Michele Owens, B.A., M.A.,
Teacher, dancer, choreographer, and artist-in-residence, Michele has worked with hundreds of students during her 30 year career in dance education. A graduate of the University of Texas, Michele received a M.A. from the University of Utah where she was awarded the Dee. R. Winterton Award for Excellence in Dance. One of five dance educators in the nation chosen for the NEA’s 1993 Artcorps Program, Michele believes in the universal power of dance to touch people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. This drives her dance residency projects in the public schools which have been supported through state and city funding. This includes Wings, which involves students with disabilities from Crockett High School who tour and perform in the public schools. Michele, with Wings, was the featured artist for the 2005 Dance for the Planet festival. On faculty at the Performing Arts School at Zachary Scott Theater, Michele is also a teaching artist for VSA of Texas. This is the 17th year that Michele has directed Austin’s only modern dance school for children at Café Dance. An innovative and loving teacher, Michele creates an environment where students can feel the joy of dance as they come to know and value themselves.

Express – Modern technique develops expressive use of the body with a focus on body awareness, problem solving, self-expression, flexibility and strength.

Create – Students are at the forefront of the dance experiment during improvisation and composition exercises. The creative process is understood through exploration with the basic elements of movement.

Collaborate – Students learn how to support each other and share diverse ideas when they work with others. They develop sensitivity and respect toward each other and become important members of a group