Our Alumni – School of Dance

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UA Dance BFA Alumni

The following list is compiled of various types of employment that the UA School of Dance Alumni were placed in after their completion of a BFA degree. The list begins with the most recent and current running contracts along with other noted contracts fulfilled by former BFA graduates.

Ballet Companies

Ballet Nebraska
Rochester Ballet, NY
Florida Dance Theater
James Sewell Ballet
Ballet Tucson, AZ
Ballet Nouveau/Wonderbound, Denver, Co
California Ballet
City Ballet of San Diego, CA
Stadttheater Bremerhaven, Germany
John C. Art Ballet, Orange County, CA
Joffrey II, Chicago, IL & Suzanne Farrell Ballet
Smuin Ballet, San Francisco, CA
Grupo Corpo in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Ballet Hispanico II
Nevada Ballet Theatre
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Las Vegas Ballet, NV
Ballet Austin, TX
Houston Ballet, TX
American Ballet Theatre, NYC & Washington Ballet, DC

Modern, Contemporary & Jazz Companies

Giordano Dance Chicago
Giordano II, Chicago, IL
Limón Dance Company, NYC
Eisenhower Dance, Detroit, MI
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Paul Taylor II, NYC
Royal Flux, Los Angeles,CA
Larry Keigwin + Co., New York, NY
Lar Lubovitch Dance Company , NYC
Odyssey Dance Theatre, Salt Lake City, UT
Lehrer Dance, Buffalo, NY
BodyVox, Portland, OR
DanceWorks Chicago
Thodos Dance Chicago
The Big Muddy Dance Company, St. Louis, MO
BODYTRAFFIC, Los Angeles, CA,
Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance, Los Angeles, CA
Koresh, Philadelphia, PA
Company E, Washington, DC
LA Contemporary Dance Company
Hubbard St II, Chicago

Broadway /Touring Shows

An American In Paris
An American In Paris (Paris, France production)
West Side Story
Cats, Wicked, Bring It On
Billy Elliot
Hairspray
Elf, The Musical
Phantom of the Opera, Las Vegas (dancer /rehearsal director)
Radio City Rockettes (NYC cast)
Movin’ Out

Cirque du Soleil Productions

Mystère (Las Vegas)
The Beatles LOVE (Las Vegas)
Elvis (Las Vegas )
Le Rev (Las Vegas)
Cirque du Soleil /Toyko

Las Vegas Shows

Jubilee
Steve Wynn’s Show Stoppers
The Donny & Marie Show, Las Vegas

Cruiselines

Numerous graduates each year have contracts with:
Royal Caribbean (Including the Broadway production of Chicago)
Stiletto Entertainment
Norwegian Cruise Line
Holland America
Disney Cruise Line

Vocal Artists

Britney Spears (Las Vegas & world tour)
Ricky Martin (world tour)
Celine Dion ( Las Vegas show & world tour)

Professional Talent Agencies

Numerous graduates each year are represented by:
McDonald Selznick & Associates (MSA), LA & NYC
Bloch, LA & NYC
Clear Talent, LA
Go 2 Talent, LA

Other

Spamalot /Palace Theatre, New Hampshire
National commercial for Nike
Barbie Live World Tour
The Lido, Paris, France
Tokyo Disney
St. Louis Muni Opera

UA Dance MFA Alumni

The following list is a sample of various types of employment that the UA School of Dance Alumni achieved after their completion of an MFA degree.

Universities and Colleges

Austin Peay State University- Adjunct Instructor
Brenau University- Affiliate Professor in Dance
Brigham Young University- Adjunct Faculty
California State, CA – Associate Professor
College of Dupage- Faculty
Creighton University- Guest Choreographer
East Carolina University- Associate Professor
Kansas State University- Associate Professor/Director of Dance
Messiah College- Assistant Professor
Pima Community College- Faculty
Radford University- Assistant Professor, Online Instructor
Salve Regina University- Assistant Professor
Santa Barbara College- Faculty
Southeastern MO State University- Associate Professor, Instructor, Dance Coordinator
University of Arizona- Faculty
University of Buffalo- Instructor
University of Nebraska- Artist in Residence
Wichita State University- Professor/Director of Dance

Dance Schools and K-12

Arcadia High School, AZ – Faculty/ Dance Teacher
Ballet Conservatory of Dance, Music and Art, AZ – Executive Artistic Director, Modern Dance Instructor, Resident Choreographer
Crossing Dance Ministries, Calgary – Artistic Director
Dance Wise for Parkinsons, KY – Founder/Director
Glass House Dance, WA – Owner/Director
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre and Youth Performance Division, KY
Joffrey Ballet School, NY – Faculty
Kern Dance Alliance, CA – President
Louisville Ballet School, KY – Director
Motor City Dance Factory, MI – Faculty
Open Minds Through the Arts, AZ – Program Director
San Marino Dance Academy, CA -Faculty

Dance Companies

Artifact Dance Project, AZ – Artistic Director
Corps Bara Dance Theater, Calgary – Faculty
Deborah Birrane Dance, WA – Founder, Choreographer, Soloist
Mannakin Theatre and Dance, CA – Artistic Director
Rosa Company – Faculty
Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, CA – Rehearsal Director

People

Facebook

Announcement // To Our Dance Majors, Grads, and your Families- Please visit our new School of Dance COVID-19 Information webpage to read our latest announcement, “Fall 2020: What to Expect as a Dance BFA/MFA Student.”
dance.arizona.edu/news-events/covid-19-info/ ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago

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Comment on Facebook Announcement // To ...

University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins (@UArizonaPres) confirmed today that the fall semester will begin as scheduled one month from tomorrow, on Aug. 24, with a mix of in-person and remote instruction. news.arizona.edu/story/uarizona-president-outlines-fall-return-campus
// PLEASE NOTE // UA Dance will follow up with information that is more specific to our operation on Friday, July 24. Stay tuned! ... See MoreSee Less

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Dear Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase Community,

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the trajectory of COVID-19 in the coming months, we have made the difficult decision to postpone Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase 2020.

We are closely following trends in case numbers and health guidelines. The Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase may be rescheduled for Spring 2021. We will continue to send updates as we know more about AJDS future dates.

With deep appreciation & gratitude for all of our AJDS participants, we look forward to our next event.
.
Photo by Ed Flores featuring UA Dance Ensemble member Hayley Meier. ... See MoreSee Less

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Comment on Facebook Dear Arizona Jazz ...

Smart call, but sad.

How about audition dates (for fall 2021 admission)? That audition dates usually coincides with the Jazz Showcase, right?

Thx for info, look forward to Spring 2021. Will there be any fall 2020 performances?

UA Dance stands in solidarity with our artists of color. We strive to create a safe space for black artists and members of our community to thrive. We are committed to listening, improving, and holding space for the important conversations that are needed and overdue. Black Lives Matter.
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2 months ago

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Comment on Facebook UA Dance stands in ...

>>> Faculty Highlight <<<
Join us in wishing a happy retirement to Associate Professor AMY ERNST!

Ms. Ernst’s career began as a featured dancer, touring internationally with the Lewitzky dance company for over a decade. After her work with the company, Amy was hired by the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Inglewood, California as a physical therapist for three and a half years. In 1995, after receiving her MFA in dance from the University of Washington-Seattle and teaching at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ms. Ernst joined the UA School of Dance faculty. Amy has shared her insight and wisdom of dance with generations of young artists, teaching all levels of Modern Dance Technique and Choreography, Dance Injury Prevention, Dance Kinesiology, and Biomechanics for Dance.

During her time at the University of Arizona, Amy was a teacher, a choreographer, a mentor, a friend, and most importantly, family.
Congratulations Amy! We can’t thank you enough! 💗

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2 months ago

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Comment on Facebook >>> Faculty ...

Thank you for everything Amy. Happy retirement and congratulations! Good luck on everything the future has in store for you.

Happy retirement Amy! Congratulations! Thank you for being you. Best of luck on all of your new advatures that await.

Thank you for being a wonderful teacher, choreographer and mentor. Congratulations on your retirement. ❤️

Aww happy retirement Amy!!! Thank you for everything !!! Congrats and wish you only the best !! Xoxoxo

Happy retirement Amy!! Thank you for all you put into the UofA dance program, it truly was a special place for me personally because of you! Best of luck on all your new adventures ahead!! ❤️

Happy retirement Amy! You have given so much into each student, class, and day. It’s time for you to give to yourself. Thank you for inspiring us and made myself who I am with your care and guidance. I hope this time to yourself repays you all that you’ve given. 💕

Happy Retirement, Amy!! You've been an inspiration to so many 💖

Such a fabulous photograph, Amy! Talent, Mentorship, Wisdom, YES!

Brava Amy, blessings for a wonderful retirement as you join the rest of us dancing "babies."

Happy retirement congradulations

Thank you for your sincere heart Amy! You gave so much to so many and we took it in thousands of directions. I'll never forget you. Sending love and prayers to you always. Congratulations!!! 😊❤🙏

Congrats! You made it!

A true pleasure to be able to work with Ms Ernst these past six years. All the best for the travels ahead.

All the Best! It was great working with you....

Amy, you forever touched my heart, my soul and my artistry. Then you and Godspeed 💖

Congratulations!!

Congratulations!

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~Introducing...The Class of 2020~

Today we celebrate The UA School of Dance Graduating Class of 2020. From the countless hours spent in the studio to all of your shining moments on stage, you each have worked so hard and triumphed in the face of adversity. Today, WE CELEBRATE YOU!
We encourage everyone to visit graduation.cfa.arizona.edu to partake in the College of Fine Arts virtual ceremony tonight at 4:00 pm PDT (7:00 pm EDT). ... See MoreSee Less

3 months ago