Dance Alumni Scholarship

DANCE The Dance Alumni Scholarship is distinguished as the first endowed ALUMNI scholarship in Dance at Florida State University. The brainchild of Sharyn Heiland Shields (MM 1968) and production manager Odette Salvaggio, the SCHOLARSHIP fund was established in 1989 and has received gifts from more than 60 alums to date. More than 20 students have benefited from proceeds from the Dance Alumni

Scholarship since its inception in 1989. We asked three past recipients to share the impact that the Dance Alumni Scholarship had on their academic and professional careers. Join us as we journey with Ashley Brown (MFA 2010), Diane Cahill Bedford (BFA 2003, MFA 2010), and Kieron Sargeant (MFA 2019) from their time in the School of Dance to their current successes.

What was the impact of the scholarship on your academic career? This scholarship impacted my academic career tremendously. The financial assistance allowed me to travel to West Africa (specifically Senegal and Nigeria) to further my research on African Diasporic Dance Forms and its deep spiritual and ritualistic connection to Trinidad and Tobago/Caribbean Dances. I was also able to travel throughout the United States and Latin America where I presented my research at various conferences. In Canada, I lectured on Caribbean Dance and globally, I have facilitated several movement workshops. I must say thank you to all donors who contributed to ensure that students can have the opportunity to have their academic visions fulfilled during their stay at FSU.

KIERON SARGEANT Do you have any favorite memories from your time at FSU? All of my memories happened inside the School of Dance. MFA 2019 I will always value the experience of being continuously mentored by the following faculty members: Dr. La Toya Davis Craig, Dr. Hannah Schwadron, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Gwen Welliver, Anjali Austin, Josephine Garibaldi, Kehinde Ishangi, and Jen Atkins. I really enjoyed working with Dr. Craig in particular. Latoya has given me the tools and wisdom to become the artist I am currently. Her knowledge in the field of arts administration and grant writing is second to none. I will always remember how beautifully Russell Sandifer lit my choreographic work and how he transformed the space for my MFA Thesis Performance. Finally, I really enjoyed my first semester during which fellow School of Dance alumna Millicent Johnnie was a visiting artist.

Where are you in your career now? I am currently doing various teaching gigs at universities locally and internationally. I’m also managing a foundation I recently launched, the Kieron Dwayne Sargeant Dance & Education Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to supporting the artists and dancers of Trinidad and Tobago to achieve excellence in dance and dance education. I am also hosting online lectures and talks with wellknown dance scholars, choreographers and artists on topics surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion, black dance and Caribbean histories, ethnography and choreography. In the fall I will be taking up a full-time professor position.

Do you have any advice for current FSU or FSU Dance students? Stay true to your craft and continue to invest in your artistic career and life.

DIANE CAHILL BEDFORD

developed the dance. The process of creating and designing dance and music collaboratively was such a rich and rewarding experience.

BFA 2003 MFA 2010

Where are you in your career now? I am currently finishing up my seventh year at Texas A&M University as an Associate Professor of Dance in our Dance Science Program. I feel very fortunate to mentor the skill, artistry, and creative endeavors of my students. During my time at TAMU, I have traveled across the country and even to Hong Kong to present choreography and/or lectures at multiple conferences. I have remained active in serving multiple professional dance service organizations to give back to the dance community at large. I have also published a preliminary Dance Appreciation text and other articles.

What was the impact of the scholarship on your academic career? The Dance Alumni Scholarship was extremely helpful in providing support for tuition, books, and supplies. This scholarship helped me to be able to stay focused on my degree and the creative work I developed rather than needing to find employment outside of the University.

Do you have any favorite memories from your time at FSU? As an undergraduate dance major, I remember the thrill of performing in multiple works from students to guest artists and faculty. One special project I was invited to be involved with was a reconstruction of Ruth St. Denis’s work. The faculty member, Jack Clark, coached me to perform the Incense solo. As part of entire presentation on her life and work, I was fortunate enough to perform this solo at the Ringling Museum.

As a graduate student, I relished in the opportunity to expand my creative research and learn new technological skills I could combine with my choreography. Faculty member Tim Glenn was an integral part of my fascination and exploration of projection design and dance for camera, both of which I was able to showcase in my MFA thesis concert. I also was involved in filming an evening length dance for camera at the Birdsong sanctuary one summer alongside Tim and many of my close friends in the graduate program. Another project I absolutely loved was implemented by faculty member Lynda Davis in which I was paired with a composition student from the School of Music. We collaborated on his music creation for my solo and I Do you have any advice for current FSU or FSU Dance students? My advice to current students is to find the balance of enjoying life (time with friends, social activities) alongside a focused, dedicated attention to your studies. For dancers, our creativity and our inspiration have to come from life outside of just dance. Learn to “fill your cup” now, but also to cherish the precious time you have to be completely dedicated to your craft. Go to every technique class, take risks in choreography, learn complimentary skills such as technology, photography, dance science, etc. to give yourself a well-rounded list of experiences and abilities that will become assets to you in the future because you never know exactly what you will up doing. Students should remember to take time to slow down, breathe, and re-collect themselves when everything feels overwhelming. Remember that the opportunities you have now in school are only there for a finite amount of time before you go out into the world, so remind yourself why you are there, what is your passion, and enjoy the journey!

What was the impact of the scholarship on your academic career? The scholarship definitely relieved me of a financial burden because I used it to pay tuition. I was able to focus solely on my coursework and not how to pay for my degree.

Do you have any favorite memories from your time at FSU? Some of my fondest memories were with Dr. Nancy Smith Fichter and Lynda Davis. Lynda was always an advocate for me inside and outside of the classroom. She cared about the things that I was juggling in life and understood that I had a different perspective as a graduate student. Dr. Fichter’s directing class was so eye-opening for me as a budding choreographer and I valued her authenticity inside and outside of the classroom.

ASHLEY BROWN Where are you in your career now? I work for Prospect Schools Network where I am a high school performing arts instructor (teaching dance and technical theatre) and performance coordinator. I am MFA 2010 also the network dance coordinator and oversee professional development for all dance teachers in the network. I also started a production management company, Heartworks Productions, to consult and support artists from concept to stage. Last but not least, I work with an organization, Shining Light, that takes an arts impact workshop into jail and prison facilities. I created a TEDx Performance for TEDxColumbia University 2019 to share my experiences.

Do you have any advice for current FSU or FSU Dance students? Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself in the ways that you want to matriculate your dance degree. There are so many options at FSU and even more career trajectories afterwards, so find the way(s) that work for you. You have great training and professors at your fingertips and can apply your experiences in numerous ways.

HELP GROW THE IMPACT! Make a gift to the scholarship fund today.

ONLINE dance.fsu.edu/support MAIL FSU Foundation 325 W. College Avenue Tallahassee, FL 32301

Make checks payable to “FSU Foundation” with “Dance Alumni Scholarship” in the memo line FOR MORE INFORMATION

on giving to FSU Dance, or to discuss legacy giving, please contact:

JESSICA COMAS Director of Development FSU College of Fine Arts (850) 645-0701 jcomas@fsu.edu