Michelle Iklé
Michelle E IkléAssociate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies
Joined faculty in 1995
M.F.A., Dance Science; Somatics; Dance Performance. SUNY College at Brockport
B.A., Dance Teaching and Performance; SUNY at Buffalo
RSMT (Registered Somatic Movement Therapist) with ISMETA (International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association)
Certified Instructor: Eastwest Institute for Yoga, Dance and Movement Studies
Co-Director: Eastwest Institute for Yoga, Dance and Movement Studies
Contact Information
Scholarly Interest
Shin Somatics®
Integrative somatic pedagogies for dance training
Jazz and modern dance choreography and performance
Movement Science and Somatic Education for everyBODY
Contemporary Partnering and performance techniques
Teaching Experience
Teaching at Hobart and William Smith Colleges since 1995.
Invited guest artist and teacher for somatic jazz pedagogy, modern dance, partnering techniques, and Shin Somatics methods. Offer Shin Somatics certification workshops each year. Regularly present master classes and workshops at national dance conferences and festivals.
Research
Selected Conference Presentations/Professional Affiliations: (Since 2008)
Eastwest Somatics Conference; Utah (2019)
Presenter: Somatic Kinesiology: Feet as Foundation in Contact Repatterning
Dance Science and Somatics Educators Conference (DSSE); Buffalo, NY (2018)
Panelist: Somatic Integration in the Technique Class: (Jazz Pedagogy)
Somatic Conference and Performance Festival (Bill Evans)
Presenter: Shin Somatics® Intuitive Dances. (2019, 2018)
Presenter: Intermediate Jazz/Somatic Dance. (2017) Geneva, NY
Presenter: Somatojazzology. Geneva, NY (2016), Franklin, MA (2015)
Teaching Jazz Symposium. Dallas, Texas
Presenter: Jazz Pedagogy Workshop (2016)
Presenter: Jazz Technique/Somatic Pedagogy (2014)
Invention-In International Somatic Conference: Brockport, NY (2008)
Presenter: Developing a Somatic Pedagogy for Jazz Dance Technique
Presenter: Constructing and Deconstructing Concert Dance Somatically: Memory Dances.
National Dance Education Organization Conferences (NDEO)
Invited Presenter: NDEO Special Topics Jazz Conference (2016). Newport, RI, Somatic Jazz Pedagogy
Presenter: The Politics of Fusion in Jazz Dance Technique. Towson, MD (2008)
MAD (Movement and Dance) Weekend. Nazareth College
Presenter: Intermediate Jazz through Somatic Practices; Rochester, NY (2017)
American College Dance Festival Association (ACDA)
Master classes taught: Intermediate Jazz; Intuitive Dances; Finding Balance; Integrated Bodywork; Dance Science and Somatics Panel
Faculty Concert Choreography/Performance:
Tempted (solo); Mercyhurst College (2010)
wrought (solo); SUNY Brockport (2008)
Adjudicated Choreography:
Landscapes: Explorations with fabric and Glass; Mercyhurst College (2010)
Pluck from the Memory a Rooted Sorrow; SUNY Brockport (2008)
Scholarship: Choreography and Performance
Commissioned Works:
Parallel Universes and The Race. Contemporary solo and duet commissioned by The Society for New Music’s Vision of Sound series; Upstate NY tour. (2015-16)
Pluck from the Memory a Rooted Sorrow (2010). Contemporary quartet. Commissioned by Wells College. Two-term guest artist residency. The piece was performed in the Wells College Faculty Dance Concert. (2010)
Crossing Ground (2007). This contemporary jazz ensemble piece was commissioned by Middle Tennessee State University. Original score created and performed live by Percussionist David Walker for MTSU Dance Theatre’s Fall Dance Concert. (2007)
wrought (2003). This modern ensemble piece was commissioned for Shelter Repertory Dance Theatre’s A Pure White Room tour with performances in Wisconsin, New York, and Illinois. (2003)
Peer Reviewed and Selected Choreography/Performance:
Tidbits (contemporary jazz solo)
Performed in Moving Landsapes; Ithaca, NY (2018)
Tidal Space, Elemental Time (duet). Co-created with Sondra Fraleigh and Amy Bush.
Eastwest Lucky 7’s Conference; Zion, Utah (2017)
Somatics Conference and Performance Festival; Geneva, NY (2017)
Moving Landscapes; Ithaca, NY (2017)
Parallel Universes (duet)
Somatics Conference and Performance Festival (2016)
Eastwest International Conference in Zion, Utah (2015)
Arts Thrive. CRS Barn. Ithaca, NY
Multi-task-HER (ensemble). Present Tense and Friends. Rochester Fringe Festival (2013)
wrought (solo)
Rochester Contemporary Dance Collective, Rochester, NY (2007)
Revisited Brockport AlumniDance Concert. New York, NY (2008)
Invention-In International Somatic Conference; Brockport, NY (2008)
Finger Lakes Dance! Geneva, NY (2008)
Pluck from a Memory a Rooted Sorrow (contemporary ensemble)
Invention-In International Somatic Conference; Brockport, NY (2008)
Other Recent Performances:
I Don’t Like Either Candidate. Created by Donna Davenport for The Reckoning Night of the Missing Vote. Interactive Art Installations by the Artists Coalition for Change Together (ACCT); Rochester, NY (2018)
Everyone’s Delicious choreographed by Anne Harris Wilcox. Present Tense Dance Company for National Water Dances; Rochester, NY (2018)
Taking Turns. Site-specific collaborative arts event developed by Kristen Merritt for the Bare Bones Café series. Rockwell Museum; Corning, NY (2018)
Courses Taught
Beginning through Advanced Modern Dance Techniques; Beginning through Advanced Jazz Techniques; Beginning through Advanced Ballet Techniques; Somatics; First Year Seminar: Knowing Bodies; Senior Seminar: Advanced Topics; Dance Ensemble (Repertory); Introduction to Dance: Theory and Practice (Dance Appreciation); Body and Self; Anatomy and Kinesiology; Movement for Athletes; Mind, Body, Performance; and Independent Studies in Movement Science, Movement Theories, and Tap dance.
Publications
Commissioned Works:
Parallel Universes and The Race . Contemporary solo and duet commissioned
by The Society for New Music’s Vision of Sound series; Upstate NY tour. (2015-16)
Pluck from the Memory a Rooted Sorrow (2010). Contemporary quartet.
Commissioned by Wells College. Two-term guest artist residency.
The piece was performed in the Wells College Faculty Dance Concert. (2010)
Crossing Ground (2007). This contemporary jazz ensemble piece was commissioned by
Middle Tennessee State University. Original score created and performed live by
Percussionist David Walker for MTSU Dance Theatre’s Fall Dance Concert. (2007)
wrought (2003). This modern ensemble piece was commissioned for Shelter Repertory
Dance Theatre’s A Pure White Room tour with performances in Wisconsin, New York,
and Illinois. (2003)
Peer Reviewed and Selected Choreography/Performance:
Tidbits (contemporary jazz solo)
Performed in Moving Landsapes ; Ithaca, NY (2018)
Tidal Space, Elemental Time (duet). Co-created with Sondra Fraleigh and Amy Bush.
Eastwest Lucky 7’s Conference ; Zion, Utah (2017)
Somatics Conference and Performance Festival; Geneva, NY (2017)
Moving Landscapes ; Ithaca, NY (2017)
Parallel Universes (duet)
Somatics Conference and Performance Festival (2016)
Eastwest International Conference in Zion, Utah (2015)
Arts Thrive. CRS Barn. Ithaca, NY
Multi-task-HER (ensemble) . Present Tense and Friends. Rochester Fringe Festival (2013)
wrought (solo)
Rochester Contemporary Dance Collective, Rochester, NY (2007)
Revisited Brockport AlumniDance Concert. New York, NY (2008)
Invention-In International Somatic Conference; Brockport, NY (2008)
Finger Lakes Dance! Geneva, NY (2008)
Pluck from a Memory a Rooted Sorrow (contemporary ensemble)
Invention-In International Somatic Conference; Brockport, NY (2008)
Other Recent Performances:
I Don’t Like Either Candidate. Created by Donna Davenport for The Reckoning Night of the
Missing Vote. Interactive Art Installations by the Artists Coalition for Change Together
(ACCT); Rochester, NY (2018)
Everyone’s Delicious choreographed by Anne Harris Wilcox. Present Tense Dance Company
for National Water Dances; Rochester, NY (2018)
Taking Turns. Site-specific collaborative arts event developed by Kristen Merritt for the Bare
Bones Café series. Rockwell Museum; Corning, NY (2018)
Other Choreography:
Faculty Dance Concert (Hobart and William Smith Colleges); Geneva, NY
Jazzed about Art (2020–work-in-progress); jazz ensemble
iLife (2019); contemporary ensemble
Holding Patterns (2017); contemporary ensemble
Landscapes: Explorations with fabric and Glass (2016); contemporary ensemble
The Social Network. (2015); jazz ensemble
Murmurations (2014); contemporary ensemble
The Hats Women Wear (2013); contemporary ensemble In Blue (2011); contemporary ensemble.
It Goes Without Saying (2010); contemporary ensemble
Tempted (2009); contemporary theatrical solo.
Landscapes: Explorations with fabric and Glass (2009); contemporary ensemble
Our story begins… (2008); contemporary ensemble
Crossing Ground (2007); contemporary jazz ensemble
wrought (2006); contemporary solo
Pluck from the Memory a Rooted Sorrow (2006); quartet
After Dark (2005, 2000); traditional jazz ensemble
Intersections (2004); modern dance ensemble
wrought (2003); modern dance ensemble
Kaleidoscope (II) (2001); contemporary jazz ensemble
Footnotes (2001); a capella tap ensemble
Natsu (2000); contemporary pointe quartet
Serendipity (1999); contemporary ballet ensemble
...Ahhh (1998); modern/jazz/tap ensemble
watercolors (1998); contemporary pointe ensemble
Kaleidoscope (1997); jazz ensemble
Fiesta (1997); ensemble
Jewels (1997); classical ballet ensemble
Leaves (1996); contemporary pointe ensemble
Journey into Flight (1996); contemporary ballet ensemble
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Eastwest Institute for Yoga, Dance, and Movement Studies; Director and Certified Instructor
ISMETA (International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association); RSMT
National Dance Education Association (NDEO)