Biography

Michael Thomas
Department: Dance
Title: Assistant Professor (2008)
Degree: M.F.A. in Choreography, The Ohio State University
Office: Lillian Welsh 160
Website: http://www.goucher.edu/dance

Michael Thomas joins the faculty of Goucher College as a visiting assistant professor in dance.  His diverse background includes experiences nationally and internationally as a choreographer, dancer, and visual artist.  He has served varied roles in relationships with Otterbein College, Marymount Fordham Tarrytown, Savannah College of Art and Design, BalletMet Columbus, Perry Mansfield Performing Arts, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.  Prior to work for these organizations Michael created work as an independent choreographer in New York City, where he also danced for Sean Curran Company.  Distinguishing awards include citation at the Toronto Fringe Festival, the Prague Fringe Festival and inclusion in the National College Choreography Initiative, all for new works.  He was a term member of the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission funding panel, where he also made creative contributions to local arts orgranizations such as aTrek Dance Collective, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Modern America Dance Company, HotCity Theatre, and Theatre Belle Bete.  Michael teaches varied movement related courses from dance composition to video dance techniques; and, of course, also a variety of dance technique styles.  Creative and research interests include commentary on social perceptions of culture and it's display, as well as the abstraction of technological medium for performance.  Computer assisted manipulation of sound scores is a past time, and ofter infiltrate his dances.  Michael is most noted for works what approach dance with a bit of irreverence via context.  Michael Thomas has an M.F.A. in choreography from The Ohio State University.