The Department of Theatre and Dance
Sam Houston State University
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Dana E. Nicolay
Dana Nicolay holds the rank of Professor of Dance at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He is an award-winning choreographer, respected teacher, capable administrator and an over-the-hill dancer. He holds the Master of Fine Arts degree from Texas Christian University and is a Certified Laban/ Bartenieff Movement Analyst.
As an administrator Nicolay served as the acting Dean of the newly organized College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication at SHSU for the first half of 2011 and as Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences from 2004 until 2010. From 2005 until its’ opening in August of 2010 he chaired the programming and design committee for the James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center, a 100,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility housing entirely new dance facilities including a 165-seat Dance Theatre, four large (2200 sq. ft.) dance studios, 10 new faculty offices, a body conditioning studio, computer lab, costume shop and dance library. In addition the GPAC also houses theatre production facilities and rehearsal rooms, an 800-seat concert hall and a 175-seat recital hall, as well as over 20 new faculty offices for Theatre and Music faculty members. The 7,000 square foot lobby showcases major public artworks by noted artists such as James Surls, Hoss Haley, Tim Prentice and Kathleen Ash. The Performing Arts Center is the ultimate realization of an enduring interest in facilities development that originally produced major renovations of the previous Dance Program facilities in Academic Building 3, providing five studios, a semi-formal 140-seat Dance Theatre and a costume shop.
Prior to his appointment to Associate Dean, Dana served as Dance Program Coordinator From 1991 until 2002. Under his leadership, the program achieved 14 selections for American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA) regional festival gala concerts, which ultimately lead to 5 consecutive bi-annual presentations at the National College Dance Festival, at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. In 1998, his work, entitled Sabachthani, was one of those national selections. The SHSU Dance Program also hosted the South Central Regional Festivals in 1994 and 1996. He served as Festival Coordinator for both of these festivals after which he was invited to become a member of the national board of ACDFA. He stayed on the board from 1996 until 2002 serving the final three years as the South Central Regional representative. In 1997 Nicolay directed and produced The Nutcracker, the first full-length ballet performed at SHSU. This production was remounted in 1999, 2001 and 2006. In 2001 his ‘Snow Scene’ was presented at the ACDFA South Central Festival where it was selected for the gala concert. Other gala selections of his work include Vivaldi Trois (1989), Anthem (1991), Into Darkness (1993). The Mid-America Dance Network, Regional Dance America and the Houston Dance Coalition have also recognized his work for excellence.
Prior to entering academia Mr. Nicolay was a member of professional ballet companies such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet directed by Arnold Spohr, the Houston Ballet directed by Ben Stephenson, the Dayton Ballet directed by Jon Rodriguez and the Omaha Ballet directed by Tomas Enckell and Katherine Horne. He also dance professionally with noted modern dance companies, most significantly Space/Dance/Theatre directed by James Clouser and Contemporary Dancers Canada, directed by Bill Evans and Tedd Robinson. He performed as a guest artist with the Houston Grand Opera in the world premier of Sir Michael Tippet’s opera New Year directed by Sir Peter Hall with original choreography by Bill T. Jones.
Mr. Nicolay’s ballet repertory include the works of many noted choreographers such as George Balanchine, Sir Frederic Ashton, Eugene Loring, August Bournonville, David Lichine, Oscar Ariaz, John Cranko, and John Neumier. He has also had the opportunity to work directly with a number of other internationally recognized choreographers including Agnes De Mille, Rudy Van Dantzig, Hans Van Manen, Bill T. Jones, Sir Peter Wright, Dan Wagoner, Vicente Nebrada, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Bill Evans, James Clouser, Loyce Houlton, Stuart Sebastian, Robert Rodham, Norbert Vesak, Nils Christe, Michael Kelly Bruce, Nita Little, Douglas Dunn, Gus Solomons jr, Terry Creach and Steve Koester, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, and Stephanie Ballard.
While working on the Master of Fine Arts degree at Texas Christian University, Dana was privileged to work with Dr. Dan Southard in the areas of Motor Control and Motor Behavior, as well as in Biomechanics. He also worked with Dr. Ken Lawrence in the study of Religious Art throughout the ages and across many cultures.
In 2003-2004 Dana took a developmental leave from SHSU to undertake Laban Movement Analysis certification through Integrated Movement Studies. This program of study with Peggy Hackney, Janice Meaden and Ed Groff was a profound and rewarding educational experience. The LMA content was presented in such a thoroughly integrated curriculum that it provided transformational insight into not only the ways in which we derive meaning from human movement, but into the very nature of life as a human being.
