PHILOSOPHY
The Greek root of the word theater literally means “the seeing place” or “a place to behold.” In theatrical performance practices such as dance, I believe that learning communities are places to bear witness to other people’s stories and to be seen for our authentic selves. Pursuing mastery in movement disciplines gives insight into the unlimited capabilities of the human body, as well as the skills needed to articulate descriptions of physical, emotional, and spiritual phenomena that occur in creative work. Discipline is balanced by a relentless and playful curiosity about the human condition and this balance is what I strive to impart as the most important value in my dance classes. I consistently emphasize excellence in process over excellence in product and for me, this means establishing an approach to education that is rooted context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation.
My philosophies on leadership in teaching are also influenced by co-constructivism, intersectional feminism (Crenshaw, 1989; hooks, 1994) and the philosophies of Maxine Greene (1971), who wrote that contemporary learners are likely to experience transcendence in education when they approach moments of cognitive dissonance with openness to the world. Efforts to undo the injuries of racism in dance practices are guided by borderland love ethic theory (Chang, 2015), which engages a muscular love to wrestle with oppressive power systems.
The implication of engaged teaching and learning is that educators and students alike strive for illumination within a framework of inquiry that encourages everyone to tackle the complexities of life’s most significant challenges. It is thus, that knowledge leads us toward the transformation of the world into a global community of justice.
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
The Global Climate Strike Dance For Change Project: This short film, inspired by the global climate strike, supports environmental justice and immediate action on climate change. Directed by Amy M. Wilkinson, choreographed by LOUD BODIES, music by climate change youth activist Xiuhtezcatl, and performed by a level I Jazz class at Loyola University Chicago.
The Dance the Vote Project: Participated in nation-wide "All-in Democracy Challenge" by partnering college students with two 7th grade and 8th grade classes to create a short dance film highlighting the right/duty/privilege of voting.
The Healing Earth Project (pw: HealingEarth): Used the Healing Earth online textbook to pair college dancers with fourth-graders to address climate change science through collaborative movement studies.
The Art of Language Project: Paired college dancers with a fifth-grade class, a local hip-hop artist and a local deaf choreographer to collaborate on an original piece of choreography that incorporated hip-hop and American Sign Language.
The First Star Scholars Program: Paired college dancers with foster children in the First Star Scholars program on a project involving movement and spoken word on the subject of community.
FORMER STUDENTS
Form their own arts collectives and companies.
Dance professionally for internationally renowned companies such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ailey II, The Big Muddy, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion, and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company.
Perform on Broadway and with Chicagoland theater companies.
Secure performance contracts with Chicago-based dance companies including Concert Dance/CDI Inc., Aerial Dance Chicago, and Hedwig Dances.
Train at prestigious professional training programs and intensives including the Batsheva Gaga Intensive Summer Course, Alvin Ailey Dance School, the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, the Northwest Dance Project, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and others.
Are awarded honors, grants, and residencies such as the Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist Award for choreography, Synapse Residency Fellowships, and the Links Hall series.
Secure internships with prestigious Chicago dance organizations including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, River North Dance Company, the Joffrey Ballet, and Danceworks Chicago.
Earn advanced degree programs in Performance/Choreography, Dance Therapy, and Dance Education.
SELECTED CURRICULUM VITAE
GRANT AWARDS AND HONORS
2022 Awarded Dissertation with Distinction
2021 Recipient of Loyola University Chicago’s Magis Faculty Leadership Fellowship.
2019 Recipient of the Doug Risner Award for Dance Scholarship.
Recipient of Loyola University School of Education Transformative Education Award.
Nominated for the Patricia Cross Leadership Award.
Recipient of the Leibentrit Faculty Fellowship.
Nominated for the St. Ignatius of Loyola Excellence in Teaching Award.
Nominated for Loyola University Langerbeck Faculty Mentor Award.
Nominated for the St. Ignatius Excellence in Teaching Award.
2018 Received Hank Center for Catholic Thought Ignatian Teaching Fellowship.
Nominated for Kolvenbach Award for Engaged Teaching, Loyola University Chicago.
Received Idea Lab grant for Chicago film festival collaboration symposium - $50,000.
Received Provost’s Office Funding for the “Dance the Vote” project - $300.
Service recognition from Loyola University College of Arts and Sciences.
2017 Public Greenhouse OpEd Project Fellow.
Received grant from the Loyola University Strategic Plan 2020 Committee to support the In/Motion Dance Film Festival - $60,000.
Received Unity in Diversity grant from Loyola University Office of Student Diversity and Multi-Cultural affairs to support the IN/Motion Dance Film
Festival – $2000.
2016 Received the Langerbeck Faculty Mentor award for excellence in mentoring undergraduates in research.
2013 Received $10,000 award from Loyola University Chicago Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching for dance film, Gather Up the Fragments
in collaboration with School of Communications and the Loyola University Museum of Art.
Finalist for Maroon and Gold Society Faculty Member of the Year Award, Loyola University Chicago.
2012 Nominated for The Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Freshmen.
2007 Inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society.
1997 Recipient of the Iowa Center for the Arts Scholarship.
1994 Recipient of the Iowa Center for the Arts Scholarship.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
November 3rd, 2021: Association of Scholars of Higher Education Conference. “Shaking it” Into Awareness: Collegiate Dance and Academic Capitalism by Amy Wilkinson.
August 10th, 2019: Dance Scholars Association Conference. “Humanizing creativity and the development of collegiate dancers’ political identities” by Amy Wilkinson.
April, 2019: American Educational Researchers Association Conference. “Feminist Pedagogy and Political Identity in the Classroom” by Amy Wilkinson.
April, 2019: American Educational Researchers Association Conference. “Razor Burn: Politics and Creativity in Dancemaking” by Amy Wilkinson.
May, 2018: Union for Democratic Communication – Chicago, IL. “Free Speech and the Academy” - Round table panelist.
March, 2018: American College Dance Association Conference. “All, The Dance Film: Artistic Process as Intervention” by Amy Wilkinson, Sarah Cullen Fuller, Laura Prieto, Sarah C. Prinz, and Daniel Rosenberg.
March 13th, 2017: Disability as Spectacle Conference - "All: The Dance Film - Artistic Process as Intervention" by Amy Wilkinson, Sarah Cullen Fuller, Laura Prieto, Sarah C. Prinz, and Daniel Rosenberg
May 21st, 2016: Intersection Conference - "Building a Dance Citizenry through Interdisciplinary Partnerships" by Amy Wilkinson
March 15th, 2016: American College Dance Association Conference - "Building a Dance Citizenry through Interdisciplinary Partnerships" by Amy Wilkinson and Sarah Cullen Fuller.
March 20th, 2013: American College Dance Festival – “Moving Colors: Racial identity and dance in America” by Amy Wilkinson and Hayley Bullock.
March 5th, 2008: Loyola University Chicago Research Symposium Paper presentation – “Academic achievement: A conceptual model for the effects of capital acquisition” by Amy Wilkinson and Mark Engberg.
February 23, 2008: Calling For Justice Conference - Loyola University Chicago Graduate Student Respondent - “Giving the gift of safety and love” by Anthony McCrovitz.
EDUCATIONAL POSTS
Loyola University Chicago, 2006-Present
Department of Fine & Performing Arts - Senior Lecturer
Designing and teaching curriculum for undergraduate research in dance, ballet, jazz, dance composition, dance pedagogy, and undergraduate research in dance to facilitate students’ artistic growth and commitment to building a dance citizenry engaged on issues of social justice.
Courses developed:
DANC 111: Ballet I Theory and Technique
DANC 131: Jazz I Theory and Technique
DANC 212: Ballet II Theory and Technique
DANC 270: Dance Physiology
DANC 323: Rehearsal and Performance
DANC 311: Ballet IV Theory and Technique
DANC 313: Ballet V Theory and Technique
DANC 341: Intermediate Majors Ballet
DANC 343: Advanced Majors Ballet
DANC 360: Dance Pedagogy
DANC 370: Dance Composition
DANC 398: Undergraduate Research in Dance
Department of Fine & Performing Arts Division Director of Dance (Fall 2017)
Interim program leader of dance division. Responsibilities included serving as Artistic Director of the annual Main Stage Dance Concert, serving on the department’s advisory committee and promotion committees, advising students, coordinating adjunct faculty.
Co-coordinator for the interdisciplinary MEd in Elementary Education with a Dance Residency
Writer of Loyola’s interdisciplinary graduate program between the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education MEd in Elementary Education with a Dance Residency. This program involves an exclusive partnership with Chicago Public Schools and offers a path to the Illinois StateBoard of Education’s secondary dance endorsement, 2019-2020.
After School Matters, 2003-2014
Artistic Director for the After School Matters Dance Ensemble
Auditioned, hired, and trained 30 youth apprentices per program; created learning environments that fostered creative play and encouraged cross disciplinary collaborations; helped apprentices create professional development portfolios; coordinated cultural and community outreach opportunities including master classes and performances/exchanges at numerous performance venues.
Selected to create four original works involving 600 students for citywide arts benefits performed at the Chicago Theater, Soldier Field, The Pritzker Pavilion, U.S. Cellular Field, and O’Hare International Airport.
MacCormac College, 2002-2006
Adjunct Faculty
Designed and taught curriculum for English as a Second Language, speech communication, sociology, and ethics classes to facilitate learning through discovery, exploration, discussion, and relationships in students’ everyday surroundings; developed individualized programs of study based on assessment tools to enhance academic growth; monitored student programs for quality and consistency.
Successfully recruited students for college’s first and only student organization; scheduled and led cultural and social events; coordinated community outreach and volunteer activities.
Facilitated review of college policies regarding admissions and placement, curriculum development, student services, assessment, learning outcomes, and course syllabi.
Thodos Dance Chicago, 1999-2002
Educational Outreach Coordinator
Wrote, directed, produced two high quality original kids’ shows, Dance – Ideas in Motion, and Time, Space, Force – The Science of Dance performed in numerous Chicago Public Schools for thousands of school children.
Served as company liaison for Urban Gateways educational performance outreach program, received Vittum Theater grant for educational residency and performance in two Chicago Public Schools.
Taught all levels ballet, pointe, jazz, composition, and modern for numerous private studios, workshops, and conferences including the Illinois State Dance Day Festival.
SELECTED PERFORMANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY
Concert Dance Inc., 2000-2015
Performing Artist and Choreographer
Lead role as Potiphar’s Wife in PBS Emmy nominated broadcast performance of Ruth Page’s classic Ballet, Billy Sunday, performed for opening night of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2008 season; featured performer and master teacher at Nanjing Normal University, China 2010, featured performer at New Prague International Dance Festival 2006; National touring to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania and Houston, Texas; featured performer in Ravinia of Highland Park’s dance series, 2004-2012.
Original work 42nd Parallel presented 2013 at Ravinia Festival. Three original works Songs from my Childhood, The Burning Ones, SlipKnot staged for Schumann, Images of Ruth Page, and Rising Stars concert series - Ravinia 2003-2006.
Luna Negra Dance Theatre, 2004-2005
Performing Artist
Performed works by Eduardo Vilaro, Gustavo Ramirez Sansamo, Nancy Turano, and Vincente Nebrada; lead role in Angelitos Negros by Eduardo Vilaro; featured performer in Dance Internacional Festival in Mexico.
Thodos Dance Chicago, 1999-2002
Performing Artist and Choreographer
Performed works by Randy Duncan, Paul Christiano, Sam Watson, Harrison McEldowney, Lauri Stallings, and Melissa Thodos; featured performer in Chicago’s Dance for Life AIDS benefits, and Dance Chicago, 1999-2002; featured performer in Turkish Festival for Music and Dance 2001, and national tours.
Set five original works Girl from Ipanema, Hush, My Life Closed Twice, SlipKnot, and Dr. Turvey’s Dream for New Dances concert series, three pieces taken into company’s permanent repertory.
Same Planet Different World, 2000-2002
Performing Artist
Performed works by Jeffrey Hancock, Ron De Jesus, and Jason Ohlberg, featured in Dance Chicago.
Independent Choreography
Mandala Dance Company: Taught company class and presented original choreography Murmuration of Starlings, Focus and Bolero, by Paola Soressa and Amy Wilkinson, 2016-2022.
American College Dance Festival: Taught intermediate ballet class and presented original choreography The Seekers and Gather up the Fragments, provided feedback for informal concert series, 2014 and 2015.
Loyola University Chicago: Staged choreographic installation for Loyola University Museum of Art’s Andy Warhol’s Silver Clouds exhibit, 2007 and 2015.
After School Matters: Received Dance Chicago 2007, 2009, 2010 “Best in Show” honors for original work staged for After School Matters Dance Ensemble; accepted into Citywide Showcase 2007-2009; created multiple yearly works for Gallery 37 Repertory Dance Ensemble’s touring performance, 2003-2010.
University of Central Arkansas: Created and staged original work which received superior rating for collegiate dance team, 2009.
DePaul University Chicago – DePaul Opera Theatre: Choreographed Hansel and Gretel, Dido and Aeneas, The Cunning Little Vixen, and Iolanthe for Music Department, 2008-2012.
Northeastern Illinois University: Created and staged original work Bon Mot for Northeastern Illinois University’s annual student performance, 2006.
Inaside Dance Company: Created original work Les Petites Riens for company, performed at Dance Chicago and in repertory concerts, 2005.
Impetus Dance Theater: Created two original works Beautiful Girls and Lemonade for company, performed in repertory concert, 2004.
Instruments of Movement: Created original work The Wall for company, performed at Dance Chicago and in repertory concerts, 2004.
Dance Film
2022 Executive Producer/Choreographer/Director - The Seeing Place, a dance film investigating diversity, equity, and inclusion in institutional spaces.
Official selection in the Screen Dance International festival - Detroit, MI.
2017 Executive Producer/Co-Choreographer – All, dance film investigates movement
performances by dancers living with Parkinson’s disease; Chicago, IL. Official selection in the following film festivals:
o The Chicago Onscreen Festival – Chicago, IL
o The Pivot Arts Festival – Chicago, IL
o The San Francisco Dance Film Festival – San Francisco, CA
o Dance Camera West – Los Angeles, CA
o Tran(s)mit Film Festival – London, UK
o Special Screening of The Trans(mit) Film Festival – Detroit, MI
o The Utah Dance Film Festival – Salt Lake City, UT
o Des Arts//DesCines Dance Short Film Competition – Saint-Etienne, France
o Iowa International Screen Dance Festival – Iowa City, IA
o Special Screening of Iowa International Screen Dance Festival – Mexico City, Mexico
o The Screen Dance International Festival – Detroit, MI
o Chicago’s Silver Screen Series at Outer Space – Chicago, IL
o The National Academy of Medicine’s “Visualize Health” online gallery
o The Inclusive Dance Workshop hosted by the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
2016 Choreographer-My Life Closed Twice site-specific dance film work performed by
Loyola Dance Theatre; Havana, Cuba.
2014 Executive Producer/Choreographer –Gather Up the Fragments, dance documentary
developed with support by the Loyola University Museum of Art in conjunction with
exhibit on Shaker art and artifacts; Chicago, IL.