News

Sound, colors and dance in front of old Wuppertal looms

Monday, June 1, 2026
Assistant Professor of Dance Stephanie Miracle directs FAKERS CLUB, a collaborative live cinema and dance project she created in Essen, Germany, which was featured in the acclaimed finale of the interdisciplinary project "SoundColorDance."
Melinda Jean Myers

CLAS announces 2026 faculty promotion and tenure awards

Melinda Jean Myers (2012 MFA) is among seven recipients of the prestigious faculty awards given at the time of their promotion. Myers was promoted to associate professor with tenure and named a recipient of the CLAS Dean's Scholar Award.

The independent arts scene will celebrate a "Festival of Diversity" on May 30th in the factory-like charm of the historic ribbon weaving mill.

Wednesday, May 6, 2026
The "Sound and Color Dance" will take place on May 30th in the ambiance of the defunct Büsgen ribbon weaving mill in Barmen, Germany. Participating as a choreographer, UI dance Assistant Professor Stephanie Miracle is currently a visiting professor at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen.

April 2026 Dance E-Newsletter

Monday, April 20, 2026
Spring news from your favorite 50-year-old
Portrait of Kristin Marrs

SoTL Scholars Spotlight: Kristin Marrs

Wednesday, April 8, 2026
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Scholars Spotlight Series features updates from faculty members designing, implementing, and disseminating meaningful SoTL projects. Kristin Marrs is Associate Professor of Instruction and Director of Graduate Studies in the UI Department of Dance.

Stephanie Miracle to Receive Obermann Interdisciplinary Achievement Award

Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Stephanie Miracle, assistant professor of dance, has been named the first ever recipient of the Obermann Interdisciplinary Achievement Award.
Chalk dance performance image

Chalk Dance Theater focuses on shared human experiences surrounding infertility

Tuesday, March 31, 2026
The show, created in the form of a dance performance, was developed and performed by Dance Associate Professor Kristin Marrs and Anne Marie Nest.

HQ Review: MADCO and Jennifer Kayle present PULSE/imPULSE

Friday, March 20, 2026
At a time when the world feels like it’s burning down, we reach for a remedy; a quick pick-me-up, an escape, or the great salve of self introspection. MADCO’s PULSE/imPULSE concert Feb 20 at COCA’s Staenberg Performance Lab explored each approach with collaborator Jennifer Kayle, head of the University of Iowa’s Department of Dance. The evening highlighted the active artistic exchange between Iowa City and St. Louis.
Halsey Hall

March News from the UI Department of Dance

Monday, March 9, 2026
An opportunity to share your memories of Halsey Hall, and an invitation to join us in Iowa City

World Premiere of Chalk at the Savoy Denver Explores Infertility Through Dance

Thursday, March 5, 2026
Marrs is an Iowa-based dancer, choreographer and Associate Professor of Instruction and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Iowa Department of Dance, while Nest is a former regional theater actor and voice and speech professor who now works as an executive coach and communications consultant based in Denver. The two met while teaching at the University of Iowa and began developing Chalk after navigating their own experiences with infertility and miscarriage.