Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts



Students & Alumni

RECENT ACTIVITIES
  • Donna Vaughn (2006), is now dancing in the Broadway cast of Disney’s The Lion King.
  • The New York Times praised alumnus Burr Johnson’s (2009) “promising choreography” in a presentation of his own work at Danspace Project last spring. Johnson also performs with John Jasperse Company.
  • Alumni Samantha Speis (2005) and Hunter Carter (2006) performed with Urban Bush Women founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar at Danspace Project in New York City, in an evening titled Parallels, which also included an appearance by alumnus Monstah Black (formerly Reggie Crump). The event was favorably reviewed in The New York Times, Dance Magazine, and elsewhere.
  • Niall Jones (2009) and Felix Cruz (2010) performed in Ishmael Houston-Jones’s revival of THEM at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France in February, 2012.
  • Jason Somma (2003) continues his work with Jiri Kylian, screening films at the Rotterdam Danse Academy on “performance and new technology” during spring, 2012.
  • Katie Dean performed her work in “Movement Research at the Judson Church” in spring, 2012.
  • Niall Jones (2009) presented his work at Danspace Project (in which Courtney Cooke (2007) performed) in February, 2012, reviewed in The New York Times here.
  • Ray Eliot Schwartz (1992) continues to direct the Dance program at the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico. In May, 2012, he participated as an invited teacher and guest judge on the Mexican reality show Ópera Prima@elcolectivo, produced by Mexican National Public television and Canal 22.
  • Prosenjit Guy Kundu (1998) has continued to perform and choreograph internationally since his graduation from VCU. Most recently, Kundu performed with AR Rahman (Indian composer, musician, and singer) on The Journey Home World Tour 2010.
  • Stevie Dunham (2007) has been choreographing for and performing with Robinson Ballet in Bangor, ME since 2008. Dunham also currently serves on the board of directors for Robinson Ballet, and teaches in the School of Robinson Ballet. In 2008 Dunham completed the National Dance Institute Teaching Artist Program in New York City, and now teaches dance classes in 4 public schools in the community.
  • Rob Petres (1992) continues to run Dogtown Dance Theatre, a recently renovated performance venue in the Old Manchester neighborhood of Richmond. The Dogtown Arts Foundation works to develop partnerships with other arts organizations and programs benefiting the Manchester and greater Richmond communities.
  • Pam England’s (1986) latest work, Wake, was staged by Ground Zero Dance at Dogtown Dance Theatre in fall 2011. The Richmond Times-Dispatch called it “stunning,” and “a total theatrical experience that sets a new standard for contemporary theatrical dance in Richmond.”
  • Jordan Livermon (2003) is in her fifth year teaching for Richmond Ballet’s Minds in Motion outreach program.
  • Paige Horton (2005) completed her second year teaching modern dance technique for the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology in Petersburg, VA.
  • Leslie Kraus (2003) continues to perform with the New York based, increasingly acclaimed Kate Weare Company.
  • Reggie Crump (a.k.a. “Monstah Black”) continues to produce regular cabaret performances and multi-media events in New York City.
  • Rachel Hunter (2006) received her MFA in the School of Dance at Florida State University.
We love to hear from our Alumni!

Please place us on your mailing list and send press releases, postcards or any other updates to dance@vcu.edu or mail us at:

VCU Dance
P.O. Box 843007
Richmond VA 23284-3007

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