Theatre and Dance Faculty
Tonya Beckman
Tonya Beckman is an AEA/SAG-AFTRA actor and dialect coach.Read More
Abby Bender
Abby Bender is the Instructional Technologist for the Scene Shop. Abby grew up in Shippensburg, PA and started working at her local performing arts center in high school.Read More
Mary Buckley
Mary Buckley is Associate Professor of Dance and Director of the EJS Women’s Leadership Program at George Washington University. Read More
Dana Tai Soon Burgess
Dana Tai Soon Burgess is a leading American choreographer and cultural figure. He is the Smithsonian’s choreographer in residence. Burgess has been referred to as “not only a Washington Prize, but a national dance treasure” (Washington Post Pulitzer Prize dance critic Sarah Kaufman).Read More
Danielle Drakes
Danielle A. Drakes is equal parts artist and educator. She has been a professional theater practitioner in the DC area for more than 15 years.Read More
Laurel Gray
Internationally recognized dance scholar, choreographer, performer, and costume designer, Laurel Victoria Gray specializes in women’s dances from Silk Road cultures and the Islamic World. Read More
Carl Gudenius
Carl Gudenius is the Program Head of Theatre & Dance. In addition to teaching scenic and lighting design at GW and directing its Graduate Production Design Program, Professor Gudenius is an active professional designer.Read More
Jennifer Hopkins
Jennifer J. Hopkins is a performing artist who spends her free time teaching fitness.Read More
Leslie Jacobson
Leslie Jacobson has spent over 40 years producing, writing, directing, and teaching theatre committed to addressing societal challenges and to giving voice to people often marginalized by the dominant culture. Read More
Sigridur Johannesdottir
Sigridur is a costume designer who specializes and focuses her teaching on reproducing historical costumes based on research as well as dance costumes. She is the resident costume designer for Washington Stage Guild (DC), Ambassador Theatre (DC), and MetroStage in Alexandria VA.Read More
Jodi Kanter
As a scholar, she has been trained to apply the theoretical lens of performance to everyday practices and so, while her methodology is consistent, the subjects of her work vary wildly—from, for example, end of life health care to contemporary dramatic literature to the American Presidency. Read More
Bill Largess
Bill Largess has been a theatre artist in the Washington area for over 40 years. He is a founding member of The Washington Stage Guild, a professional theatre in downtown DC and has been artistic director since 2008. Read More
Erica Rebollar
Erica Rebollar was born in Madrid, began studies at Washington School of Ballet, and completed her BFA in dance at Cornish College of the Arts and MFA in dance at UCLA.Read More
Giselle Ruzany
Giselle Ruzany MA LPC Ph.D. (candidate) is a psychotherapist with a Master's in dance/movement therapy and has been a guest artist in 2016 and 2019 as well as an adjunct professor since 2011 at the Corcoran Theater & Dance Program. Read More
Allyson Currin Stokes
Professor Stokes is the writer of numerous original plays, which have premiered on stages around the country such as, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Signature Theatre, Mosaic Theater of DC, WSC Avant Bard and many others. Read More
Gerrad Taylor
Gerrad Alex Taylor is an actor, director, and educator based out of the DMV region.Read More
Adalia Vera Tonneyck
Adalia Vera Tonneyck is the Instructional Technologist for the Costume Studio. Adalia has worked as a designer, assistant designer and made costumes at the following theatre companies: the George Washington University, the Folger, Adventure, Synthetic, Signature, Next Stop, Constellation, the Madeira School, Brave Spirit, Charlottesville Opera and Howard.Read More
John Traub
John is currently the Assistant Professor of Production Management & Technology at the George Washington University, where he teaches numerous classes in Production Design and serves as the Technical Director for the Theatre & Dance Program. He also works as a subject matter expert in Arts Management, Production Design and fabrication for a large variety of clients throughout the East Coast. Read More
Tanya Wetenhall
A specialist in dress history, Professor Wetenhall’s teaching encompasses fashion and costume history, world dress practices, ballet design history, material culture and the decorative arts. Her research explores the manifestation of national identity in design and the aesthetic and cultural intersections of Russia, France, and Great Britain in the late modern period. Read More
Matt Wilson
Matthew R. Wilson is a union actor, director, and movement/combat choreographer, as well as a published playwright and theatre scholar. He is a two-time Helen Hayes Award recipient and seven-time nominee, and he has performed and taught at theatres, festivals, and universities around the world.Read More
Maida Withers
Known for her daring in movement and innovation as a choreographer, Maida has created a significant body of work for Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, over 150 dances of breadth and vision, involving a process of experimentation and collaboration. She has been creating visionary collaborations with global partners for more than 50 years. Read More
Jaysen Wright
Jaysen Wright is an actor, director, and teaching artist based in his hometown of Washington, DC. He is the Director of Breaking Ground, an organization for LGBTQI+ people of color in the DMV that provides community and support while also creating an original, devised work that explores themes of sexuality, racism, transphobia, physical abuse, mental health, substance abuse, and living with HIV/AIDS through music, dance, spoken word, and theater.Read More
Irina Wunder
Ms. Wunder is on the faculty of the Department of Performing Arts at American University in Washington, DC and Ballet NoVa Center for Dance in Arlington, VA. She taught at the Dance Institute of Washington and the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC.Read More
