ANN LACY SCHOOL OF AMERICAN DANCE & ENTERTAINMENT - Spring 2023
Welcome to the New Faculty of the Ann Lacy School
Last fall, the Ann Lacy School welcomed four new dance faculty members: Jeremy Duvall, Mary Ann Mayer, Michael McCarthy and Kalie Scanlan
Jeremy Duvall, Teacher for the International Jazz Congress
Ann Lacy School faculty member Jeremy Duvall was invited for a second time in April 2022, to be a master teacher at Congresso Jazz Dance Internacional, an annual event that hosts participants from all over Brazil and Latin America, seeking to “narrow the boundaries between people.â€
Broadway World Award Recipient
Last summer, Artist-in-Residence Vincent Sandoval won a Broadway World Regional Award for Best Choreography of a Play or Musical for his choreography for Carousel
at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma.
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Jo Rowan & John Bedford Legacy Celebration
In fall 2022, the Ann Lacy School celebrated the legacy of Jo Rowan and John Bedford. Alumni from all over the country returned to ³ûÖÊÓƵ to pay tribute. ³ûÖÊÓƵ President Ken Evans announced their emeritus status and the Ann Lacy Foundation donated bronze plaques commemorating them, which are now housed in the Gaylord Center.
Melanie Shelley, Executive Director of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance & Entertainment
Interim Dean Melanie Shelley, a member of the Ann Lacy School family since 1987, was recently named permanent executive director after a national search. In a statement to the ³ûÖÊÓƵ community, President Ken Evans said, “Melanie has worked tirelessly to advance the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment forward into the next generation. During her interim leadership tenure, she has orchestrated a number of initiatives, notably a national sponsorship agreement with tap board producer Stagestep, a partnership with the ³ûÖÊÓƵ Doctor of Physical Therapy program and numerous advertising arrangements with dance conferences and workshops around the country intended to raise the profile of the school. I am excited to see how she continues to position the school as the nation’s preeminent destination for dance students.â€
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Star Dance Company
³ûÖÊÓƵ’s Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment and the American Spirit Dance Company were founded by recently retired Department of Dance Chair Jo Rowan and Dean John Bedford. The name American Spirit Dance Company is being retired in honor of Rowan, but the Star Dance Company will continue ³ûÖÊÓƵ’s tradition of exciting dance productions. In addition to their beloved winter and spring mainstage productions, Star Dance Company is expanding post-pandemic performance and event management opportunities for students.