We have been enjoying the return of Danstage Guest Artist Jeffrey Peterson. He has been working with all levels of our dance program students in daily technique classes and restaging his beautiful work, Side by Side, on a formidable cast of 16 dancers. It has been a challenging yet energizing and rewarding process for all involved and we would love the opportunity to share this work with you. This event is free and open to all!
Jeffery Peterson is the Program Director and Assistant Professor of Dance at Winona State University in Winona, MN. He holds a Certification in Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis (L/BMA) from Integrated Movement Studies, an MFA in dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and a BFA in dance from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Professional accolades include performing with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, JAZZDANCE by Danny Buraczeski, ARENA Dances by Mathew Janczewski, Stephan Koplowitz’s Grand Step Project, Clare Byrne Dance, DELiRiOUS Dance, The Minnesota Opera, and for Melissa Rolnick, among others.
His own choreography has been described as “poetic precision” “moving and heart racingly joyous”. Driven by the personal and political, Peterson’s work is founded upon the spatial complexity and precision of drum corps, the interior world of somatics, the blending of jazz and modern dance, and an eclectic approach to composition. Peterson aims to create integrative, mind-body-spirit experiences for performers and audiences alike. Jeffrey’s work has been commissioned by Dance New Amsterdam, Movement Research at Judson Church, Dixon Place, Rhythmically Speaking, and numerous dance programs in Higher Education. His choreography has appeared in the Dancenow/NYC festival at Joe’s Pub and Joyce SOHO, Moving Men at Dixon Place (NY), The Rivers Merge Dance Festival (PA), as well as at The Bryant Lake Bowl, Kinetic Kitchen, The Rabbit Show, and The Minnesota Fringe Festivals of ‘03, ’10, ’11, and ’12. Jeffrey has been making dances for over 25 years.