Division and Alumni News

Dancer draws inspiration from grandmother’s migrant experience

9/12/22

Growing up in the small Texas border town of Donna, Elisa De La Rosa never thought much about the stories of her family. It wasn’t until she left home to study that the assistant professor of dance developed a desire to learn more about immigrant experiences – including her own family’s – and share their stories through her work.

De La Rosa followed her own path after attending a dance camp in the Rio Grande Valley one summer. Later, she took dance in high school, performing on both the Drill Team and Color Guard.

TWU's Candelario honored by Dance Studies Association

8/30/22

Rosemary Candelario, Texas Woman's University associate professor of dance and director of the PhD in Dance Studies program, has been honored by the Dance Studies Association with its 2022 Mid-Career Award. The award, in its second year, recognizes leadership of mid-career scholars in the development of dance.

Meet TWU's first Black male doctor of dance

7/25/22

This summer, Iquail Shaheed presented and successfully defended his dissertation to become the first Black male to earn a PhD in dance at TWU.

"I am a doctor of dance," Shaheed said. "A doctor of joyous dance. I'm so excited, I can't believe it."

TWU marks 65 years of dance PhDs

6/27/22

Now in its 65th year, Texas Woman's University's PhD in dance program is the longest running in the United States, and has produced 117 graduates.

TWU alumna Ritter named dean of USC Dance

6/15/22

Julia M. Ritter, who earned her PhD from Texas Woman's University in 2016, has been named dean of the University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, effective July 1.

Ritter's doctoral studies at TWU focused on immersive performance, bridging theater, dance, film and digital media. “As I’ve been studying these new ways to collaborate throughout my career, I’ve seen a real hunger from both faculty and students to build institutional and creative infrastructures that support those kinds of interactions,” Ritter said.

Ritter was a professor of dance at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where she served as chair and artistic director of the department of dance from 2010 to 2021.