Dance Department Faculty
Click on any faculty member's name to see a list of achievements.
Cynthia Newland (2003) Associate Professor of Dance and Chair of the Dance Department
BFA, George Mason University
MFA, Arizona State University
601-965-1413
cnewland@belhaven.edu
Ms. Cynthia A. Newland, M.F.A. Ms. Cynthia A. Newland, MFA, earned her BFA from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, and her MFA from Arizona State University, with an emphasis on choreography and performance.
For over two decades, Cynthia has traveled nationally and internationally as a teacher, choreographer, and performer. She is an educator who desires to encourage her students and audience on the significance of the arts and culture.
She has created curriculum designed to continue the education of students in the field of dance as well as introduce dance to the amateur providing exposure to embodying dance.
Her research has focused on the holistic approach of engaging the body, mind and spirit in creative expression for both performance as well as enrichment of life.
A portion of her work and artistic endeavors has been in the realm of inclusive dance. She has created numerous dances for people with and without disabilities that have been presented in the United States through VSA International.
She has received recognition through the Higher Education Award from the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education and the Humanities Teacher Award by the Mississippi Humanities Council.
Duties:
- Chair of Dance/Associate Professor of Dance
- Areas of concentration: Improvisation, Dance Performance, Creative Arts for Elementary Education, Orientation to Dance, Dance Ministry, Careers in Dance
- Student Advisor
Rachael Inman (2011) Specialty Instructor of Dance
Master of Fine Arts in Dance, Florida State University
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications Management/Dance Minor, University of Alabama Birmingham
601-965-1402
rinman@belhaven.edu
Rachael Inman received her Master’s of Fine Arts in dance in 2002 and continues to pursue dance education in a myriad of ways, the most recent being Children’s Dance Foundation’s newest touring show teaching math through dance, “The Magic Circle”. She explores Aerial Dance through her choreographic work and feels her investigation and interest in "flying” reflects a common curiosity in mankind. Fuzion Dance Artists, Inc. is a modern dance collective she co-founded that blends traditional modern dance with various dance forms including Middle Eastern and aerial dance, as well as Afro-modern and technologically-infused work. Her Lebanese heritage has inspired her research in Middle Eastern dance and has lead her to collaboration with Licensed Therapist, Melea Stephens to develop dance therapy curriculum that addresses the female body image while employing movement material that originates from Middle Eastern dance techniques.
Inman has been fortunate to study with many amazing dance artists from ballet to belly dancing including: Suzanne Farrell, Balanchine’s “muse”, Gerri Houlihan, ADF’s red-headed “fire ball”, Virginia, founder of the Coalition Of Middle Eastern Dance Artists, as well as many others. She has attended the Aerial Dance Festival in Boulder, CO where she studied with Terry Sendgraff, pioneer of Aerial Dance and the low-flying trapeze. Inman was recently certified in Celeste Miller’s “Curriculum in Motion” and employs Miller’s concepts throughout her teaching and choreography. Inman’s love of dance education has enabled her to teach in a range of venues: American College Dance Festival, Florida Dance Educators Conference, the Alabama Dance Festival, the South Carolina Dance Festival, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Booker Visual and Performing Arts High School and Blake Magnet High School. She is the proud mother of two wonderful daughters and partner to a most supportive husband.
Duties:
- Ballet
- Modern
- Dance Ministry
- Performance
Caleb Mitchell (2009) Assistant Professor of Dance
B.F.A., University of Arizona
M.F.A., University of California
cmitchell@belhaven.edu
601-965-1421
Caleb Mitchell was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan where he received early ballet training at the age of 16 under Rose Marie Floyd. After graduating cum laude in 1998 with a BFA in dance from the University of Arizona, Caleb joined the Houston Ballet under Ben Stevenson, O.B.E.-emeritus and later Stanton Welch, artistic director. During his tenure with Houston Ballet (1998-2007), Mr. Mitchell performed many featured roles in works by George Balanchine, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Sir Frederick Ashton, Ben Stevenson, O.B.E., Glen Tetley, William Forsythe, Paul Taylor, Christopher Bruce, Ronald Hynd, Lila York, Natalie Weir, Julia Adams, Trey McIntyre, Stanton Welch, James Kuldelka, and David Parsons. In 2007, Caleb was awarded a Chancellor's Distinguished Fellowship (Helen Russell Scholar) at the University Of California- Irvine. While pursuing his degree at UCI, Caleb danced in featured roles by Jodie Gates (Joffrey Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet) and William Forsythe. Mr. Mitchell received his MFA in dance with an emphasis on pedagogy and choreography in June, 2009.
Mr. Mitchell's choreographic projects include works set on, Neos Dance Company, Hosannah Sacred Arts, dancers from the Houston Ballet, Houston Ballet II, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Ad Deum Dance Company, Le Lien Ballet Theater and Masterworks Art Festival, and University of California, Irvine. During his tenure at UCI, Mr. Mitchell was Ballet Master for Professor David Allen (former National Ballet of Canada, Diamond Project), and in 2008 was awarded the Medici scholar grant to do choreographic research with world renowned choreographer Alonzo King (Lines Ballet) and Jacopo Godani (Frankfurt Ballet) for his thesis. Caleb's most recent choreographic project "Sanctuary", a world premiere, was a collaborative with world renowned choreographer Dr. Donald McKayle and performed by the Etude Dance Ensemble and the UCI Symphony Orchestra at UCI Irvine in April 2009.
Duties:
- Assistant Professor of Dance
- Areas of Concentration: Ballet, Men’s Technique, , Composition, Choreography, Men’s Variations, Performance
- Resident Choreography
- Student Advisor
Laura
Morton (2004), Associate Professor of Dance
B.S., The University of Houston
Ad Deum Dance Company; Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy
lmorton@belhaven.edu
601-965-1403
Mrs. Laura Morton -Zebert, a native Houstonian, received her training from prestigious dance educators such as Anne and Nicholas Polajenko, ABT'S Alexander Minz, and at Ballet West with director Bruce Marks and Toni Landers. Her professional credits include the Milwaukee Ballet, Delia Stewart Dance Company, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and Ad Deum Dance Company. She has also earned a BS degree in Psychology from the University of Houston. Mrs. Morton-Zebert has served on the faculties of the Pacific Northwest School of Ballet, Spectrum Dance Theatre, Evergreen City Ballet (Assistant to the Director), and the Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy. In addition, she served as the Associate to the Director of Ad Deum Dance Company under the directorship of Randall Flinn. She has taught and choreographed locally, as well as nationally.
Duties:
- Professor of Dance
- Areas of concentration: Ballet, Pointe, Dance Kinesiology, Teaching Methods, Dance Pedagogy, Choreography and Performance
- Resident Choreographer
- Student Advisor
Erin Scheiwe Rockwell (2008) Specialty Instructor of Dance
B.A., St. Olaf College
M.F.A., California State University, Long Beach
erockwell@belhaven.edu
Mrs. Erin Scheiwe Rockwell holds a B.A. in dance from St. Olaf University (2001) and a M.F.A. in dance from California State University, Long Beach (2008). Her choreography has been presented in Los Angeles in Emerging Above Ground and in New York City on several stages including Dance Theatre Workshop, The Culture Project, University Settlement, One Arm Red, Saint Marks Church and Evolving Arts Theater. While living in NYC, she also enjoyed working with a dance theatre company called Notes In Motion and performing with a variety of independent choreographers.
While studying in California, Erin obtained her comprehensive Pilates teacher training with dance specialization through Body Arts and Science International and taught Pilates and modern dance at CSULB. She studied directly with master Pilates instructor and dance scientist, Karen Clippinger, who developed a dance specific repertoire based on classical Pilates technique. With background in both classical and dance specific Pilates repertoire, she enjoys working with diverse populations to help individuals achieve their specific fitness goals.
Erin also has interest in dance technology, specifically dance for the camera. Over the years, she has directed and edited several short dance films, attended film workshops/festivals such as those presented by Dance Camera West, and has fused dance technology within her choreographic work. She is currently a member of Front Porch Dance, a Mississippi based dance collective aimed at creating approachable dance art that promotes awareness and appreciation of contemporary dance.
Duties:
- Specialty Instructor of Dance
- Areas of concentration: Modern Dance, Dance Technology, Improvisation, Dance Production, Choreography, Performance, Composition
Ravenna Tucker Wagon (2006),
Associate Professor of Dance
The Royal Academy of Dancing and Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing majors examinations; Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston, Texas
rtucker@belhaven.edu
Ms. Ravenna Tucker-Wagnon was born in Malaysia and started dancing with the Christine Liao School of Dancing under Ms. Paula Lau. In 1978 she won the Adeline Genée Gold Medal Competition and the French Foundation Prize at the Prix de Lausanne in 1979. She became a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet and The Birmingham Royal Ballet. Tucker has danced the title roles including Aurora, Odette/Odile, Juliet, Giselle, Cinderella, Sylvia, Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Snow Queen, in The Royal Ballet versions of the classics, which include those of Dame Ninette de Valois, Sir Frederick Ashton, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Sir Anthony Dowell, and Sir Peter Wright. In September 1997, Tucker joined LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts in Singapore as a full-time dance lecturer. She continued to perform various works including In Seasons ( Autumn), Pikake (which opened the ASPACAE conference in Singapore in July 1999), No Face, Spectre, Seven Gifts, Pas a Pas, Requiem, Shadow Is The Queen Of Color, Awakening, Au Bord de la Mer, Dance Me to the End of Love (International Dance Day 2001 and 2002 respectively in Manila), Seven Years in A Night (Ecnad Project Ltd.) and as a guest with Singapore Dance Theatre as The Stepmother in Cinderella and other roles. She has served on various committees including the Dance Association (Singapore) / World Dance Alliance and Singapore Dance Theatre - Artistic Committee. Presently, she is an Associate Professor of Dance at Belhaven University. She is certified in RAD, C.S.T.D. (Children’s syllabus), Pilates, and holds a Masters of Creative Industry from Queensland University of Technology.
Duties:- Assistant Professor of Dance
- Areas of concentration: Ballet, Pointe, Dance History, Pilates, Variarions
- Student Advisor
Mrs. Emily Wright (2010), Specialty Instructor of Dance
B.F.A., Belhaven University
M.F.A. from Arizona State University
601-965-1400
ewright@belhaven.edu
Mrs. Emily Wright , MFA, received her BFA in Dance from Belhaven University in 2002. She received her MFA in Dance, with an emphasis in Performance and Choreography, from Arizona State University in 2007. Her thesis research on contemporary American Protestant dance was presented at the 2006 international Congress on Research in Dance (CORD) conference and is slated for publication in an upcoming dance ethnography text. Mrs. Wright has served as assistant to the program director and conference liason for two international CORD conferences and as research assistant to Cross Cultural Dance Resources in Tempe, AZ. Ms. Wright is also a founding member of Front Porch Dance, a local contemporary dance collective.
Duties:
- Specialty Instructor of Dance
- Areas of concentration: Modern Dance, Dance History, Teaching Methods, Performance
Adjunct Faculty
| Mrs. Krista Bower,
BFA, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Belhaven University. As a student, she received the Bezalel Award for outstanding artistic achievement and the Daniel Award for outstanding scholastic achievement. Krista performed with Living Water Dance Company from 2005 – 2006 and is co-founder of Front Porch Dance in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2006, she served as the assistant dance school administrator for the USA International Ballet Competition, and she will direct the International Dance School for the USA IBC in 2010. Krista served as the modern dance instructor for the Trainee Program at Ballet Magnificat from 2007-2009 and has also taught at the Mississippi Metropolitan Dance Academy. She is the owner and director of the Yazoo City School of Dance, which she established in 2006. In January of 2007, Mrs. Bower became an adjunct faculty member of the Belhaven University dance department. Duties:
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| Aaron Chenreceived his Dance Education degree from Belhaven College. Aaron has over 10 years experience as a performer, teacher and choreographer. He has performed and taught with Dance Revolution, Still Point Dance Theatre, Jose Limon Company, Polarity Dance Theatre and AtMarah Dance Theatre. Aaron is married to Abigail and has 2 children, Iris and Isaiah.
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| Doc Davis (M.F.A.) is a native Mississippian, and is happy to be rejoining his Belhaven family, as Director of Dance Production. After receiving a B.A. in Theatre at Belhaven University, he continued his education at the University of Illinois. In addition to completing his M.F.A. in Sound Design and Technology, he worked as a Sound Engineer at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, assisting such acts as Dee Dee Bridgewater, Chucho Valdez, Mark Morris Dance Company, Merce Cunningham, and Diavolo Dance. While at the University of Illinois, he worked closely with the Ralph Lemon Dance Company on the 2010 re-mounting of How Can You Stay In The House All Day and Not Go Anywhere. He also acted as Sound Designer for several University of Illinois Department of Dance concerts. In addition to his studies, Doc has worked as a sound engineer in venues throughout the Southeast, working with such artists as By The Tree, The Temptations, and Dolly Parton, and working as a location recordist and audio re-recordist for films and commercials throughout the South. |  |
| Elizabeth Gordon receiver her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Belhaven University. Her work experience includes professional dancing with LA Performing Arts and Ballet San Antonio. She has also been an instructor with LA Performing Arts, taught master classes and workshops in ballet, dance, improvisation and choreography to K – adult students through Japanese, American and Indonesian venues. While in Japan, Elizabeth was responsible for planning lessons and teaching K-adult students, directing rehearsals, and staging small works in a recital setting, Duties:
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| Ms. Sol Nazario, started classical ballet training in Puerto Rico in 1970 and continued her training in New York City and Cuba.
For more than 25 years Ms. Nazario performed professionally as Soloist and Principal Dance with companies such as Ballet Puertorriqueno, Ballet Theatre of San Juan, Ballet Concierto and Ballet’s of San Juan. As a professional dancer , Ms. Nazario had principal roles in many classical ballets including “The Nutcracker”, “Les Shyphides”, “Swan Lake”, “Rites of Spring”, “Tango Expectro”, “The Merry Widow, George Balanchine’s “Rubies”, “Serenade”, “Who Cares” and individual companies’ repertoires. Ms. Nazario has been teaching classical ballet since 1977 having more than 30 years of teaching experience. She has coached and trained many professional dancers. She is a former Ballet Mistress for America Premiere Christian Ballet Company, and Ballet Magnificat from 2001-1010. Duties:
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| Katie Perreault, Dance Athletic Trainer, has been involved with dancing since a young child. Taught and developed curriculum for a small studio in Roswell GA. She continues to dance and express her passion for the arts in combination with her schooling. She received her BS in Athletic Training from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville Ga. Her duties are to treat, rehab and prevent injuries within the dance department. |  |
