Thea Patterson

Graduate SAC Chair in Dance

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Hi there! My name is Thea (pronounced tae-uh) Patterson, and I am a second-year Graduate student in the School of Dance pursuing my MFA in Ballet in addition to a Certificate in Gender Studies. Originally from Oakland, California, I worked as a freelance dancer, teacher, and choreographer in the Bay Area for many years before moving to Salt Lake City to attend the U. My research centers on dissecting and analyzing the construct of the “ballet body,” and the mental health impact this construct can have on ballet’s practitioners. Ultimately, I hope to continue working in higher education after graduating in the Spring of 2023. I want to continue researching, teaching, and choreographing with the ultimate goal of making ballet more inclusive on both recreational and professional levels. 

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