School of Theatre and Dance, University of Houston

REBECCA VALLS

School of Theatre and Dance, University of Houston

EDUCATION

1981 Masters of Fine Arts in Choreography, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York

1978 Bachelors of Fine Arts in Choreography, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana

1975 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana

CURRENT POSITIONS

2008-12 Assistant Professor of Dance, University of Houston, Houston, Texas

2000-12 Director/Choreographer, Becky Valls & Company (with Young Audiences Houston)

2007-12 Director/Choreographer, Memoirs of the Sistahood, multi-disciplinary performance series

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

2008-2012 University of Houston: Assistant Professor of Dance

1997-2008 Rice University: Director of Dance Program

1991-2008 University of Houston: Lecturer, Dance Faculty

1986-90 Sacred Heart Academy, Louisiana: Dance Specialist K-12 grades

1977-78 University of Louisiana: Lecturer, Dance Faculty

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

2002-11 National Dance Education Organization Conferences: 2002-Providence, R.I.; 2003 - University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; 2004 – Michigan State University, East Lansing;

2005 –University at Buffalo, New York; 2006- California State University at Long Beach;

2007 – Mobile, Alabama; 2008-Towson University, Baltimore, MD, 2009- New York City;

2010- Phoenix, AZ; 2011 –Minneapolis, MN

2010 Choreographer’s Lab, Jacob’s Pillow Dance, Becket, Mass 2010

(8-day research project-“A Case for Embodied Learning” by choreographers & dance researchers

2004 “Baroque and Bournonville” Catherine Turocy, Texas Women’s University, Denton, Texas (18th and 19th century ballet technique and history)

2003 Dance Intensive for Professionals, Bill Evans, Seattle, Washington

(Evans Technique, Bartenieff Fundamentals)

2001 East Coast Baroque Dance Workshop, Tom Baird, Paige Whitley-Bauguess

Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, (18th century theatrical & social dance)

2001 Arts in Education Workshop with Kathleen Kaffney of Artsgenesis Inc. of New York

Houston, Texas (Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory in the classroom)

1999 East Coast Baroque Dance Workshop, Tom Baird, Paige Whitley-Bauguess

Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, (18th century theatrical & social dance)

1998 Arts in Education workshop with Kathleen Kaffney of Artsgenesis, Inc. of New York

Houston, Texas (Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory in the classroom)

1992-6 Contemporary Dance Intensives with Nina Martin, , Jacalyn Tanzfabrik, Susan Haaigl-Robles, Pat Graney, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (modern technique, improvisation)

1988-9 Contemporary Dance Residencies with Robert Small, Rachel Lambert,

Moving South Dance Company, Lafayette, Louisiana (Modern technique, choreography)

1987 Summer Intensive-Bill Evans and Co., Janet Hamberg , Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (Evans Technique, Bartenieff Fundamentals)

1983-5  Contemporary Dance Intensives, Debbie Poulsen, Greg Lizenberry,

Newcomb College, New Orleans, Louisiana, (Evans Technique, Bartenieff Fundamentals)

1982 Erick Hawkins Residency, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana (Hawkins technique/ philosophy)

1981 "The Early Years- American Modern Dance 1900-1930”, State University of New York, Purchase, New York, (dance history conference/performances)

1979-81 Training in New York:

Graham Technique- Dennis Jefferson, Sharon Tyers, Bonnie Bird

Limon Technique- Clay Taliaferro, Sharon Bouck

Cunningham Technique- Meg Harper, Valda Setterfield, Susan Alexander

Hawkins Technique- Eric Hawkins, Nancy Meehan, Laura Pettibone

Holm Technique- Don Redlich, Murray Louis, Jennifer Donohue

Ballet - Marie Adair

Jazz Dance- Lynn Simonson Technique- Frank Mon Toya, Danny Pepitone

Improvisation- Jamie Cunningham (acting & voice), Irene Feigenheimer, Don Redlich

1977 Summer Semester with Murray Louis and Co., American University- Academy for the Performing Arts, Washington D.C. (Lighting Design, Composition, Holm Technique)

TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2008-2012, School of Theatre and Dance, University of Houston, Houston, Texas

·  Assistant Professor of Dance Fall 2008

Teach the following courses:

Senior Project and Career Management (mentor senior choreographers/prepare resumes & grant)

Dance History I (history of western theatrical dance pre-20th century)

Dance History II (20th century dance history- contemporary dance and ballet)

Dance Pedagogy I (pedagogical theory, curriculum planning, and practice teaching K-5th)

Modern Dance I (beginning level modern dance technique)

Modern Dance III (advanced intermediate modern dance technique / theory)

Advanced Technique &Theory (advanced modern dance technique/ theory)

Aesthetics of Movement (Core Course- dance appreciation)

1997-2008, Rice University, Houston, Texas

·  Director of Dance Program 2001-2008

Expand dance course offerings, create semester class schedule, do annual evaluations on dance employees, hiring of new dance faculty, manage dance program budget

·  Artistic Director/Choreographer of Rice Dance Theatre, a university modern dance company

Manage a 30-member company, produce two concerts a year, mentor choreographers, teach company modern dance classes; implement a guest artist program hiring local, national, and international dance teachers and choreographers to work with company; coordinate community outreach

·  Production Director of following RDT dance concerts:

Dangling Participle 2001, En l’air, a tere 2002, Chance Reiterated 2002, Running Up the Way

Down 2003, Stepopoly 2003, Everything + the Kitchen Sink 2004, Do you Sous Sous? 2003,

Sole Searching 2004, Once Upon A Dance 2005, Incite, Insight 2006, Excerpts from the Outside 2006, Backward with Conviction 2007, Last Call 2007

*Collaborative Concert , Rice Dance Theatre & Shepherd School of Music, Valls choreographed Kringsloop with music by Kurt Stallmann, Electronics Music Director at SSM

·  Dance Instructor- developed curriculum and taught the following courses:

Modern dance (beginning, intermediate, advanced levels)

Ballroom Dance (history and technique of foxtrot, waltz, swing, tango)

Latin Dance (history and technique of meringue, rumba, cha cha, salsa)

Country and Western Dance (history and technique of two-step, waltz, swing, polka)

Dance Improvisation and Composition

·  Development of Community classes:

“Keep on Dancing”- modern dance technique for adults

Creative Dance for Early Childhood- ages 16 months -3 years

1991-2008 School of Theatre, University of Houston, Houston, Texas

·  Lecturer Dance Faculty Position Instructor- developed curriculum and taught the following courses:

Dance History (history of western theatrical dance)

Aesthetics of Movement (dance appreciation)

Modern Dance I, II (beginning, intermediate modern dance technique)

Advanced Technique and Theory (advanced modern dance and theory)

Dance Production (craft of dance production, Production Director of UH Student Dance Concert)

Ballet I (beginning ballet technique)

Rhythm Skills for the Classroom (dance pedagogy/arts integration into curriculum)

Dance Improvisation

1990-2012, Young Audiences of Houston, Houston, Texas

·  Director/Choreographer/Performer of Becky Valls and Company

Tour three 45 min. dance programs in the schools, Dance of the Insects, For the Birds, and Under the Sea- 50 performances annually

·  Teaching Artist- conduct student workshops and residencies integrating movement into academic lessons

·  Special Needs Residencies - dance residencies culminating in performance projects at Miller Theatre and Houston Zoo for emotionally and physically challenged

·  Mentor teachers in four schools who are the recipients of the Annenberg A+ Challenge Program

1994-20012, Presenter of Professional Development Workshops on Dance

·  1994,1995, Texas Institute for Arts in Education, Houston, Texas

Presenter of 3-week Summer Session 1994, 1995- member of team of artist that trained classroom teachers in interdisciplinary arts instruction

·  2003-2011, Professional Development for Elementary Teachers- Young Audiences Houston, Texas

Presenter of 2-3 hour workshops in basic movement skills, pedagogical techniques, and the integration of movement and curriculum (TEKS) for Houston ISD, Humble ISD, Conroe ISD, Aldine ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Houston Zoo, and for Houston I.S.D. Fine Arts Strategic Initiatives. Teachers receive Gifted and Talented and Continuing Education credit

·  2005-2008, Professional Development for Young Audience’s Teaching Artist, Houston, Texas

Mentor Teaching Artist in the planning and implementation of professional development

1991-97, Texas Institute for Arts in Education, Houston, Texas

·  Teaching Artist-interface with classroom teachers in developing units of study integrating the creative process within the general curriculum and teaching lessons to students

1981-90 Moving South Dance Company, Lafayette, Louisiana

·  Company Director, Moving South Dance, Inc. Lafayette 1985-1990

Director of Repertory Company, Coordinator of Art-in-Education touring program,

·  Member of Board of Directors, Editor of Newsletter, Writer/Administrator of grants

·  Dance Instructor- taught modern dance ( all levels), ballet, creative movement (ages 3 yrs. to adult)

·  Choreographer and recipient of project grants for choreography

1986-90 Sacred Heart Academy, Grand Coteau, Louisiana

·  Dance Instructor for grades K-12 – developed a comprehensive arts curriculum that included:

Technique-modern dance, ballet, jazz

Improvisation and composition (creative dance K-6th, improvisation 7-12th)

Dance history and criticism

Dance Production and performance

·  Director/Choreographer of dance company and school musicals- Wizard of Oz, Godspell

1977-78 School of Art & Architecture, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana

·  Dance Lecturer / choreographer for “The Company”

·  Courses: Intermediate Modern Dance; and Performance I

CONTEMPORARY CHOREOGRAPHY

*Choreography selected for juried, invitational, or adjudicated concert

Professional Choreography:

Memoirs of the Sistahood- Chapter Three: Ave Maria, Diverse Works Houston October 2011

& Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, March 2012

Red Square (reconstruction), Navigating the Hallway Concert, Contemporary Art Museum Houston, Texas October 2010

Expressiones Cuatro Concert, Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe, Arizona March 2011

Unhinged* (solo), Big Range Dance Festival, Houston, Texas June 2010

Eyebox*, Co-choreographed with Leslie Scates, Big Range Dance Festival, Houston, Texas

June 2010

Madonna, Let’s Dance Concert, Miller Outdoor Theatre, Houston, Texas, April 2010 and

Faculty Dance Concert, College of Brockport, NY, November 2010

Memoirs of the Sistahood, Chapter Two: House, (evening length), Barnevelder Theatre, Houston, Texas, October 2009

(In collaboration with sculptor, Babette Wattigny, film maker, Deborah Schildt)

Territory, Big Range Dance Festival, Barnevelder Theatre, Houston, Texas, May 2009

Memoirs of the Sistahood- Chapter One, (evening length)

Diverse Works Arts Space, Houston, Texas, December 2007

Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, Louisiana., April 2009

(In collaboration with sculptor, Babette Wattigny, film maker, Deborah Schildt, and music composer, Misha Penton)

Static, *Weekend of Texas Contemporary Dance, Miller Theatre, Houston, Texas,

September 2006

Façade, *Big Range Dance Festival, Barnvelder Theatre, Houston, Texas, June 2005

On the Wing, Weekend of Texas Contemporary Dance, Miller Theatre, Houston, Texas,

September 2004

Palmetto, *12 Min. Max Concert, Diverse Works, Houston, Texas, October 1999

Farewell, Arts Alliance Center, Clear Lake, Texas, January1998

Collaboration with choreographer, Victoria Loftin, and artist, Surpik Z. Angellini

Daisy and Lily, *Houston Dance Coalition, Cullen Theatre, Houston, Texas, October 1997

Diary of a Mad Domestic, Weekend of Texas Contemporary Dance, Houston, Texas,

September 1995

White Wind, *JCC Dance Month –Choreographers X6 Concert, Houston, Texas, January 1994

Red Square, *Houston Dance Coalition, Cullen Theatre, Houston Texas, October 1992

Passage, *Six Choreographers Concert, Cullen Theatre, Houston, Texas, November 1990

Children of the Rhyme, *University of Louisiana Artist Showcase, Lafayette, Louisiana,

November 1990

Cajun Days of the Week, Collaboration with choreographers of Moving South Dance, Inc

Tour of Festivals, France- 4 week tour, July 1990

New Orleans Residency - 60 school performances/6 weeks, November/December 1986

Children’s International Festival, Wolftrap, Virginia, 1986, 1987

Companion Pace, Moving South Dance Concert, Lafayette, Louisiana, April 1988

Sacred Shadows, Moving South Dance Concert, Lafayette, Louisiana, April 1986

(Collaborative project with ethnomusicologist Austin Sonnier and sculptor Babette Wattigny)

Private Property, Moving South Dance Concert

Heymann Center for the Arts, with Lafayette Ballet, Lafayette, Louisiana, April 1985

*Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 1986

*Museum of Fine Arts, Sculpture Symposium, Houston, Texas April 1986

A Day in the Life, Moving South Dance Concert, Lafayette, Louisiana, March 1984

Summer Song, Baton Rouge Ballet Concert, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 1982

On the Beach, Moving South Dance Concert, Lafayette, Louisiana, January 1982

Cajun Grass, Moving South Dance Concert, Heymann Center, Lafayette, Louisiana,

January 1982

Student Choreography:

Dangle, Faculty Dance Concert, Wortham Theatre, University of Houston, Houston,

Texas, April 2011

The Seduction of Brie, Faculty Dance Concert, Wortham Theatre, University of Houston,

Houston, Texas, April 2011

Different Trains

SFA Concert, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, Texas, February 2011

Faculty Dance Concert, Wortham Theatre, University of Houston, Texas April 2010

American College Dance Festival, Sam Houston University, Huntsville, TX March 1999

Beater Wife, Faculty Dance Concert, Wortham Theatre, University of Houston,

Houston, Texas ,April 2009

Sisterhood, Rice Dance Theatre, Hamman Hall, Rice University, Houston, Texas, April; 2007

Red Squares, Rice Dance Theatre, Hamman Hall, Rice University, Houston, Texas, April 2005

Rose and Alice, Faculty Dance Concert, University of Houston, Wortham Theatre, Houston, Texas April 2005

Kringsloop, Collaboration Concert with Rice Dance Theatre and Shepherd School of Music,

With original music by Kurt Stallmann, Stude Hall, Houston, Texas April 2005

White Bird, Faculty Dance Concert, University of Houston, Wortham Theatre, Houston, Texas

April 2003

Spotless, Rice Dance Theatre Concert, Hamman Hall, Rice University, Houston, Texas,

April 2002

War Hall, Rice Dance Theatre, Houston, Harjo Black Box, Rice University, Texas, April 2001

Lumbranzi’s Buffoonery, Rice Dance Theatre, Harjo Black Box, Rice University, Houston, Texas November 1999

Through Guilded Trellises, Faculty Dance Concert, University of Houston, TX, April 2000

River of Milk, Faculty Dance Concert, University of Houston, TX, April 1999

Isecta Side, Faculty Dance Concert, University of Houston, TX, April 1996

Support System, American College Dance Festival, Little Rock, AK, March 1993

Timeless Images, Sacred Heart High School, Grand Coteau, La., April 1989

Raining Men, Sacred Heart High School, Grand Coteau, Louisiana, May 1988

Hot Lunch, Sacred Heart High School, Grand Coteau, Louisiana, May 1986

Lollywally, ACDFA National Dance Concert, Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., May 1981

Cajun Grass, S.L.C. Dance Concert, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, April 1981

Woman, S.L.C. Dance Concert, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York, April 1980

Choreography for Choreo-Dance Theatre, University of Louisiana, Lafayette 1976-78: Bon Temp (1976), Three Tempo-Rock (1976), Bearing Roots (1976), Overture to the Sun(1977),On the Wing (1977), From the Earth (1978), Mime (1978), Mother (1978), Ritual (1978)

PERFORMING EXPERIENCE

Memoirs of the Sistahood- Chapter Three: Ave Maria, Diverse Works Houston October 2011

& Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, March 2012

Blurred, Choreography by Karen Stokes, AURA Concert, Moore’s School of Music, Houston, TX,

April 2011

Red Square (solo performance), Expresiones Cuatro Concert, Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe, AZ