ELGIE GAYNELL SHERROD, Ed.D. [email protected] 2960 Whirlaway Trail, Tallahassee 32309 850.766.1310 (Cellular)

PROFILE: • Dance Educator and Arts Administrator with extensive experience in dance studies initiatives, curriculum design and staff development. • Fulbright-Hayes Scholar. • Temple University Alumni Fellow – 2007 • Experienced and versatile teacher of university level dance theory and technique courses, and dance education for elementary and secondary school instruction. • Planned and implemented the New York City Department of Education Dance Institute, a professional training model for dance educators and teaching artists. • Successful grant writer – Awarded DANA Foundation Grant – 2002. • Community Arts Advocate/Activist – organize and work with schools and community-based arts programs to impact learning and change communities. • Accomplished performer; trained in Dunham, Horton, West African and African- derived dance forms, ballet, jazz and contemporary (modern) dance techniques.

EDUCATION:

1998 TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, , Pennsylvania Doctorate of Education/Pedagogy, January 1998 Major: Dance Education – Pedagogic Research

1991 TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Masters of Education, August 1991 Major: Dance Education – Curriculum Theory/Design

1979 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON, Madison, Wisconsin Bachelors of Arts and Science, August 1979 Major: Psychology – Behavioral

East High School, Buffalo, New York Major: Math and Science – Honors

PEDAGOGICAL EXPERIENCE:

2004-Present Assistant Professor, Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida: teach dance theory, composition, dance education and studio courses; directs student performance ensemble, Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre; administers the dance certification program at FAMU; sits on the MANNC Council at Florida State University representing the FAMU community interest for celebrated dance artists, events and performances.

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2000-2003 Director of Dance Pedagogy, New York City Department of Education, New York, New York. Directed and guided the Project ARTS initiative to develop curricula and educational programs in dance education in New York City public schools: designed and implemented professional development opportunities for dance educators, classroom teachers and administrators; designed curricular materials for prek-12th grade dance education; advised school district leaders; established linkages between schools and cultural arts organizations; and wrote grants and raised funding for city-wide dance initiatives.

2000-03 Director, New York City Department of Education Dance Institute: Based on the Model, conceived and implemented intensive teacher training model in dance education for educators and teaching artists. The 30-hour course is aligned to the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts, New York State Standards for Professional Development, and offers G credit and New Teacher Credit differentials.

2002-2003 Adjunct Professor, New York University (NYU), New York, New York. Teach dance education courses in the Dance Education program at NYU; teach graduate and undergraduate dance education majors.

1999-2000 Assistant Professor, Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida: taught dance theory and studio courses, directed student performance ensemble, Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre and made presentations as interdisciplinary forums with the Psychology and African American Studies departments. Was brought in to assist in the development and implementation of a Bachelor of Science in Dance Education degree program.

1995-1998/00 Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track, Music, Dance and Theatre Department, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, New Jersey; Coordinator of the Dance Program, taught dance theory and studio and courses of all levels; directed dance concerts and guest artists series; advised dance minors; served on university committees; designed and implemented five-year plan to expand the dance minor’s program in performance, and to develop a dance education track linked with the Early Childhood Education degree program

1998-1999 Director, Urban Bush Women/Florida State University (UBW/FSU) Summer Dance Institute, Tallahassee, Florida; Developed and implemented curriculum for the institute and organized community outreach programs that bridge the aims of the Institute with those of the larger community.

1991-1995 Future Faculty Fellow, Dance Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; University fellowship recipient for graduate studies; taught undergraduate level II and III dance technique and theory courses, administrative aide for special events, and assisted in dance pedagogical research.

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1990-1991 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Dance Department, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; taught undergraduate level I and level II dance technique courses in Dunham technique, Jazz, Modern/Contemporary dance and Ballet, assisted the faculty coordinator of the Artist in Residence series.

1981-1982 Teacher, Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (BAVPA).

1980-1981 Adjunct Teacher, BAVPA, Buffalo, New York.

Summer Instructor, Act 101 Summer Bridge Program, Temple University, 1993-1995 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1983-1985 Instructor, Philadelphia Dance Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

CLERICAL EXPERIENCE: 1987-1989 Paralegal Services, Municipal Courts of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

th 1984-1989 Manager, Fresh on 47 , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1986-1987 Accounting Assistant, Pennsylvania Ballet Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Assistant to the Financial Director, performed diversified accounting and collateral office functions.

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE:

1991-93 Urban Bush women, Inc New York, New York; Performer, member of multi-disciplinary touring performance dance troupe based in New York City. Collaborated on and implemented community-based projects; community educational outreach projects, dance and music workshops, community sings and dance workshop/lecture series.

1998-99 Director and Faculty, UBW (FSU) Summer Dance Institute. A four-week summer dance intensive that focused on issues of personal and community empowerment through the art-making partnerships linked to educational aims.

1983-1989 Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Performer, member of internationally renowned touring dance company.

1973-1981 Kariamu and Company, Buffalo, New York; Performer, member of community- based regional dance company.

DIRECTING and CHOREOGRAPHIC WORKS:

2008 Artistic Director, SANKOFA, January 31- February 2, 2008. Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre in Concert, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida.

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2007 Artistic Director, BREAKING BOUNDARIES, February 14-16, 2007. Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre in Concert, FAMU, Tallahassee, Florida.

2006 Artistic Director, TRADITION, January 27-29th. Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre in Concert, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida.

2006 February – April. Choreographed Crowns, a musical presented by FAMU’s Essential Theatre, directed by Dr. Valencia Matthews.

2005 Artistic Director, Celebrating the Human Spirit, January 21- 24, 2005. Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre in Concert, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida.

2004 University of Minnesota – Dance Department, Restaged work: I Don’t Know, But I’ve Been Told if You Keep on Dancing You’ll Never Grow Old (Choreographed by Jawole Zollar 1989). Set choreography and songs on 12 dance majors for Translations/Transferals: Vernacular /Pop Culture on the Concert Stage Conference. Visiting Artist to set work February 10-March 4; performances March 5-6, 2004.

1995-1998 Founder and Artistic Director, Dance Collective Workshop, Jersey City State University, Jersey City, New Jersey; Directed and choreographed dance concerts featuring works by students, faculty and guest choreographers.

DANCE TRAINING:

African (West): Chuck Davis, Assane Konte, M’Bemba, and Amaniya Payne. African-derived Forms: Dr. Pearl Primus, Pearl Reynolds, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Ron K. Brown, Pat Hall and Kariamu Welsh Asante. Ballet: Dolores Brown-Abelson, Joan Myers Brown, Carla Craig, Victor Marino, Cherie Nobel. Cunningham (Modern): Eva Gholson Dunham (Afro-Caribbean): Pearl Reynolds, Joan Myers Brown, John Hines, Walter Nicks, Harold Pearson, Al Perryman and Carmencita Romero (workshop – 1996). Dunham Technique Intensive Summer Workshop – 1993/1994 Ms. Katherine Dunham, Lucille Ellis and Tommy Gomez. Graham (Modern): Denise Jefferson and Patricia Thomas. Horton (Modern): Thelma Hill, Milton Myers, Patricia Thomas, Jimmy Truitte and Faye Snow. Jazz Dance: Eva Gholson, Luther Fontaine, Richard Moten, Harold Pearson, and Al Perryman.

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS:

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) National Dance Association (NDA) Congress on Research in Dance (CORD) Florida Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

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SPECIAL INTEREST:

Community-based Arts and Education Organizations Supporting regional dance, theater and music artists/productions.

SCHOLARLY WORKS:

Dissertation Thesis

“The Dance Griots: An Examination of the Dance Pedagogy of Katherine Dunham and Black Pioneering Dancers in Chicago and New York City, From 1931 to 1946.” Unpublished dissertation, Temple University, December 1997.

Master’s Thesis

“Planned Course Curriculum on the Dunham Technique, Grades 6-12 and Higher Education.” Unpublished master’s thesis, Temple University, August 1991.

The New York City Dance Institute: Based on the Katherine Dunham Model – Reader compiled and edited for dance educators, classroom teachers and teaching artists; text accompanied a professional development intensive in August 2000, August 2002 and March 2003.

SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS:

“Professional Development in Movement: Based on the Katherine Dunham Model” AAHPERD, Tampa, Florida – March 31-April 4, 2009 Presentation of the paper, the model as implemented in New York City for public school educators and teaching artists, and the research to support this innovative strategy to improve K-12 instruction and learning; hands-on workshop for all participants.

“Growing a Dance Degree Program: A Presentational Workshop” FAHPERD, Orlando, Florida – October 1-4, 2008 Presentation on the development of the Feasibility Study for the Proposed Bachelors of Science Degree in Dance Studies; looking at the various areas of growth realized at Florida A&M University over the past five years making it possible for this new degree program.

“The Legacy Of Katherine Dunham” Spearheaded the organization of a national tribute to Katherine Dunham held in New York City and hosted by Judith Jamison, The American Dance Theatre and the 92nd Street YMHA; included a roundtable discussion of notable dancers and dance historians, and a series of classes and workshops exploring Dunham’s artistic, social and political works, and the complex nature of her life. June 2007

“Hoofin’ to Freedom: African-derived Stomp Dances of Transformation and Liberation” TEMPLE University: Tyler School of Art & Boyer College of Music and Dance,

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Conference Series: African Impressions/Contemporary Art – Fist & Foot: Black Dance in Visual Art – October 8-9, 2007 Presented paper and visuals of artistic works current and past on the stomp dance tradition and how this movement vocabulary is represented in visual art, song and dance, and political action; shared symposium with such scholars as Brenda Dixon Gottschild, Robert Farris Thompson and Kariamu Welsh Asante, to name a few.

“Naming the Dance: From the Plantation to Center Stage” FAHPERD, Orlando, Florida – October 18, 2006 Presented paper, research and curriculum model on social and recreational dance forms for Physical Educators and K-12 PE programs; Hands-on workshop demonstrating the cakewalk and square dance.

“Strategies for Shaping Successful Arts Partnerships with Schools (K-12)” Florida State University, Annual Arts Management Conference Tallahassee, Florida – March 14, 2006 Power-point presentation on arts management linking schools with arts organization to enhance children’s learning experiences, and benefit artists and arts organizations.

Delivered Keynote Address for Lifetime Achievement Award for Katherine Dunham Congress On Research in Dance Conference (CORD) Florida State University, Dance Department, Tallahassee, Florida – March 6, 2006

“Naming the Dance: From the Plantation to Center Stage” AAHPERD April 2006 – Paper Accepted but did not present.

AWARDS: 2007 Awarded TEMPLE University ALUMNI FELLOW 2007 for outstanding recognition of distinguished contributions to the profession.

2002 Outstanding African American Educator Award granted by Community School District # 6 and the African American Heritage Committee on March 13, 2002.

2002 Awarded The Dana Foundation Grant to implement the NYCBOE Dance Institute; Based on the Katherine Dunham Model.

2000 Fulbright-Hayes Scholar – Fellowship to Study Educational Policy and Practices in ; Studied Brazilian Religious Dance and Folk Culture to Develop Dance and Cultural Studies Curricula for Grades 6-12 and Higher Education

1991 Future faculty Fellow; Four-Year Fellowship to obtain a Doctorate in Dance Education, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Additional Interests: Capoiera, running, cycling, writing poetry and short stories for children.

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST