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Biography

Melissa Hauschild-Mork has been teaching in higher education for 27 years; she is the only dance faculty at South Dakota State University. Mork coordinates the dance minor curriculum, teaches all the dance requirements in the minor, directs two university/partnership dance companies and acts as the resident choreographer for State University Theatre and Prairie Repertory Theatre.

Melissa has studied with a plethora of somatic-based dancers and educators over the years, received her graduate degree under the tutelage of William Evans at Indiana University, holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of South Dakota and is certified in Evans Contemporary Technique. She is a member of the National Dance Education Organization and Dance 2050. Her creative and qualitative research interests have been awarded through a variety of university and regional grant funding and focus on the effects of engagement experience in somatic-based dance environments on student development and learning. Mork presents regularly at regional, national and international conferences.

Over the years, the ‘art and science’ of teaching has been a major focus. She has been recognized as South Dakota Outstanding Dance Educator, Arts and Sciences Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Artist for the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as awarded several university teaching awards. Her goal as a dance educator is to nurture young dancers in an anatomically and biomechanically sound environment while promoting harmonious intellectual, somatic, emotional, social, spiritual and artistic growth.