Maureen Janson

Office phone: 608-263-8927
E-mail: mjanson@dcs.wisc.edu
Programs: Madison area dance classes

Maureen Janson received a BS in ballet from Indiana University and an MFA in dance performance and choreography from the University of Michigan. Presently she is artistic director of SMARTDANCE national touring company, coordinator of the dance program in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Continuing Studies, a lecturer in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Dance Program, founder of SMARTBODY™ Personal Activity Programs, and a freelance writer and editor.

On the faculty at UW since 1994, she has taught modern dance technique, dance composition, choreographed for faculty concerts, and acted as a mentor and advisor. From 1996-1999, she taught dance as part of the physical education program at James Madison Memorial High School and was invited to set up an initial dance program at Madison West High School. These positions included instructing dance technique, improvisation, dance history and choreography, as well as initiating and overseeing several after school dance programs.

As a guest, master teacher and artist in residence, Maureen has taught at Victory Gardens Theatre, Millikin University, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Wichita State University, Oshkosh North High School, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Illinois Institute of Technology, Alfred University, Montay College, Svetlova Dance Center, L’academie de Ballet du Saguenay, Université Laval and at numerous studios nationwide.

Maureen’s choreographic work in Wisconsin has been commissioned by and presented at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Lawrence University, Cardinal Stritch University, Brave Hearts Theatre, Madison Civic Center, Kanopy Dance, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, and Danceworks. Nationwide her professional work has been presented in Chicago, IL , Decatur, IL, Ann Arbor, MI, Interlochen, MI, New York, NY, New Paltz, NY, Cambridge, MA, Minneapolis, MN, Wichita, KS, Toronto, Ontario, Traverse City, MI, Fairbanks, AK, Sun Valley, ID, Quebec City, Quebec, Chicoutimi, Quebec, Bloomington, IN and Ashland, OR. She has been a resident choreographer for the acclaimed American Players Theatre since 2000 and for the Great River Shakespeare Festival since 2004.

Among much administrative experience, Maureen has recently been rehearsal advisor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a grants panelist for the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission and the Wisconsin Arts Board, founder and producer of nationally recognized Madison Dance Project, secretary of the Wisconsin Dance Council, and coordinator of Arts Talk-Back performance series. She is a current member of the Madison Arts Commission.

Maureen currently writes arts previews, features, reviews, travel features, and book reviews as a freelancer. Her articles have appeared in The Capital Times Madison newspaper and Wisconsin Woman magazine, Dance Teacher magazine, Dance magazine college guide, Michigan Daily, and the Ann Arbor News. She is a recent recipient of the National Dance Critics Association Fellowship.

She has edited manuscripts for Jan Erkert, ("Harnessing the Wind," Human Kinetics 2002), Anna Paskevska, (Ballet Beyond Tradition," Routledge Press 2005), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, (quarterly newsletter), and the Wisconsin Dance Council, newsletter.

For the National Dance Education Organization, Maureen served as a field researcher and writer for the Department of Education-sponsored Research in Dance Education project culminating in an extensive database of unpublished dance education literature.

Maureen’s work has earned her numerous awards and recognitions including the 2001 Choreographer’s Fellowship from the Wisconsin Arts Board. She has received grants from Madison Citiarts, Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission (five-time recipient), Madison Civic Center Foundation, Innovative Production Fund, Statewide Artist in Residence Program for the State of Wisconsin, Madison Community Foundation, Rackham Graduate School, and the Center for Education of Women.

A competitive triathlete, Maureen also enjoys gardening, sailing, travel and live music.

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