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MELINDA COPEL, Ed.D. 316 Union Avenue
Swarthmore, PA 19081
610-328-4086
EDUCATION
2000 Ed.D./Dance, May 2000
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Coursework: Modern Dance, Ballet, Contact Improvisation, Movement Theater
Workshop, Laban Movement Analysis, Dance in Education, Arts Advocacy,
Black Performance, Research Methods
1990-94 Master’s Studies in Choreography and Performance
Smith College, Northampton, MA
Coursework: Scientific Foundations of Dance, Modern Dance, Ballet,
Choreography, Music Analysis and Rhythm, Labanotation, Isadora Duncan
Dance, Renaissance and Baroque Dance, Dance in the 20th Century
1988 Bachelor of Arts, Arts and Letters
Portland State University, Portland, OR
Coursework: Modern Dance, Ballet, Jazz, Dance Production
DISSERTATION “The State Department Sponsored Tours of José Limón and His Modern Dance
Company, 1954 and 1957: Modern Dance, Diplomacy, and the Cold War.”
Awarded Dissertation Completion Grant.
Using a historical methodology and an interdisciplinary approach, the
dissertation examines the Limón company tours within the context of the Cold
War and analyzes the State Department's use of modern dance as cultural
propaganda during the 1950s.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION 1992 Elementary Labanotation Certification
Dance Notation Bureau, New York, NY
PUBLICATIONS 2006 “Modern Dance Humanism and the State Department’s Agenda: Raising U.S.
Status in the World Community during the Cold War.” Proceedings of the Dance
and the Community Spring 2005 Conference. Congress on Research in Dance.
Tallahassee, FL, March 7-10.
2005 “Dance Education in Pennsylvania, Part 1: The Pennsylvania Dance Standards.”
Pennsylvania Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance.
Winter 2005.
Melinda Copel 2
PUBLICATIONS (cont.) 2001 “José Limón, Modern Dance, and the State Department’s Agenda: The Limón
Company Performances in Poland and Yugoslavia, 1957,” Proceedings of the
Dancing in the Millennium International Conference, Washington, D.C., July 19-
23, 2000.
2000 Review of Brenda Dixon Gottschild’s Waltzing in the Dark: African American
Vaudeville and Race Politics in the Swing Era. Philadelphia Dance Alliance
Newsletter, v. 15, no. 1, September 2000.
2000 “The 1954 Limón Company Tour to South America: Goodwill Tour or Cold
War Cultural Propaganda?” In José Limón: The Artist Re-Viewed, edited by June
Dunbar. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers.
1999 Bibliography. In José Limón: An Unfinished Memoir. Studies in Dance History
series, edited by Lynn Garafola. Hanover and London: Wesleyan University
Press and University Press of New England.
1999 Review of Naima Prevots’ Dance for Export: Cultural Diplomacy and the Cold
War. Dance Research Journal, Spring 1999.
1997-98 Founding Editor, The Doctoral Dispatch, Temple University Dance Department
doctoral newsletter, published semi-annually.
PRESENTATIONS 2011 “José Limón, Modern Dance, and the State Department's Agenda: Dance as Cold
War Cultural Propaganda in the 1950s.” Lecture in conjunction with a
performance of The Moor’s Pavane by the José Limón Dance Company.
Historic Dance Theatre Series. Kaatsbaan International Dance Center. Tivoli,
NY
2010 Post-performance interview and Q & A session with Lar Lubovitch. In
conjunction with a performance of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. Science
Center Theater. Montgomery County Community College. Blue Bell, PA
2009 “Yvonne Rainer and Her Work.” Pre-concert lecture. Part of NEA American
Masterpieces—Dance: College Component project to restage Yvonne Rainer’s
Chair Pillow Dance from Continuous Project Altered Daily. Montgomery
County Community College. Blue Bell, PA
2009 “Performing Arts in the 1960s.” Panel discussion. Chair/presenter. Part of NEA
American Masterpieces—Dance: College Component project to restage Yvonne
Rainer’s Chair Pillow Dance from Continuous Project Altered Daily.
Montgomery County Community College. Blue Bell, PA
2008 “Team Building Through Creative Dance.” Montgomery County Community
College Academic Affairs Rest & Rejuvenation Retreat. Meadowlands Country
Club, Blue Bell, PA
Melinda Copel 3
PRESENTATIONS (cont.) 2008 “Subject—Object: Configuring the Body: Views from the Humanities
(Literature and Philosophy) the Arts (Visual and Dance) & Biomedical
Engineering. Presenter/participant. Dinner and Discussion at Drexel. Drexel
University, Philadelphia, PA
2005 “Current Trends in Dance Research.” Panel discussion. Presenter/participant.
Temple University Dance Department's 30th Anniversary Celebration.
Philadelphia, PA
2005 “Modern Dance Humanism and the State Department’s Agenda: Raising U.S.
Status in the World Community during the Cold War.” Paper presentation.
Dance and the Community. Congress on Research in Dance conference.
Tallahassee, FL
2002 “Courting Prince Sihanouk: The Limón Company in Cambodia.” Paper
presentation. Dance: A Legacy of Building Bridges, National Dance Education
Organization conference. Providence, RI
2000 “José Limón, Modern Dance, and the State Department’s Agenda: The Limón
Company Performances in Poland and Yugoslavia, 1957.” Paper presentation.
Dancing in the Millennium International Conference. Washington, D.C.
1998 “The 1954 Limón Company Tour to South America: Goodwill Tour or Cold
War Cultural Propaganda?” Paper presentation. Borderlands conference.
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
SPECIAL PROJECTS 2012-2013 Residency Director, Martha Graham Technique Master Class Series with Jeanne
Ruddy at Montgomery County Community College, November 2-14, 2012; live
accompaniment provided for modern dance classes by MCCC music faculty,
November 2012-May 2013 as part of project
Responsibilities included procuring funds and filing the final report, making
arrangements with all parties involved--guest artist Jeanne Ruddy, her assistant
Christine Taylor, pianist Noah Farber, and two MCCC music faculty members
who participated in the project. (project description listed under Grants)
2010 Residency Director, AXIS Dance Company residency at Montgomery County
Community College, April 5-10
Responsibilities included arranging outreach activities with the Montgomery
County Community College Nursing Department, the Philadelphia
Developmental Disabilities Corporation, and a master class for dance students;
recruiting performers for the performance of Light Shelter with AXIS Dance
Company; arranging for presentation and rehearsal space for the six-day
residency; overseeing outreach activities and rehearsals of Light Shelter.
Melinda Copel 4
SPECIAL PROJECTS (cont.) 2008-2009 Project Director, National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces--
Dance project to restage Yvonne Rainer’s Chair Pillow Dance from Continuous
Project Altered Daily.
Responsibilities included writing the grant narrative and developing the budget;
working with the Dance Notation Bureau to finalize contracts for the two guest
artists, Leslie Rotman and Pat Catterson; arranging transportation, hotel
accommodations, and per diems for guest artists; recruiting performers;
overseeing residency rehearsals and outreach project with Eisenhower Middle
School; ordering props; arranging for rehearsal and performance space for seven-
day residency and four performances; hiring and overseeing sound and lighting
personnel; chairing panel discussion on performing arts in the 1960s; presenting
pre-concert lecture on Yvonne Rainer and her work; working with the Art
Department to create the design for the poster and program; arranging catering
for the reception; publicity.
2002 “Imag[in]ing September 11th: The Ursinus Community Looks Back”, Berman
Art Museum, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA
Served on the committee to organize and present this remembrance event;
presented original choreography performed by Escape Velocity Dance Troupe.
2001-2002 Field Researcher, Research in Dance Education Project, National Dance
Education Organization, Baltimore, MD
NDEO is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to advancing arts-centered
dance education. Project funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
Responsibilities included identifying and analyzing masters’ theses and
dissertations on dance education and coding the information for entry into the
National Dance Education Organization’s newly formed Research in Dance
Education Database.
2000 Research Consultant, Limón: A Life Beyond Words. Directed by Malachi Roth.
Produced by Ann Vachon and Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Dance Conduit/Antidote
Films. 58 min.
Conducted original research that was incorporated into the video documentary on
the life and work of José Limón; reviewed the documentary at various stages and
provided feedback. Aired on WNET, American Masters series, Sept. 2004.
SERVICE 2014-present Humanities Task Force
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
2012-2014 Student Life Committee
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
2008-present Cultural Arts Advisory Committee
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
Melinda Copel 5
SERVICE (cont.) 2008-2014 Dance University Chairs Committee
Annual meeting of dance department chairs in the greater Philadelphia area;
facilitated by Dance/UP; location rotates.
2013 Health Sciences Center Program Sub-Committee, Health Sciences and
Wellness Center Building Committee
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
2012-2013 Dean of Arts and Humanities Search Committee
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
2009 Peer Reviewer
Dance Chronicle, editor Joellen Meglin.
2008 Peer Reviewer
Dance Chronicle, editor Lynn Brooks.
2007 Member, Humanities Academic Program Review Committee
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
2005 Vice President of Dance
Pennsylvania State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and
Dance
Responsibilities included organizing Dance Division programming for the
annual convention including arranging for dance presenters, accompanist, and
equipment; organizing the dance gala; chairing the Dance Educator of the Year
committee; writing and soliciting dance articles for the PSAHPERD Journal.
Accomplishments included adding an award for Dance Educator of the Year in
Higher Education; increasing the annual budget for the dance gala.
2004 Vice President-elect of Dance
Pennsylvania State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and
Dance
Responsibilities included soliciting dances for dance gala; soliciting dance
presenters for the annual convention; arranging for K-12 dance groups to perform
at the Capitol in Harrisburg for PA Arts in Education Day.
1997 Graduate Council
Temple University, College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and
Dance, Philadelphia, PA
1995 Production Committee
Temple University, Department of Dance, Philadelphia, PA
Melinda Copel 6
TEACHING—COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY 2004-present Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
Dance Associate Professor
Courses taught: Introduction to Dance Studies, Fundamentals of Modern Dance I
& II, Fundamentals of Ballet I & II, Modern Dance I/II/III/IV, Ballet I/II/III/IV,
Dance Improvisation, Dance Composition, Dance Performance Ensemble, Dance
Repertory & Performance, Introduction to Dance as Art in America,
Fundamentals of Social Dance, College Seminar.
Responsibilities include developing and teaching dance courses, advising and
directing the Dance Performance Ensemble. Past responsibilities have included
teaching College Seminar for at-risk students.
Accomplishments include receiving a National Endowment for the Arts
American Masterpieces grant for the restaging of Yvonne Rainer’s Chair Pillow
Dance from Continuous Project Altered Daily and serving as project director;
founding, directing, and choreographing for the Dance Performance Ensemble;
receiving MCCC Foundation grants for a ballet master class with Christine Cox
(Ballet X and Pennsylvania Ballet) and a master class series with Jeanne Ruddy
(Jeanne Ruddy Dance, Martha Graham Dance Company); coordinating with the
Cultural Affairs Office to arrange master classes and performance opportunities
with guest artists--master classes have included Rennie Harris/PureMovement,
AXIS Dance Company, Paul Taylor 2, Kun Yang Lin, Ensemble Espanol,
Ragamala Dance, Lula Washington, Nritygram, David Dorfman, and Ballet
Hispanico; organizing field trips for students to attend dance performances and
ACDFA (American College Dance Festival Association) conferences; working
with library staff to build the collection of dance resources; creating and setting
original choreography for public performance.
2006-2010 Widener University, Chester, PA
Instructor of Humanities, College of Arts and Sciences
Courses taught: Introduction to Fine Arts, Modern Dance I
Responsibilities included developing and teaching a dance-based
interdisciplinary humanities course as part of the core curriculum.
Accomplishments included developing course proposals for two levels of
modern dance and organizing field trips for students to attend dance
performances in the greater Philadelphia area.
2004-2007 Rutgers University--Camden, Camden, NJ
Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts
Courses taught: Modern Dance II, Modern Dance I, Ballet I, Dance
Improvisation
Responsibilities included developing and teaching courses in ballet and two
levels of modern dance. Accomplishments included developing and teaching a
winter term course in dance improvisation; organizing field trips for students to
attend dance performances in Philadelphia; creating and setting original
choreography for performance.
Melinda Copel 7
TEACHING—COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY (cont.) 1997-2003 Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA
Lecturer, Department of Exercise and Sport Science
Courses taught: Dance as Art; Modern Dance; Classical Ballet; Contemporary
Dance; Fundamentals of Dance Movement; Dance Improvisation; Analysis and
Movement of Dance: Creative Dance for K-12; Introduction to Dance
Techniques: Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Improvisation; Jazz Dance; Folk and Social
Dance
Responsibilities included developing and teaching a wide variety of dance
courses (see above).
Accomplishments included building course offerings and enrollment in dance;
working with the student dance ensemble, Escape Velocity Dance Troupe (see
below); organizing field trips for students to attend dance performances in
Philadelphia; working with library staff to build the collection of dance
resources.
2000-2003 Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA
Director/Choreographer, Escape Velocity Dance Troupe
Responsibilities included teaching dance technique classes in modern, jazz,
ballet, improvisation, and ballroom dance to troupe members; choreographing
dances for the troupe’s annual dance concert; coordinating all aspects of
production for the dance troupe’s performances.
Accomplishments included recruiting new members; organizing a performance
of the dance troupe at the Pennsylvania State Association of Health, Physical
Education, Recreation and Dance annual dance gala.
2002 Cheyney University, Cheyney, PA
Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts
Courses taught: Movement I, Movement II, Theater Practice I, II, & III
Responsibilities included teaching two dance courses and conducting dance
rehearsals for the Theater Department’s annual musical.
Accomplishments included developing one course in dance technique and one
course in dance improvisation for theater majors; creating all choreography for a
full production of Guys and Dolls.
1998 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Lecturer, Department of Dance
Course taught: Entry into Dance as Art
1996-97 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Teaching Assistant, Department of Dance
Responsibilities included assisting in two sections of Entry into Dance as Art and
one section of Dance in Human Society; planning and teaching several classes
throughout each semester; grading student homework assignments, exams, and
papers; evaluating final dance presentations.
Melinda Copel 8
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE 2008-present Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
Coordinator of Dance
Responsibilities include coordinating the Dance Department, hiring and
mentoring dance personnel, creating the semester schedule, recruiting
prospective students, advising and mentoring Dance majors, developing the
Dance Program curriculum and assessments, reviewing the Dance Program
Assessment Plan annually, producing the Academic Program Review as required.
Accomplishments include developing a new Dance A.A. degree program and
twenty-three new courses in dance; receiving a National Endowment for the Arts
American Masterpieces grant for the restaging of Yvonne Rainer’s Chair Pillow
Dance from Continuous Project Altered Daily and serving as project director;
founding, directing, and choreographing for the Dance Performance Ensemble;
receiving MCCC Foundation grants for a ballet master class with Christine Cox
(Ballet X and Pennsylvania Ballet) and a master class series with Jeanne Ruddy
(Jeanne Ruddy Dance, Martha Graham Dance Company); fundraising over
$8000 to install a sprung floor with marley surface in the dance studio;
coordinating with the Cultural Affairs Office to arrange master classes and
performance opportunities with guest artists--master classes have included
Rennie Harris/PureMovement, AXIS Dance Company, Paul Taylor 2, Kun Yang
Lin, Ensemble Espanol, Ragamala Dance, Lula Washington, Nritygram, David
Dorfman, and Ballet Hispanico; organizing field trips for students to attend dance
performances and annual ACDFA (American College Dance Festival
Association) regional conferences; working with library staff to build the
collection of dance resources.
2002 Indochinese American Council, Philadelphia, PA
IAC is a non-profit cultural organization that runs educational and social
programs to benefit at-risk inner city youth and families, many of whom are
newly arrived immigrants.
Consultant, Dance Specialist
Responsibilities included program development and grant writing for the IAC's
arts-in-education programs; meeting with representatives from funding agencies
to fine-tune grant proposals; meeting with multi-cultural dance artists to plan and
coordinate artist-in-residence programs in local public schools; planning and
start-up for the IAC’s arts summer camp; directing summer camp teachers and
staff; directing at-risk (court adjudicated) youths in cleaning and set-up for
summer camp; teaching dance sessions as part of summer camp.
1995-2000 Dance Conduit, Philadelphia, PA
Dance Conduit is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to preserving and
passing on the dance legacy of José Limón.
Office Manager, Grant Writer, Research Consultant
Responsibilities included supporting the production of the video documentary
Limón: A Life Beyond Words, grant writing; grant reporting; research; copyright
negotiations; maintaining non-profit status; preparing tax documents and
budgets; creating publicity materials; consulting on documentary content;
transcribing videotaped interviews.
Melinda Copel 9
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE (cont.) 1998 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Administrative Assistant to the Chair, Department of Dance
Responsibilities included correspondence; management of confidential student
and faculty database records; assisting students with registration and graduation
procedures; posting semester schedules on main computer network; compiling
materials for National Association of Schools of Dance accreditation.
GRANTS 2012 Pearlstine Foundation Faculty Development Activity Grant, $1476, Montgomery
County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
Attended Bill Evans' Dance Teachers' Intensive at SUNY/Brockport, New York,
Summer 2012
2012 Internal Foundation Grant, $3921, Montgomery County Community College,
Blue Bell, PA
Master class series in Martha Graham technique with Jeanne Ruddy (Artistic
Director of Jeanne Ruddy Dance, former principal member of the Martha
Graham Dance Company), assisted by Christine Taylor with pianist Noah Farber;
included funds for two MCCC music faculty to observe and then play for
selected modern dance classes for the remainder of the 2012-2013 academic year.
2009 American Masterpieces—Dance: College Component, $10,000, National
Endowment for the Arts, Washington, D.C.
Project Director for the restaging of Yvonne Rainer’s Chair/Pillow Dance from
Continuous Project Altered Daily (1969) at Montgomery County Community
College, Blue Bell, PA. Staged by Leslie Rotman from the Labanotation score
notated by Barbara Katz, revised by Valarie Williams Mockabee, with artistic
coaching by Pat Catterson. Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts’
American Masterpieces: Dance initiative administered by the New England
Foundation for the Arts with Dance/USA.
2009 Internal Foundation Grant, $450, Montgomery County Community College, Blue
Bell, PA
Ballet Master Class with Christine Cox (co-director of Ballet X, former member
of Pennsylvania Ballet), with pianist Tatyana Featherman.
1999 Dissertation Completion Grant, $16,000, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
1996 Samuel S. Fels Fund Summer Internship Grant, $3,100, Philadelphia, PA
Under the auspices of Dance Conduit. Produced a biographical narrative on José
Limón, attended a workshop on creating interactive CD-ROMs for dance at Ohio
State University, and produced a screen-by-screen CD-ROM map of the Limón
material designed to accompany the video documentary Limón: A Life Beyond
Words.
Melinda Copel 10
CREATIVE ACTIVITY Choreography
2014 Fugue (music: Ernest Bloch), 6 min., 4 dancers, Science Center Theater,
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA.
2012 Litany (music: John Cage, arranged by Andrew Kosciesza), 8 min., 6 dancers.
Collaborative performance work with the Montgomery County Community
College Chamber Choir. Science Center Theater, Blue Bell, PA
2011 Social Forays (music: Gabriel Fauré), 6 min., 21 dancers. Collaborative multi-
media performance work in cooperation with the Montgomery County
Community College Choir, Digital Music classes, and Computer Science
Department. Science Center Theater, Blue Bell, PA
2008 Elements (music: Australian aboriginal, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Kodo and Zakir
Hussain, Michio Mamiya), 11 min., 11 dancers, Science Center Theater,
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
2008 Take Five (music: Paul Desmond), 3 min., 6 dancers, Dance Performance
Ensemble, Science Center Theater, Montgomery County Community College,
Blue Bell, PA
2007 Chance Dance (music: Bach, played by cellist Mara Parker), choreographed
with help from the dancers, 5 min., 7 dancers, Student Project Day, Alumni
Auditorium, Widener University, Chester, PA
2005 Pavane (music: Gabriel Fauré), 6 min., 19 dancers, Montgomery County
Community College Choir, Science Center Theater, Blue Bell, PA
2005 Elements (music: Australian aboriginal, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Kodo and Zakir
Hussain, Michio Mamiya), 9 min., 6 dancers, Black Box Theater, Rutgers
University, Camden, NJ
2002 “Grieving in Community” from Remembrance/Ground Zero (music: Philip
Glass), 6 min., 8 dancers, Escape Velocity Dance Troupe, PA Dancers in
Concert, 81st Annual PSAHPERD Convention, Seven Springs Resort, Champion,
PA
2002 “Grieving in Community” from Remembrance/Ground Zero (music: Philip
Glass), 9 min., 10 dancers, Escape Velocity Dance Troupe, Imag[in]ing
September 11th: The Ursinus Community Looks Back, Open Performance
Forum, Berman Art Museum, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA
2002 Remembrance/Ground Zero (music: Peter Sculthorpe, Philip Glass, Osvaldo
Golijov), 18 min., 8 dancers, Escape Velocity Dance Troupe, Ritter Center
Theater, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA
2002 Guys and Dolls (music: Frank Loesser), full production, Dudley Theatre,
Cheyney University, Cheyney, PA
2001 Foxtrot in The Glass Menagerie (music: Hoagy Carmichael), 1 min., 2 dancers,
Ritter Center Theater, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA
Melinda Copel 11
CREATIVE ACTIVITY Choreography (cont.)
2001 Vision (music: Hildegard von Bingen), 4 min., 11 dancers, Take Five (music:
Paul Desmond), 3 min., 12 dancers, Escape Velocity Dance Troupe, Perkiomen
Valley High School, Collegeville, PA
1994 6 X 3 (music: Norwegian folk, Australian aboriginal, traditional Bibayak
Pygmy), 3 dancers, 10 min., Smith College, Northampton, MA
1993 Underground Streams (music: Keith Volans), 2 dancers, 8 min., Hallie Flanagan
Theatre, Smith College, Northampton, MA
1989 Saying Good-bye (music: Erik Satie), solo, 3 min., Whittemore Theater,
Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT
Performance
2010 Light Shelter, choreography by David Dorfman, AXIS Dance Company, Science
Center Theater, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
2009 Chair/Pillow Dance from Continuous Project Altered Daily (1969),
choreography by Yvonne Rainer. Staged by Leslie Rotman from the
Labanotation score, with artistic coaching by Pat Catterson. Science Center
Theater, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
1994 Love Songs, choreography by Ilene Blackman; Three is Company, choreography
by Elizabeth Lewis; The Search for my inner child . . . , choreography by Elise
Alenick Junker; Ray Evans Dance, Inc./New Dance Theater, Southern Vermont
Art Center, Manchester, VT
1994 Sunrise and Les Petits Arbres, choreography by Little Tree, B.A. Thesis Concert,
Whittemore Theater, Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT
1994 The House of Ruth, Ted & Martha, evening-length work, choreography by
Michael Wade Simpson, M.F.A. thesis concert, Smith College, Northampton,
MA
1994 Birthday Variations, choreography by Susan Waltner, Smith College,
Northampton, MA
1993 Desert Concerto, choreography by Susan Hagen; “Blood Rites,” choreography
by Ray Evans; Women’s Peace, choreography by Elise Alenick; Ray Evans
Dance, Inc./New Dance Theater, Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT
1993 Underground Streams (music: Keith Volans), 2 dancers, 8 min., Hallie Flanagan
Theatre, Smith College, Northampton, MA
1992 Shakers, choreography by Doris Humphrey, restaged from the Labanotation
score by Helen Priest Rogers, River Valley Performing Arts Center, Putney, VT
Melinda Copel 12
CREATIVE ACTIVITY Performance (cont.)
1991 Offerings for Mother, evening-length work, choreography by Patricia Wilson,
Patricia Wilson and Dancers, River Valley Performing Arts Center, Putney, VT
1990 Little Red Riding Hood, choreography by Dana Holby; Peter and the Wolf,
choreography by Kathi Keller; River Valley Performing Arts Center, Putney, VT
1989 Saying Good-bye (music: Erik Satie), solo, 3 min., Whittemore Theater,
Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT
1988 Anger Resteth in the Bosom of Fools, choreography by Dana Holby, Whittemore
Theater, Marlboro College, Marlboro, VT
PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE Producer
2002-2003 Escape Velocity Dance Troupe, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA
Full responsibility for all aspects of annual dance concert including lights, sound,
floor installation, stage management, and costumes.
Stage manager
1992 Smith College Fall Dance Concert, Hallie Flanagan Theatre, Northampton, MA
Costume construction
1990-94 Brattleboro School of Dance, Brattleboro, VT
Ray Evans Dance, Inc., Manchester, VT
Patricia Wilson and Dancers, Brattleboro, VT
1979 Keith Martin Dance Company, Portland, OR
Full-time paid position with full charge for producing all costumes for the 1979
season.
TEACHING—PRIVATE DANCE SCHOOLS 2014-present SummerKeys: A Music Adventure, Lubec, ME
Dance Workshop Instructor
Weeklong intensive dance workshop for adults consisting of a modern dance
technique warm-up leading into creative work using guided improvisation.
2013-present LUBEC DANCE! at ARTSWORKSOFMAINE Visual and Performing Arts
Center, Lubec, ME
Sole proprietor/instructor
Outreach effort to bring dance instruction to rural downeast Maine. Classes
taught include Ballet (adults), Modern Dance (adults), Gentle Ballet (seniors),
Youth Ballet (teens) and Children’s Ballet (8-12 years).
Melinda Copel 13
TEACHING—PRIVATE DANCE SCHOOLS (cont.) 2003-2007 Broadway Bound Dance Academy, Media, PA
Dance Instructor
Responsibilities included teaching ballet, modern, pointe technique, pre-ballet,
and creative movement; rehearsing four dance teams; choreographing and
rehearsing annual recital pieces.
1997-2001 Conservatory of Music and Dance, Harleysville and Eagleville, PA
Dance Instructor
Responsibilities included teaching ballet, jazz, pointe technique, pre-ballet, and
creative movement; rehearsing dance teams; choreographing and rehearsing
annual recital pieces; judging annual student choreography contest.
1997-98 Just Jazz Dance Studio, Broomall, PA
Ballet Instructor
1997 Lane Montessori School, Ardmore, PA
Children’s Dance Instructor
1993-94 The DanceSpace, Manchester, VT
Ray Evans Dance, Inc.
Children’s Ballet Instructor
DANCE AND MOVEMENT TRAINING Modern Dance
2012 Bill Evans Dance Teacher's Intensive, Brockport, NY
2009-2011 Susan Deutsch, Philadelphia, PA
2009 Janet Pilla, Philadelphia, PA
1995-97 Temple University (Helmut Gottschild, Ed Groff, Phil Grosser, Eva Gholson)
Philadelphia, PA
1994 University of Massachusetts (Andrea Watkins), Amherst, MA
1992-94 Mount Holyoke College (Jim Coleman, Terese Freedman), South Hadley, MA
1991-94 Smith College (Susan Waltner), Northampton, MA
1986-95 Brattleboro School of Dance, Brattleboro, VT
1976-78 Portland State University, Portland, OR
Martha Graham Technique
2012 Master class series with Jeanne Ruddy, Blue Bell, PA
2008-2009 Jeanne Ruddy Dance, Philadelphia, PA
1997 Temple University (Jeanne Ruddy), Philadelphia, PA
1981-84 The Martha Graham School of Dance, New York, NY
1976-79 Reed College Summer Dance Workshop (Armgard von Bardeleben),
Portland, OR
1976 Portland State University (Phyllis Gutelius), Portland, OR
Melinda Copel 14
DANCE AND MOVEMENT TRAINING (cont.) Ballet
1997-present Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, Narberth, PA
1998-2010 Swarthmore College (Jon Sherman), Swarthmore, PA
1996 Temple University (Joselli Audain), Philadelphia, PA
1990-94 University of Massachusetts (Ken Lipitz), Amherst, MA
1991-93 Smith College (Gemze de Lappe, Edward Verso), Northampton, MA
1986-1995 Brattleboro School of Dance, Brattleboro, VT
1983 Finis Jhung School of Ballet, New York, NY
1980 Marie Paquet School of Ballet, Boston, MA
1978-79 Barbara Remington School of Ballet, Portland, OR
1977-78 Portland School of Ballet, Portland, OR
Jazz Dance
1976-78 Portland State University, Portland, OR
Katherine Dunham Technique
1990-91 Patricia Wilson, Brattleboro, VT
Tap Dance
2004-2005 Broadway Bound Dance Academy, Media, PA
Isadora Duncan Technique
1991-92 Smith College (Gemze de Lappe), Northampton, MA
Renaissance & Baroque Dance
1992 Smith College (Sharon Arslanian), Northampton, MA
Ballroom Dance 2002-2004 Joseph Rossano, Media, PA
2003 Quickstep, Inc., Ardmore, PA
Improvisation 1995-97 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
1992-94 Smith College, Northampton, MA
Contact Improvisation
1997 Temple University (Ed Groff), Philadelphia, PA
Authentic Movement
1993 Smith College, Northampton, MA
Composition & Choreography
1990-94 Smith College, Northampton, MA
Labanotation
1992 Helen Priest Rogers, Brattleboro, VT
1992 Smith College, Northampton, MA
Laban Movement Analysis
1995 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Melinda Copel 15
DANCE AND MOVEMENT TRAINING (cont.) Bartenieff Fundamentals
2012 Bill Evans' Dance Teachers' Intensive, Brockport, NY
2002 Laban Institute of Movement Studies (Jackie Hand), New York, NY
Pilates
2011-2012 The Pilates Connexion, Swarthmore, PA
2008 Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
2002-2007 Lee Skoog, Ridley, PA
1995-1997 Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Yoga
2012-present Denise Rule, Fitness Port (Lubec Regional Medical Center), Lubec, ME
2008 Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA
2000 Clair Oaks, Swarthmore, PA
Taiko Drumming
2009-2010 Settlement Music School, Philadelphia, PA