Dance Department Faculty Changes Announced

At the end of May, Professor Janine Bryant, who has been both the Chair of Dance and Theater and the Director of the Dance Department at Eastern since 2007, will be leaving Eastern. Come August she will head to the UK to be a new member of the Faculty of Arts Dance Department at the Wolverhampton University, England, where she has also been working towards a Ph.D. in Dance Medicine and Science.

Bryant has been an incredible influence on Eastern dancers for almost ten years. In that time she’s also taught dance at Montgomery County Community College, Desales University, Ursinus University, and the Campolo College of Graduate Studies. Her classes at EU have covered a wide range, including “Anatomy and Kinesiology for Dancers,” “Classical Ballet,” “Pointe and Variations,” and many others. She specializes in classical ballet and Graham-based modern dance; in fact, she’s been teaching the Graham technique for almost 25 years and is certified by the Royal Academy of Dancing, which is recognized in 52 countries worldwide.

Reflecting on her time at Easter, Bryant says, “I will deeply miss some of the best, most conscientious, coachable, respectful and smart dancer-athlete-scholars in any undergraduate dance program anywhere. Our dance majors define what has been described as ‘students with high profiles’ that are sought after at Eastern. They graduate from double major programs Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude effortlessly. Our sight-challenged dance major, Sam Ambrico, is actually is a double major/ minor and performing her first solo role this weekend at our spring show, Continuance. The current faculty, whom I’ve been blessed to lead over the past four years, are highly qualified, holding graduate degrees in Arts Administration, Performance, Educational Leadership and Neuroscience. My full time colleague, Stephen Welsh, who was fired in the restructuring, is a master teacher and choreographer, and he produces our three annual concerts and molds our students into prolific creators of outstanding movement works. He will take over as Director of Dance Programs. All this to say, it is definitely not easy to depart from such excellent company all round. My wish is for a smooth transition and for our students to thrive despite an incredibly difficult year.”

“Prof. B” is sure to have a bright, British future ahead of her; and with the 30 years of teaching experience she already has, she’ll be certain to change the lives of her future students. They don’t know how lucky they are.

So, Dr. Bryant: On behalf of the EU community and the many students you’ve taught here, the Waltonian wishes you well. Good luck – and thank you.