Division of the Arts

David D. Oquendo

Assistant Professor of Visual Arts

Curtis Stedge

Assistant Professor of Dance

Curtis Stedge

Assistant Professor of Dance

www.CurtisStedge.com

BS, SUNY Potsdam; MA, University at Buffalo; MFA, University of Maryland; CMA, Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies; R-DMT Candidate, Kinections

Curtis is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator, researcher, and arts manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance and Business Administration from SUNY Potsdam (Potsdam, NY), a Master of Arts in Arts Management from the University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY), an MFA in Dance from the University of Maryland (College Park, MD), and a CMA in Laban Movement Analysis from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (New York, NY). He is currently working toward certification as a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist or BC-DMT, with Kinections (Rochester, NY).

As a professional dancer Curtis has toured regionally as a principal with Geomantics Dance Theater (Rochester, NY). From 2005 to 2011, he studied contemporary dance and Laban Movement Analysis intensively with CMA Richard Haisma. He has also studied with Christopher K. Morgan, Adriane Fang, PEARSONWIDRIG DanceTheater, Elizabeth Streb, Catherine Burge, Troika Ranch, Ruth Solomon, and Wally Cardona.

As an educator Curtis has taught both arts management and dance at the undergraduate level in higher education, and has taught dance extensively to people of all ages and backgrounds. Curtis’ areas of research interest include the choreographic process, dance and community, dance and peacebuilding, as well as dance and placemaking.

As an arts manager he has worked for various national and international not-for-profit arts organizations including The National Centre for Early Music (York, England) as Marketing Associate, Geva Theatre Center (Rochester, NY) as Associate Director of Box Office Operations, Capital Fringe Festival (Washington, DC) as Box Office Manager, Projective Kinetics (Rochester, NY) as Executive Director, and Neglia Ballet Artists (Buffalo, NY) as Managing Director.

In addition to being Faculty in Dance at Bard High School Early College – Newark, Curtis is currently the Executive Director of the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, and Founder and Executive/Artistic Director of KineoLab.

Website: www.CurtisStedge.com

High School Art Courses

BARD091 Introduction to Arts I
BARD092 Introduction to Arts II

In this two-semester sequence, modular in nature, students experience a wide variety of art forms, including visual arts, theater, dance, and/or music. Students are encouraged to explore these different forms of artistic expression, and in the process discover commonalities and variations. These explorations prepare students to select one or more art forms to study in greater depth the following year.

BARD094 Dance

The goal of this course is to introduce you to the history of dance from folk/vernacular dance to the concert stage. As a class we will explore movement from the early 1900’s to present. This course is a mixture of lecture, discussion, and movement workshops. Students will engage in challenging movement workshops consisting of dynamic variation, improvisation, and spatial awareness. Students will learn how to express their social and psychological development through the arts.

BARD093 Studio Art

This course is an introduction to the basics and principles of color theory in practical usage. It will focus on the physics and applications of color in the visual art and design worlds. Students will explore the history, scientific background, emotional effects, and power of color and its presence in our and other cultures.

College Courses

BARD098 College Studio Art: Color Theory, Painting & Drawing

Modeled on an art school foundation program, this course enables students to develop basic skills in drawing, painting, and design. Students meet in the studio each week to explore various media and develop an understanding of the principles of representation and of abstract composition. Emphasis is on observation and self-expression. No previous art experience is required. Students may earn credit for this course more than once.

BARD101 College World Dance

This course is an Intermediate/Advanced Modern dance class. This class will prepare BHSEC students with the tools and movement skills to enter into a B.A. or B.F.A. program in dance post-graduation. Students will engage in several different somatic practices to increase body awareness. This course will focus on spatial awareness, poly-rhythms, modern dance technique, and basic composition. All students are required to wear appropriate dance clothing during this course (sweats, shorts, leggings, etc).

BARD100 College Dance: Intermediate Modern

This course is an intermediate Modern dance class. This class will prepare BHSEC students with the tools and movement skills to enter into a B.A. or B.F.A. program in dance post-graduation. Students will engage in several different somatic practices to increase body awareness. This course will focus on spatial awareness, poly-rhythms, modern dance technique, and basic composition.