Dance

Holly Hobbs

Assistant Professor of Dance, Director of Dance and Tower Dancers

Fine Arts Building 237
[email protected]

“It is essential to foster creativity and enable dancers to efficiently extend themselves through diverse qualities of movement.”

— Holly Hobbs

Education

American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher, Pre-Primary through Level Five of the ABT® National Training Curriculum Teacher Training at the Martha Graham School, New York, New York

Summer Dance Institute for Teachers on Brain-Compatible Dance Education in Seattle, Washington

M.F.A., University of Michigan

B.A., Western Michigan University

Awards

Office of the Provost, Summer Leave Award, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, Hillsdale College

Department of Dance Thesis Grant Award, 1998, University of Michigan

Memberships

National Dance Education Organization, Member 2013 to present

Michigan Dance Council, Board Member 2005-2009, Regional Representative 2013 to present, Member 1999 to present

Portfolio

Former dancer and soloist with Ann Arbor’s Peter Sparling Dance Company, where she performed works by Martha Graham and Peter Sparling

Guest Performer: Ann Arbor Dance Works, Detroit Dance Collective, Michigan Dance Council Showcase, Dance in the Mitten Festival, and Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival

Co-producer: independent dance concerts in the Ann Arbor area

Choreographer: choreography presented at the American College Dance Festival, commissioned throughout Southeast Michigan and Ohio

Biography

Dance has always been a passion of mine. It brings together all aspects of knowledge, creativity, and physicality through a highly demanding art.

I seek to create efficient movement patterns and develop integration within the body as I teach dance. It is essential to foster creativity and enable dancers to efficiently extend themselves through diverse qualities of movement. Emphasis is placed on understanding the process of creative thinking and dance making, and in writing and reflecting on dance in a broad framework.

I encourage students to observe, identify, interpret, analyze, describe, and evaluate dances in all forms. Among all of the techniques taught, I place a great deal of importance on improving alignment, integration, strength, flexibility, and spatial awareness.

Since arriving to teach dance at Hillsdale in 2007, it has been my desire to help dancers develop personally, professionally, and creatively. We have exceptional faculty here, with both national and international experience in education, choreography, and performance.

Hillsdale’s dance program has much to offer students seeking a higher level of involvement in dance, while also including those looking for an occasional creative outlet. Unlike many dance programs, you do not have to be a dance minor to participate in higher-level dance courses or the Tower Dancers performing ensemble.

I believe in the power of the Hillsdale College liberal arts education and the essential role that the performing arts plays in developing well-rounded students. It is a pleasure to be surrounded by administrators who support an atmosphere of excellence, colleagues who excel in their field, and students who are fully engaged in the learning process.

When I am not teaching, I regularly seek out time with friends and family and possess a passion for travel, not only in our beautiful state, but also nationally and internationally. Traverse City, New York City, California, New Orleans, Italy, and Switzerland are some of my favorite places to visit.