Alumni
Meet our graduates and read about the history of our program. Effort are being made to reach our to our most recent and past graduates. We would LOVE to hear from our dance majors to honor your past and current successes. Please see our Alumni Outreach Contact information at the bottom of the page to start the conversation on posting content about you to this page as well as social media. It's a work in progress but hope to hear from all of you!
Video Interviews with RWU Dance Performance Alumni
Erica Misilo '17
DeAnna Pelleccia '99
Giovani Pinto '17
Cayley Dorr '17
Seán Curran
Choreographer - Broadway, Opera, and the Seán Curran Company, NYC
"STOMP" - Original Cast NYC
Former Principal Dancer/Rehearsal Director - Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, NYC, Winner - New York Dance & Performance "Bessie" Award for Best Performer, www.SeanCurranCompany.com
Jacqui Squatriglia
Choreographer - "COYOTE UGLY", Country Music Television
Dancer/Actress/Personal Trainer, NYC
Jenny Rocha
Dancer/Choreographer - Rocha Dance Theatre, NYC
Dancer - Sean Curran Dance Co., Heidi Latsky Dance, NYC
www.JennyRocha.com
DeAnna Pellecchia
Choreographer/Dancer - Kinodance Company, Bennett Dance, Boston, Paula Josa Jones Works, Boston/NYC
www.DeannaPellecchia.com
Brandon Glasgow
Principal Dancer - PHILADANCO; Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Co.
Cathy Nicoli
Current, Associate Professor of Dance and Performance Studies, Roger Williams University.
Former Dance Faculty at Hampshire College and the Five College Dance Department, MA
Former Dance Faculty at Keene State College, NH.
Former Co-Director, Groundwerx Dance Theatre, RI
Heather Ahern
Dance Chair, West Virginia University
Choreographer/Actor/Dancer
Former Co-Director, Groundwerx Dance Theatre, RI
Christine Poland
Dancer, Managing Director, Production Assistant - Rocha Dance Theater, NYC
Dancer - Heidi Latsky, Monica Bill Barnes, Mary Fulham, Works/Laura Glenn
Keith Michael Johnson
Director/Performer Movement Theatre, Educational Programs & Family Comedy Variety Shows, touring New England
Kendra Jackson
Dancer, NYC
Dance Teacher in NYC public schools
Cristin Fagone
Dancer, Prometheus Dance, Boston
Film - Disney’s Underdog and The Education of Charlie Banks
Power Pilates Certified Instructor
Member, Screen Actors Guild
Shevaun Smythe Hiler
Dancer - Rocha Dance Theater, NYC
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Andrea Blesso
Dancer - Snappy Dance, Bennett Dance Company, Boston
Dancer - Turnpike Project, The Moving Laboratory, Falling Flight Project, EgoArt
Tara O’Con
Dancer - Stephen Koplowitz, and others, NYC
Manager/Internship Coordinator, Dance Theatre Workshop, NYC
Danielle DiVito
Dancer - Snappy Dance, Boston; Ellis Wood Dance, NYC
Fernando Maneca
Choreographer/Performance Artist, NYC
Theresa Scoggins McKeon
Founder, Principal and Vice President, TAGteach International system
Coaches teams of nationally competitive gymnasts
Beth Wheeler
Founder, Principal and Vice President, TAGteach International system
Owner and Director, A Dancer’s Dream, Inc., MA
Nadia Faramarzpour
Dancer, Massage Therapist, Boston
Della Grigsby
Stress Management Business ,TX - National workshops and Seminars
Peter Bramante
Executive Director, The Arts & Business Council of Rhode Island
Former Co-Director, Groundwerx Dance Theatre, RI
Sherie Seff
Casting Director, NYC
Bridgette Suner
Dancer/Choreographer/Teacher, FL
Jen Eakin
Dancer, NYC
Jill Jackson
Dancer/Public Relations, Boston, New England
Jim L’Ecuyer
Senior Producer at the Fox News Channel
Broadway Casts of "A View From The Bridge", "Shenandoah" (revival)
Bo Crowell
Director/Choreographer/Videographer - Los Angeles
Donna Meierdiercks
Arts Management and Development, London
Former Co-Director, Groundwerx Dance Theatre/Arts Management, RI
Clark Smith
Actor - New England
Teacher, High School, MA
Frank Raziano
Teacher, NYC
Former Dancer - Eleo Pomare Dance Co., Carol Conway Dance Co., NYC
The department of Dance/Performance Studies has long had a philosophy to develop highly trained, creatively active, and professionally oriented students.
In the early ‘70s, dance classes were developed to acquaint students with the art of dance, which also provided physical work on a campus that had, at that time, no athletic outlets for the student body. Classes drew large numbers and a broad range of men and women who found the dance experience challenging and exciting.
In 1978 a dance minor was offered, followed by an individualized major option. The Dance/Performance Studies major was open to students in 1988 by audition and the London Dance Component became an adjunct to the London Theatre Program the next year.
The program has participated in various regional and national festivals sponsored by the American College Dance Festival Association. At these festivals, dance departments from various areas across the country showcase works choreographed by students, guest artists, and faculty, adjudicated by a panel of noted professionals in the field. In 1982, the department participated in its first American College Dance Festival. The next year, Roger Williams was selected to perform at the prestigious National Festival Gala Concert at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. From across the country, there were only 9 works chosen from hundreds adjudicated and Roger Williams was one of the 9, an extraordinary accomplishment for a small program. The program has continued to be recognized with invitations to perform at the Regional and National Galas; students have received several scholarships and a Dance Magazine choreography nomination.
The Dance/Performance Studies area has distinguished itself regionally and nationally as a small, high-quality, unique program that challenges a student both artistically and intellectually with a curriculum having not only rich content but breadth and depth.
The program is different from the mainstream "generalist" approach of some university dance programs and has a strong, professionally based curriculum. A sound liberal arts environment strengthens the degree. The department offers a BA in Dance/Performance Studies, a Dance Minor, and a Core Dance Minor. The program offers the only Movement Theatre training within the context of a professional Dance curriculum.
