Background

.

Education

        • PhD Candidate, Sketching Creativity Support Tools: Designing for Choreographic Process, Simon Fraser University, In Progress: Expected Completion Summer 2016.
        • MSc, Computer-Aided Choreographic Process, Simon Fraser University, 2011. Exploring Creative Decision-Making in Choreographic Practice: A Phenomenological Study of Situated Cognition
        • BFA, Dance, University of Illinois at Urbana/ Champaign, 2005.
        • Certificate in University Teaching and Learning, April 2012
        • Instructional Skills Workshop Certificate, February 2012
        • Laban Movement Analyst Certification, Expected Summer 2016
        • Alexander Technique Certification, Expected Spring 2016

Work History

Illinois State University’s Arts Technology Program:   http://finearts.illinoisstate.edu/arts_tech/

  • Assistant Professor, 2015-Current

Teaches courses in Computer Programming for Creatives, Design and Aesthetic Issues in Arts Technology, Game Narratives, Web Design and Interactive Installations.

Arts Technology students learn the fundamentals of art, music, and theatre along with the theory and practice of digital and interactive media. Students work with artists, designers, and musicians who are experts in the latest technology and practices in their field. The program provides a broad and flexible curriculum designed to keep students current with industry trends and developments.

New Small Logo

MovingStories Partnership:   movingstories.ca

  • Research Assistant, 2012-2015
  • Project Manager, 2012- 2013, Associate Project Manager 2014-2015

MovingStories is an interdisciplinary, collaborative research partnership leading to the design and application of more richly articulated human movement knowledge within digital technology interaction. This partnership focuses on designing digital tools for movement, meaning and interaction investigated through the intersection of three unique domains: Laban Movement Analysis, digital interaction technologies, and social and cultural applications and outcomes.

ISEA2015: The 21st Symposium for Electronic Art: http://www.isea2015.org

  • Academic Symposium Production Manager, 2014-2015

ISEA is one of the world’s most prominent international arts and technology events, bringing together scholarly, artistic, and scientific domains in an interdisciplinary discussion and showcase of creative productions applying new technologies in art, interactivity, and electronic and digital media. The event annually brings together artists, designers, academics, technologists, scientists, and general audience in the thousands. The symposium consists of a peer reviewed conference, a series of exhibitions, and various partner events—from large scale interactive artwork in public space to cutting edge electronic music performance.

Sessional Instructor, School of Interactive Arts + Technology, Simon Fraser University, Summer Terms 2012/ 2013.

  • IAT103W ‘Design Communication and Collaboration’

Teaching Assistant, School of Interactive Arts + Technology, Simon Fraser University, 2009 – 2012.

  • IAT 405 ‘Capstone: Performance & Technology’
  • IAT 405 ‘Capstone: Design Studio II’
  • IAT 403 Capstone Peer Mentor (Design)
  • IAT222 ‘Interactive Arts’
  • IAT202 ‘New Media Images
  • IAT103W ‘Design Communication and Collaboration’
  • IAT100 ‘Digital Image Design’

Teaching Assistant, School of Contemporary Arts, Simon Fraser University, 2010.

  • FPA227 ‘Dance History’

Typographic Entanglement Project, 2009-2010

  • Research Assistant

This project represents a continuing exploration of the role of kinetic typography in live performance. Part of a research project funded by SSHRC, this research explores the relationship between typographic “characters” and dancers that culminated to a public performance. Through the use of near-infrared tracking systems, the dancers are given a measure of control over the movement of words, influencing meaning through motion.

Freelance Dancer and Choreographer, New York City, New York, 2007-2009

Freelance Theatrical Technician, New York City, New York, 2007-2009

Freelance Dancer and Choreographer, Auckland, New Zealand, 2005-2007

Skills

  • Research Research Design, Ethics, Qualitative Methodologies, Grantwriting, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Project Management, Conference Organization and Management
  • Teaching Research Skills, Design Communication, Creative Design Process, Interactive Arts, Dance History, Video Editing, Interactive Performance, Dance For The Camera, Production For Dance (Lighting Design, Costuming, Set Design, Stage Management)
  • Programming Processing, Java, Isadora, Max/MSP/Jitter
  • Software Microsoft Suite: Office/ Excel/ Powerpoint/ Outlook, Adobe Illustrator/ Photoshop/ Premier/ Flash, Final Cut Pro, Teamlab, Latex, Tableau, Audacity
  • Movement Choreography, Contemporary Techniques, Ballet, Contact Improvisation, Aerial Dance, Anatomy and Kinesiology, Yoga, Alexander Technique, Laban Movement Analysis
  • Production Lighting Design, Electrics, Stage Management, Sound, Carpentry, Rigging

Movement Training

Modern | Contemporary:                                                                                    

  • Compagnie  Marie Chouinard (CA), Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals with Sara Hook and Cheryl Prophet (US/CA), Afro/ Caribbean with Cynthia Oliver, Taylor with Renee Wadleigh, Nikolais with Sara Hook, Cunningham Technique with Robert Wood and Gaga with Saar Harari. David Dorfman, Trisha Brown and Elizabeth Streb Techniques (US)

Ballet:

  • RAD and Alexander- Based Techniques with Luc Vanier and Cynthia Pipkin-Doyle (US)

Improvisation and Contact Improvisation:

  • Studied with Chris Aitken (US), Olive Bieringa (US/NZ), Alys Longley (NZ) and Kristian Larsen (NZ)

Creative Movement, Experimental Movement and Teaching Techniques:

  • Studied with Rebecca Nettle-Fiol, Jeff Glassman and Elizabeth Johnson (US)

Somatic Techniques:

  • Alexander Technique with Luc Vanier, Rebecca Nettle-Fiol, Gabrielle Minnes-Brandes, Marta Hunter, Daria Okugawa and Andrew McCann, Feldenkrais with Catrina Choate, Laban Movement Analysis with Sarah Hook, Cheryl Prophey, Karen Bradley and Karen Studd and Vinyasa Yoga with Maria Francisca Silva (US)

Choreography:

  • Studied with Cynthia Oliver, Luc Vanier and Sara Hook (US)

Jazz and Tap Techniques:

  • Studied with Cathy Young and Cynthia Pipkin-Doyle (US)