancesouth.org

Tonight is the last chance to come and watch the RDC concert! Join us at 7 to watch our amazing dancers! Tickets are in the bio!

04/26/2024

Alumni Spotlight: Lauren Guynes

Lauren has been a company member of the Marigny Opera Ballet in New Orleans for the past eight years. Her current roles include company manager, choreographer, and dancer. She has performed the works of USM's Repertory Dance Company, Hub Dance Collective, the many choreographers of the Marigny Opera Ballet, De La Soul Dance Company, and fellow choreographers throughout the Gulf Coast region, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City. She has created and presented her own work with the Marigny Opera Ballet, USM's Repertory Dance Company, Coast Dance Fest, Making Space NOLA, and in collaborative projects with New Orleans' musicians and filmmakers. In addition to her career in concert dance, Lauren works in the film industry where she has appeared in movies, television, and commercials for TNT, Netflix, Amazon, Google, VistaPrint, DSW, and VisitNOLA. She has also served as movement director and choreographer for Disney. Dance education has been a major part of her life, teaching dancers ranging from preschool all the way to adults, and recreational to professional level. Lauren has found a home among the artists in New Orleans, and she is grateful for each and every opportunity spent creating, collaborating, educating, and performing.

"The dance field is an extremely difficult career path. During my time at USM, I was able to cultivate a strong work ethic, start to develop who I am artistically, and strengthen my technical abilities. It is a rigorous program, but I realized that I absolutely cannot live without movement no matter how challenging it can be. I am human with strengths and weaknesses, and I learned how to navigate those in order to persevere in my dance journey. A solid foundation was laid for me at USM, and I have been able to build on that for the past eleven years. I understand that I will always be learning, growing, adapting, and changing. Dancing through life with an open mind and an open heart has served me well."

04/25/2024

Choreographer Spotlight: Sara Grace Duplessis

“growing pains” explores my journey & experience as a disabled dance artist. It is rooted in the beauty of bodily awareness, and the transmutation and transposition of movement. Through this dance I wanted to create movement that reflects myself as an artist, and the cycles of growth I go through dancing with an invisible and dynamic disability.

Join us on April 24 – April 27 at 7 pm in Studio 115 of the Theatre and Dance Building for our Spring Repertory Dance Company Concert! Choreography from the performance comes from our senior dance majors and faculty.

04/25/2024

Choreographer Spotlight: Sara Grace Duplessis

“for the girls!” is a celebration of femininity, individuality, and self-expression. We can’t wait to share this piece with audiences & hope that it inspires the ladies watching to embrace their own feminine power & thrive in their authenticity! 🌟

Join us on April 24 – April 27 at 7 pm in Studio 115 of the Theatre and Dance Building for our Spring Repertory Dance Company Concert! Choreography from the performance comes from our senior dance majors and faculty.

04/24/2024

Choreographer Spotlight: Seana Rains & Caitlyn Diamond

This dance, “Free as a Bird,” is about being unique as an individual and bringing your own authentic self with you wherever you go. Like birds, we can all travel together on the journey of life while being true to our own self. This piece will be performed Wednesday & Friday of the RDC concert!

Join us on April 24 – April 27 at 7 pm in Studio 115 of the Theatre and Dance Building for our Spring Repertory Dance Company Concert! Choreography from the performance comes from our senior dance majors and faculty.

04/23/2024

Choreographer Spotlight: Allison Riehl

“A Choir of Withering Dianthus” is an exploration of grief, capturing its various manifestations and the unique ways individuals navigate through it. It portrays the importance of support from others while acknowledging that ultimately, each person will be left to face their grief on their own."

Join us on April 24 – April 27 at 7 pm in Studio 115 of the Theatre and Dance Building for our Spring Repertory Dance Company Concert! Choreography from the performance comes from our senior dance majors and faculty.

04/22/2024

Alumni Spotlight: Megan Bradberry

Megan Bradberry is a dancer, choreographer, and dance filmmaker on the Mississippi coast. She earned her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Southern Mississippi as well as her BS in Psychology from Mississippi State University. Megan serves as the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Mississippi Dance Leader Alliance and is the Visual Coordinator for the Mississippi All-State Lions Band Colorguard and Dancers. She is certified in dance movement analysis and has held a position as a guest artist and lecturer for William Carey University Dance Program. She has taught ballet, musical theatre, and contemporary/modern classes and holds her certification in Elementary Labanotation. She works with and choreographs for various color guard and dance programs throughout the southern region.
Megan dances with a small company called 456. Her films To Wonder at the World Above the Erosion and Air Over New Skin have both been selected for international film festivals. Air Over New Skin was recently awarded Best No Budget Film and Best Female Directed Film for the Sea of Art Film Festival. It was featured in the Mississippi Outsiders Virtual Exhibit. Last fall, two of Megan's films and past inspirations and costumes were on display at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Arts Center in the Local Creatives Gallery. Megan loves to stay busy with creative projects and collaborations, all while cultivating an appreciation for art with her very own mini dancer.

"The dance program at USM is phenomenal at growing bold choreographers. Now that I am training as a movement judge, I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I got to assess and discuss choreographic elements as well as the thorough technical education. It has already proved valuable in my discourse with other instructors and choreographers seeking to improve their works in progress on a competitive level."

04/21/2024

Yesterday, several students participated in the Undergraduate Research Symposium that the Honors College and The Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research host on campus every year!

Grace Dugas, a junior performance and choreography major, presented her DCUR grant dance film. It was also shown later at the Creative Arts Showcase.

Emma Dunaway, a senior dance education major, presented on her time at the National Dance Education Organization in Denver last semester.

Seana Rains, a junior dance education major, showed her junior dance work titled, "Windows to the Soul." Caitlyn Diamond, Angelina Jones, and Presley Thames performed Seana's piece in the Creative Arts Showcase.

Emaleigh Ousterhout, a senior dance performance and choreography major, performed a new work titled "I Feel, You See." She performed this piece in the Creative Arts Showcase.

Caitlyn Diamond, a junior dance education major, showed her dance film titled, "Out of the Box" at the Creative Arts Showcase.

All students who presented in the Creative Arts Showcase received an award for their outstanding work in the arts and selection by jury for the Creative Arts Showcase! Congratulations to our students!

04/19/2024

Alumni Spotlight: Nijalon Jackson

Nijalon hails from Moss Point, MS, and now shares her passion for dance in Pascagoula, MS.
She holds a Bachelor's in Fine Arts in Dance Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and an Associate's Degree in Business Marketing Management from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Nijalon is the proud recipient of the 2022 Invest and Progress Grant from The BOSS Network and Sage Invests. She is the creative force behind The Dreamcatcher, an annual holiday dance production for the local children.
Her achievements include a feature in the Mississippi edition of Huami Magazine (Sept/Oct 2023) and acceptance into Our Village United, Inc. ELEVATE Mississippi program powered by W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
With over 20 years of dance experience, Nijalon's passion lies in inspiring and educating through movement, as reflected in her business motto, "Dream.Dance.Inspire."
She is committed to giving back to her community, offering exposure, education, and diverse cultural experiences through dance. Nijalon continues her dance journey to spread joy and create opportunities through the art of movement.

"Reflecting on my time at USM Dance, I embodied the essence of my business motto, Dream.Dance.Inspire. Attending USM and earning my degree in dance was a dream come true, one that I'm immensely proud of accomplishing. Throughout my journey, I absorbed invaluable knowledge and techniques from my peers, professors, and visiting artists. Their guidance and inspiration fueled my growth, leading to a life-changing experience. I'm grateful for the support and encouragement of my exceptional professors, who played a pivotal role in shaping my journey."

04/19/2024

Choreographer Spotlight: Lauren Soutullo

"in tandem" is a dance about needing one another and being together in a space. It explores the idea of coexisting and being parallel in different ways. The dancers are near each other the whole time which signifies needing each other as human beings, and quite literally needing each other for situations like being lifted or carried. The audience gets to decide for themselves how they perceive the movement, and that gives the space for more conversation. The experience of being injured while choreographing this dance gave me an edge that I was able to share with my dancers--I did not set it on them, but I made it for them.

Join us on April 24 – April 27 at 7 pm in Studio 115 of the Theatre and Dance Building for our Spring Repertory Dance Company Concert! Choreography from the performance comes from our senior dance majors and faculty.

04/17/2024

Choreographer Spotlight: Emaleigh Ousterhout

“My senior works are titled “I Feel, You See” and “Connections Through Our Consequences.” The two works include a solo on myself and a group piece. My works center around, very simply, the body. Body image, femininity, expectations, and stereotypes within and outside of the dance world. My dancers and I will all tell a different story through this common idea to create something impactful for the audience to experience together!”

Join us on April 24 – April 27 at 7 pm in Studio 115 of the Theatre and Dance Building for our Spring Repertory Dance Company Concert! Choreography from the performance comes from our senior dance majors and faculty.

04/16/2024

Choreographer Spotlight: Dr. Kelly Lester

Dr. Kelly Lester and Dr. Nicholas Ciraldo will share their collaboration of "Bicicleta de Baiano." Their piece, featuring live guitar performance by Dr. Ciraldo, accentuates the fluidity and structure of the minimalist composition. Come see this piece on Thursday or Saturday night of the dance concert.

Join us on April 24-April 27 at 7 pm in Studio 115 of the Theatre and Dance Building for our Spring Repertory Dance Company Concert! Choreography from the performance comes from our senior dance majors and faculty!

04/15/2024

Miranda Smith Compretta is the Owner and Director of the Arabesque School of Dance located in Bay St. Louis, MS. She is married and the mother of four children.

After graduating with Honors from the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.FA. in Dance Performance she founded the Bay High Steppers and introduced dance into the curriculum as a fine arts elective for Bay High School in Bay St. Louis, MS

Performing and choreography credits include:
-Dancing in the 1995 Super Bowl
-Choreographing for the Atlanta Falcons Dance Team, the Gulf Coast preliminary for the Miss Mississippi Pageant, MHSAA State Dance Team Hip Hop State Champion Routine, and the award-winning choreography for the Arabesque Dance Company Competition team
-Captain of the Dixie Darlings Dance team at the University of Southern Mississippi
-25 years of teaching experience and 16 as Director of the Arabesque School of Dance

"Southern, Miss dance program not only develops skilled dancers but more importantly, creates gifted artists."

04/13/2024

Alumni Spotlight: Angela Blackledge

Angela shares one thing that USM Dance professionals gave her, a “PASSION FOR DANCE AND THE ARTS!”

Angela Blackledge is recently retired as Director of Dance at The Bolles School after 29 years. She received her B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Southern Mississippi and did her graduate work at the University of Utah, with additional graduate studies at Columbia University, Oklahoma City University, and the University of Oklahoma. Angela piloted new dance programs in Jacksonville Florida at Landon Middle School for the Arts, where she was Director of Dance and The Bolles School, where she was Director of Dance and and Director of Bolles Repertory Dance Theatre. Angela became a member of Actors Equity Association years ago. Some of her performing, Choreographer, Director credits include Dancer/Assistant Choreographer in the West Coast production of Tommy Tunes, "My One and Only", starring Arthur Duncan, the Aaron Spelling Starfish Productions, "Safe Harbor", and performed in and choreographed over 60 musicals and union productions throughout the United States. Angela has served as dance professor at major universities since 1979. She has served as visiting committee member for the Florida Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, has taught arts education workshops for F.A.T.E. Drama Conferences, Dance Masters California Chapter, Jacksonville Cultural Arts Council, Florida Dance Festival, and taught for the 1994 National Dance Association convention in Denver Colorado. Angela is the recipient of the 1991 Folio Award for Best Choreography for Jacksonville, Florida, has been awarded two Florida Times-Union/Cultural Arts Council Grants, The Ottenstroer Grant to teach and create a documentary/movie in South Africa. Angela is a member of Actors Equity Association, National Dance Association, the Florida Dance Association, is a Certified Personal Trainer, and a member of American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Angela has also recently completed a new/updated version one the "Group Fitness" Certification as Contributing Author. Angela has also been guest choreographer for Bob Mackie, Pearl Bailey, Marie Osmond, and Dinah Shore.
Currently Angela and her family are creating a unique place: Dancing Dog Farms. This is a very special place in Ellijay Ga. A 78 acre mountainous farm loaded with beauty and love for the environment, mountains, vacation cabins, outdoor activities, and an outdoor Barn Theatre coming soon.
Www.dancingdogfarmsga.com