KU's University Dance Company

KU's University Dance Company The University Dance Company is a performance arm of the merged Department of Theatre & Dance at the
(1)

One final tribute to finals (Flamenco III) and to outgoing Visiting Assistant Prof. Marisa Plasencia. ¡Eso!🤩 Great job, ...
06/01/2026

One final tribute to finals (Flamenco III) and to outgoing Visiting Assistant Prof. Marisa Plasencia. ¡Eso!🤩 Great job, dancers!

Marisa, we have enjoyed learning from you and dancing in your pieces. We wish you the best as you move on from KU and hope our paths cross again someday soon!

Way to go, Sloane Smith! Now a KU dual degree holder in Dance and Exercise Science, Sloane is one of 11 students recogni...
05/27/2026

Way to go, Sloane Smith! Now a KU dual degree holder in Dance and Exercise Science, Sloane is one of 11 students recognized as 2026 University Award recipients. She earned The Alexis F. Dillard Award for her campus-wide involvement, including acting as treasurer for the UDC, serving in an arts administrative capacity in the Department of Theatre & Dance, teaching as a KU Fit Instructor, working with SUA, and so much more. We already knew Sloane is awesome, and it is so cool to see KU admin leaders recognize her, validate us, and inspire others. Congratulations!!!
Link in comments.

The KU Department of Theatre & Dance honored several UDC members recently at its year-end awards banquet. Please give a ...
05/19/2026

The KU Department of Theatre & Dance honored several UDC members recently at its year-end awards banquet. Please give a round of applause to Sophia Harrison, who led the UDC as president this year and part of last. She earned the Key Collaborator Award for outstanding contributions to the UDC. Congrats are in order also for Madi Seelye, the UDC Marketing Chair for the past two years, for earning the Kuhlke Humanitarian Award for service to the Department; Elizabeth Wellman, an outgoing senior, who earned the Jumpstart Award that includes a stipend to take an intensive or other initiative that will jumpstart her career; and Sofia Dunkelberger and Abby Boyd, co-recipients of the Elizabeth Sherbon Award. They will both be seniors in the fall.

Most of these awards were nominated and voted on by the Department's faculty and staff, though some were self-nominated. We appreciate all the nominees and recognize their strengths. It was a very tough year to have to choose.

😭😭😭 The seniors on Exec Team have graduated.👏👏👏 Hats off to Sophia Harrison, Madi Seelye and Sloane Smith! Thanks for yo...
05/18/2026

😭😭😭 The seniors on Exec Team have graduated.👏👏👏 Hats off to Sophia Harrison, Madi Seelye and Sloane Smith! Thanks for your leadership on UDC and in many other areas of KU. All scholarship students in the Department of Theatre & Dance, these exec team leaders made their mark forever in our studios and stages!

Sophia is our outgoing president. She received her BFA in Dance Performance with a Business minor. She danced in all the UDC concerts and Showcases during her time here. Her favorite memories are, of course, with the University Dance Company, specifically the two weeks they spend in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre prior to opening and the relationships she's formed.

Madi is our outgoing marketing chair. She received her BFA in Dance Performance. In addition to UDC concerts, she also made several appearances in University Theatre shows, including Milking Christmas (co-created by one of her mentors Ryan McCall, a former KU faculty member). In fact some of her favorite KU memories are being in rehearsal for musicals. "I've met some of my best friends in the Department."

Sloane is our outgoing treasurer. She received a BA in Dance and a BS in Exercise Science. She lit up our stages and was involved in campus organizations including SUA and as an instructor at the Ambler Rec Center. Fun fact: Sloane's brother is also in the Department of Theatre & Dance! Her favorite memory was her final UDC performance and hugging all of her castmates after their piece was over and before they went on stage to take their final bows.

Congratulations! We will see you at the alumni reunions.

Here's Modern/Contemporary III taught by prof. Shannon Stewart signing off for the semester! Their final project took th...
05/14/2026

Here's Modern/Contemporary III taught by prof. Shannon Stewart signing off for the semester! Their final project took them out of the studio and into the beautiful KU landscape, and it was a strong showing by all. Wishing you all a safe and happy KU Commencement weekend.

Photo courtesy Shannon Stewart

Echoes from a forest dance. Prof. Shannon Stewart, along with collaborators Tahni Holt and Oscar Trujillo, presented the...
05/11/2026

Echoes from a forest dance. Prof. Shannon Stewart, along with collaborators Tahni Holt and Oscar Trujillo, presented their piece “Choreography for a Forest” for the grand opening in late April of the Rice Woodland Trail located within the Baldwin Woods portion of the KU Field Station. Congratulations, Shannon, on a fantastic and thought-provoking piece.

Shannon worked with choreographer Tahni Holt on a multi-year, multi-locale project: FOREST Collaborations. Their choreographic work resides in the study of interconnected systems–ecology, histories, performative bodies (including non-human), and expansive understandings of communication. When the opportunity to be a part of the Rice Woodland trail opening came up, the creative team invited dance artist Oscar Trujillo to join for two weekends of research and creation on site. A grant from Outdoors Unscripted, a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for people to encounter the outdoors in ways that foster belonging, curiosity, and care, supported their process!

We hope you enjoy these photos AND take some time to disconnect in nature on a trail or arboretum near you.

First photo: Maren Meneley
All others: Tara Leigh Burgat, provided courtesy of Shannon Stewart

As students finish final projects and prepare for finals, we send confidence to them knowing generations of Jayhawks hav...
05/06/2026

As students finish final projects and prepare for finals, we send confidence to them knowing generations of Jayhawks have "been there, done that." Today we bring you Ellie Goudie-Averill's story for inspiration!

Ellie Goudie-Averill graduated from KU in 2004 with a BFA in Dance. As a student, she was a part of UDC every semester, participating in works by past KU Dance professors Jerel Hilding, Patrick Suzeau, Muriel Cohan, and more. After graduating, Ellie danced professionally in Philadelphia for many years and traveled for freelance projects. One of her favorite dance experiences outside of school is when she had the opportunity to dance for legendary choreographer Lucinda Childs in Philadelphia. Currently, Ellie is located in Western Massachusetts with her partner, where they have started an artist residency called Atland. In fact, KU Dance prof. Shannon Stewart was a resident artist with them in 2025!

When asked about her favorite KU memory, Ellie highlighted the time when she, along with several of her friends, started a small company named “The Bowery Dancers” just before graduation.

“It was such a joy to collaborate and make our own work. We felt so supported by the faculty!”

Her advice for incoming and current KU Theatre and Dance students is:
* Dance and train as much as you can in college. Classes can be costly in the real world.
* The dance world is small and supportive, even when it seems competitive and overwhelming.
* Make sure you talk to your fellow dancers when you’re taking classes or at auditions. We’re all in it together and there’s a place for us all!

In addition to her residency program, Ellie is a professor at Mount Holyoke College, where she teaches ballet, modern/contemporary, and creates choreography with her students. She performs in dance films and site-specific works with Tori Lawrence + Co. Rock Chalk, Ellie!💙

📸 #1,2,4: Tori Lawrence + Co.

Dancers ages 10 to 21 are invited to take part in Lawrence Arts Center's summer Lawrence Dance Intensive, which will fea...
05/05/2026

Dancers ages 10 to 21 are invited to take part in Lawrence Arts Center's summer Lawrence Dance Intensive, which will feature KU instructors and be partially hosted here in Robinson Center. Students will learn from KC's Sam McReynolds (recent guest choreographer for UDC) and Anna Hughlett as well as KU's Marisa Plasencia, Maya Tillman-Rayton and Ashley Brittingham. The Intensive faculty members also include the Art Center's Dance Director Claire Buss, who is also a KU lecturer, and Andie Stitt, a former KU lecturer who teaches workshops throughout the Midwest. Lawrence Dance Intensive will be held June 8 through 13. Registration is going on now. https://lawrenceartscenter.org/class-catalog/lawrence-dance-intensive-summer-ballet-senior-session26wsp-701jx00001xwy3xiar/

We saw dozens of family, friends, and dance fans come through the Elizabeth Sherbon Theatre for Senior Showcase held thi...
05/04/2026

We saw dozens of family, friends, and dance fans come through the Elizabeth Sherbon Theatre for Senior Showcase held this past weekend. Thank you, attendees! Beautiful pieces, seniors! Every minute was well-programmed and produced. Bravo to your strong, brave, and artistic dancers! 💯

1st pic: Choreographer Rizzy Rénzy Xiong, Yangtze River
2nd: Choreographer Elizabeth Wellman, That Which We Carry
3rd: Choreographer Madi Seelye, Remnant
4th: Choreographer Joslyn Vetock, No Blueprint
5th: Choreographer Sloane Smith, Joy Intertwining

Lighting design by M Taylor
Photos by Luke Jordan

Address

1301 Sunnyside Avenue, Rm 251
Lawrence, KS
66045

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4pm
Friday 8:30am - 4pm

Telephone

(785) 864-4264

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when KU's University Dance Company posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to KU's University Dance Company:

Shortcuts

Share

Category