Amy VanKirk is an Associate Professor of Dance at Radford University. She has had original work showcased at the New York Jazz Choreography Project, American College Dance Association, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Alluvion Stage Company, and at various universities across the country including East Carolina University, University at Buffalo, Salve Regina University, University of Arizona, and University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. In 2017 VanKirk collaborated with the NASA Langley Research Center where she was commissioned to create an original work, Remember the Future, to celebrate NASA’s Centennial. VanKirk has choreographed numerous full-length musicals, including the creation and direction of an original full-length musical based on family history, Keep This For Me: Memories of the Last World War.
Amy received a BFA in Dance from the University at Buffalo (summa cum laude) and an MFA in Dance with a dual emphasis in choreography and performance from the University of Arizona. While in Arizona she served as the rehearsal assistant for Ann Reinking's Chicago Suite. Before pursuing a graduate degree, Amy worked for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a dancer, dance captain, and rehearsal director. Other professional credits include danahbella DanceWorks, Artifact Dance Project, John Taylor Productions, and the Music is Art Festival. Amy is a member of the National Dance Education Organization where she has been accepted to present on various topics such as female leadership in dance in higher education, the collaborative process, and American contemporary dance. Amy’s primary teaching focus is jazz dance technique, and she also teaches composition, new student seminar, senior seminar, tap, musical theatre, dance appreciation, modern, and ballroom. She is also a certified Ultra Barre℠ Instructor. Amy’s research interests focus on interdisciplinary collaborations, weaving together the arts and movement with the research of colleagues in history, engineering, and the sciences. |
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FEATURED PROJECT
Collaboration with NASA: "Remember the Future"
Photo: NASA Langley/Harlen Capen
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Remember the Future, a premiere dance work, was inspired by the storied history and major accomplishments of NASA Langley Research Center as it celebrates its Centennial. The work was created based on interviews with ten subject matter experts, including current and former scientists and engineers working at Langley in the areas of Earth science, aeronautics, Mars exploration, and spaceflight projects. The piece features an original musical score and video component utilizing the NASA archives. The performance was a part of the Langley Tribute Celebration held at the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News, VA.
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Cover photo: Ed Flores
