I am a Teaching Artist in drama and dance currently working with several arts organizations on Florida's Suncoast including the Van Wezel Center's Educational program, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Florida Studio Theatre and the Sarasota Arts Foundation. My passion and background are rooted in movement, dance and musical theatre. As an educator with 22 years of university experience, I served as the director of the School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State University from 2014-2022. I also served as Executive Producer for Porthouse Theatre, Northeast Ohio's premiere summer theatre.
As an Emeritus Professor, my teaching focus is grounded in physical theatre and performance expression. I love to move and groove and currently teach dance and movement to diverse populations, including people with Parkinson Disease, neurodivergent young adults, and seniors with mobility issues. I love to use dance as a social connector. With my collaborator Deb Lombard, we have developed a weekly dance class for seniors, incorporating music and dances from specific eras, musicals and films. I have recently started a scene study class for senior adults.
I am also certified as a Wolf Trap Teaching Artist, and work to empower early childhood educators to integrate theatre and dance into their pedagogy and classrooms.
Below are videos of my teaching, a slideshow of recent teaching adventures, and my CV. Enjoy!
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| eric_van_baars_cv.pdf |