Denise Damon Wade

Areas of Specialization

Choreography, Performance, Theatre Movement 

Courses Taught

Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Group Choreography, Dance on Screen

Student Advising

Orchesis Dance Company, Dance Minors, Interdisciplinary Studies, Honors Program

Background

Denise Damon Wade is a teacher, performer, and choreographer with a passion for dance and theatre. She received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Michigan. Upon completion of her M.F.A., Wade moved to New York City where her professional career included working with Igal Perry, performing with the Peridance Ensemble, serving as Assistant Director of Peridance, NYC, and teaching, competing and performing with the Stepping Out Ballroom Studio. Upon the invitation of Artistic Director Ursula Bischoff-Mussaka, Wade moved to Stuttgart, Germany for three years to perform with the TELOS Tanz Theatre and teach for the Telos-Buhne. While in Europe she worked with many diverse choreographers including Amiel Malale, Erik Franklin, Nadir Benbeleaid, Alexander Roy, Jochen Heckmann, Drago Boldin, and Bruno Amilhastre. Since returning to the United States, she has performed with The Fairfax Ballet, Arlington Dance Theatre, Assemblage, and for many independent choreographers.

Wade’s contemporary choreography has been presented by the College of William & Mary, the American College Dance Festival, Dance Place, Fairfax Ballet, Gravity Optional, Kilmarnock Center for the Arts, the Sacred Dance Guild, and TELOS Tanz Theatre. She also choreographs regularly for William & Mary Theatre and the Virginia Shakespeare Festival and co-choreographed Journey of Destiny, a collaborative work celebrating the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown. Her current research involves dance for the camera, and she has directed two short experimental films, Irma (2011), and Home (2013), which explore the melding of dance and film. She has taught modern, ballet, jazz, ballroom and liturgical dance in both the United States and abroad including classes and workshops for Beijing Normal University, the Sacred Dance Guild, Longwood University, Old Dominion University, TELOS Tanz Theatre, Peridance, New York City Park Service, the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia Adult Christian Formation Conference (Shrinemont), Williamsburg Summer Music Camp, and the Russell School of Ballet. Wade co-founded and co-directed Gravity Optional Dance Company for eight years, and she is co-founder and co-director of the St. Martin's Liturgical Dance Company.