Member, NASD Committee on Nominations
Elected September 2021, term ends September 2024
JULIANNE O’BRIEN is Chair of the Department of Dance at Chapman University and has a background as a performer, choreographer, academic leader, and dance educator. Prior to her current appointment, she served as the Dean of the School of Dance at Dean College in Massachusetts and as program director and professor at Eastern Michigan University. She teaches modern techniques, pedagogy, dance history, career seminars, yoga, Bartenieff Fundamentals, Laban movement analysis, improvisation, and choreography.
Professor O’Brien performed as a founding member and soloist for 14 years with the Peter Sparling Dance Company. While with Sparling, who was a member of both the Limón Company and the Graham Company, she had the opportunity to train deeply in two foundational modern techniques. She has also had the privilege of performing with William (Bill) Evans, Ido Tadmor, and in repertory by Isadora Duncan set by Lori Bellilove. She has choreographed more than 50 works that have been seen in venues across the United States and in El Salvador, and has received numerous grants and awards for choreography, including funding from the United States Embassy in El Salvador, and selection for the 2016 American College Regional Dance Festival.
Her interest in dance outreach has spanned more than two decades. At Chapman, Professor O’Brien teaches the dance education and outreach course and has worked with community partners such as the YMCA, local elementary schools, and a local nursing home to bring movement experiences to underserved populations. She has received multiple grants from the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children to work with at-risk K-3 students in science and history classes; developed math in motion curriculum with the Malashock Dance School in San Diego, CA; and spearheaded a movement curriculum in the Franklin, MA public schools in partnership with college internship programs.
Recently, Professor O’Brien has had the opportunity to present her work at national and international conferences such as the National Dance Education Organization, Dance Studies Association, Arts Schools Network, Future(s) of Dance Education(s): Opportunities and Challenges (cancelled due to COVID-19), and Dance and the Child International.
Professor O’Brien holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Ohio State University, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Connecticut College, and is a certified yoga instructor and Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analyst.
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Posted October 2021