George Staib Brings Dynamic Energy to Goucher's Dance Department

As the Goucher College Dance Department prepares for its winter dance concert, excitement is building around the unique collaboration between resident guest artist George Staib and its students. Staib, a renowned choreographer and educator, brings years of experience and a dynamic approach to movement and storytelling to the department. This semester, he is mentoring students, teaching, and crafting an original piece, "Ugly Ducklings," which will premiere at the winter concert.

Key Takeaways:

• George Staib, a seasoned choreographer and educator, is the resident guest artist at Goucher's Dance Department, bringing his expertise to mentor students and craft an original piece, "Ugly Ducklings."
• Staib's teaching style is characterized by giving dancers freedom to explore and create, focusing on individual expression and collaboration, and using the dancers' ideas to shape the choreography.
• The selection process for guest artists involves factors such as location, experience, diverse background, teaching style, the artist's company, and their role in current dance trends.
• Ahearn, the guest artist's rehearsal director and tenured faculty of the Goucher Dance Department, praises Staib's thoughtfulness, dynamic personality, and highly expressive physical teaching style.
• Students Phoebe Harrison and Jocelyn Odom describe working with Staib as an exciting and collaborative process, where they are encouraged to take risks and explore their own creative expression.

Statistics:

• Staib has been teaching dance for over 20 years, with experience at Emory University, where he taught contemporary and ballet techniques, choreography, and a seminar on the creation and consumption of art.
• He has served on the American College Dance Association's executive committee for 18 years and is currently on Dance/USA's Board of Trustees.
• Staib's piece, "Ugly Ducklings," features a diverse cast of dance students from Goucher, including Aaliyah Hatcher, Sam Koseff, Tess Seibert, Nalani Brown, Lily Hickey, Brooke Goodwin, Yvonne Nguyen, Phoebe Harrison, Jocelyn Odom, Paige Fried, Tovah Oslovich, Lydia DeWitt, and Lily Perron.

Sources:

• [Interview with George Staib] by Joshua Haynes, '27
• [Interview with Elizabeth Ahearn, guest artist's rehearsal director and tenured faculty of the Goucher Dance Department]
• [Interview with dancers Phoebe Harrison and Jocelyn Odom]
• Dance/USA: Board of Trustees
• American College Dance Association: Executive Committee