Cynthia Williams
Cynthia J WilliamsProfessor of Dance and Movement StudiesChair, Dance and Movement Studies Department
Joined faculty in 1986
B.F.A. (Dance), University of Utah
B.S. (Psychology), University of Utah
M.F.A. (Dance), Connecticut College
Contact Information
Scholarly Interest
Ballets Russes choreographers and productions
Contemporary Dance History
Critical Response Process
Dance criticism
Dance choreography and lighting design
Gender issues in dance education and performance
Rommett Floor Barre
Somatic movement education: movement training for musicians
Research
Somatics training with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen
Courses Taught
Ballet and Modern Dance technique
Choreography
Dance History
Improvisation
Senior Seminar
Teaching Methods
Publications
Publications/Choreography & Lighting Design
Suite for Bill (2008)
Absent Presence (2008)
Ascension (2007)
Absent Presence (2006)
Into Flight (2004)
Canticle in Darkness and Light (2003)
Topography of Exile (2000)
Conference Presentations
"Fields of Play: Contact Improvisation and the First Year Seminar," June 2008 National Dance Education Organization Conference, Towson MD
"Making the Music Dance: Applying Somatic Movement Practices to Improve Music Performance" June, 2008 Invention-In Conference, SUNY College at Brockport
"Unequal Partners: Wo/Men in Dance" American Culture Association/Popular Culture Association Conference, April 2006 Boston, MA
Attitudes and Arabesques, panel respondent ACA/PCA, April 2006, Boston, MA
"Fokine's Forgotten Puppet" Society of Dance History Scholars, Gaucher College, June 2001Articles/Book Reviews/Dance Criticism
Ralph Lemon: Tree/Belief/Culture book review for RIDE 2005
Envisioning Dance on Film and Video, book review for RIDE 2003
Dancing Masters, book review for RIDE 2002
Beyond Criticism: Lerman's Critical Response Process in the Dance Composition Course article in JODE Fall 2002
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Dance Critics Association
National Dance Education Organization
New York State Danceforce
Society of Dance History Scholars
PERSONAL STATEMENT
My teaching, scholarship, and academic service are all strongly intertwined and inform and sustain each other. I am passionate about dance education in studio, stage, and classroom settings I maintain an active practice as choreographer and lighting designer I am committed to presenting professional dance, especially the work of women choreographers, and promoting the field of dance throughout my community, and to creating an environment where dance is recognized as an academic, artistic, and deeply human field of study.