Alumna Colleen Barnes Presentation & Panel at CORPS de Ballet International

Alumna Colleen Barnes (Ballet MFA ‘17) gave a presentation titled “Collaborate or Get Cut” and participated in a panel titled “Ballet Across Communities” at the 27th Annual CORPS de Ballet International Conference, this year hosted on the U campus from June 18-20, 2025. Barnes is currently Assistant Professor at the University of Akron.

Presentation Title:
Collaborate or Get Cut: How Sharing Resources Can Save a Dance Program

Abstract:
Higher education and arts institutions are increasingly targeted for budget cuts nationwide. Collaboration and the sharing of resources have become absolutely necessary not only for the survival, but the overall continued vitality of the arts. This poster illuminates how a globally famous ballet school found an academic home within an unlikely university to further the respective missions of both institutions, perhaps even saving the program in higher education altogether. The presentation will include how this partnership came to fruition; how it benefits both entities; and how the partnership further bridges the gap between higher education and the professional school. Further, this research strategizes a practical approach in forming symbiotic, collaborative relationships between and among entities which might not otherwise overlap. 

Panel Title:
Ballet Across Communities: Socio-Cultural Comparisons and Institutional Practices in Higher Education

Abstract:
(presented with Ilana Goldman, Associate Professor, Florida State University; Jamie Johnson, Associate Professor, Utah Valley University; Christa St. John, Assistant Professor, Utah Valley University) This panel discussion explores the complex interplay between socio-cultural factors and ballet practices in higher education. Bringing together influential ballet educators from a range of higher education dance programs, the panel examines how ballet is situated within their respective communities, focusing on the intersection of local demographics, cultural expectations, and institutional structures. The conversation highlights how societal shifts are currently shaping ballet training and practice in academic settings. Panelists delve into regional and cultural differences that influence both pedagogy and performance, offering insights into how these factors either challenge or reinforce traditional norms within ballet. The discussion analyzes how existing structures within academic spaces can be adapted and reimagined to develop ballet communities. By exploring the cross-commonalities and divergent experiences arising from these socio­cultural influences, the panel investigates how local, regional, and national factors converge to shape the lived experiences of ballet practitioners. Through this dialogue, the panel seeks to explore best practices amongst university professors to support community­building and foster excellence in ballet education.