The Dance Program coordinates a variety of opportunities for students to network with internationally recognized artists. These experiences include lectures, demonstrations, master classes, assessment classes, and week-long residencies that culminate in an original work for the stage.
2024-2025 Guest Artists
Stay tuned for more 2024-2025 artist announcements!
Allison Burke
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Allison has been dancing since she was two years old, training at various pre-professional competitive dance studios across the DFW area. In 2010, she began her collegiate studies at Chapman University to earn a Bachelors in Dance/Choreography and Bachelors in Advertising, with a minor in Film Studies. After graduation in 2014, she moved to Los Angeles and signed with MSA Talent Agency and since, Allison has booked various jobs including dancer for Jennifer Lopez at Global Citizen 2020, LIVE with Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, “Blindspotting” on STARZ, GARNIER National Commercial, NYC Times Square TruFusion Print Ad Campaign, Latin Grammys with Sebastian Yatra, RISE by Franco Dragone, and Cirque du Soleil’s 2018 & 2019 One Night for One Drop at the Michael Jackson ONE Theatre and “O” Theater. Allison has worked as an assistant to Nappytabs in “Under the Boardwalk” movie by Paramount and for Donnie Osmond Las Vegas Show. She was a Dancer and Artist Coach in Cirque du Soleil's The Beatles LOVE in Las Vegas from 2015-2020 and is currently a Warrior in Cirque’s Michael Jackson ONE directed by Jamie King. While performing, she pursued and graduated with a Masters in Business from LSUS. Allison has been nominated by the Silver State Awards for Local Female Entertainer of the Year for multiple years. She currently choreographs for The Joffrey School, Millennium Dance Complex, and The Rock Center for Dance - she has earned numerous choreography awards in Vegas and Los Angeles.
Anna Hicks
LA-based Creative Director/Dancer, Anna Hicks, was raised in both Northwest Arkansas and St. Louis, Missouri. She received a BA in Dance from Lindenwood University under the direction of Janet Strzelec and Tricia Zweier, where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary dance styles. While in school, she also studied and was a company member under the direction of Redd Williams at COCA (Center of Creative Arts) in hip hop and jazz funk. At the same time, working as a choreographer/dancer at Six Flags St. Louis. Since moving to LA, Anna has worked a wide variety of performances, ranging from company work, music videos, national and international tours to commercials, movies, residencies, and concert performances. Some of the more notable names include: Keke Palmer, Dababy, 877SellEasy national commercial (lead dancer/assistant choreographer), Rapaul’s Dragcon, Bollywood film Naa Peru Surya Naa Iiu India, Cirque Dreams Holidaze National Tour, and Cirque Dreams Elysion International Tour. In 2021, Anna started expanding her focus into creative direction, artist development, and aerial (barred). While she still continues to pursue her dance career, Anna currently is creative director for an award-winning independent music artist, Tanja. She hopes to continue working creatively long-term, as well as pursuing her passion for aerial dance.
Guest Artists
Previous Artists
- Francesca Baron - Still Inspired(?) (2020)
- Diana Barrios - Leverage Dance Theater (2015)
- Summer Beasley - Karlovsky & Company Dance (2016)
- Nickolas and Zackary Betty Neagle - NSquared Dance (2019)
- Gabriella Billy - Modern American Dance Company (2023)
- Marcus Bugler - Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre (2006 and 2007)
- Denise Caston - Broadway Dance Center (2008)
- Jovan Dansberry - King Kong on Broadway (2019)
- Gina Daugherty - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2021)
- Paula David Young - The Big Muddy Dance Company (2009 and 2012)
- Joy Davis - Countertechnique (2016)
- Christian Denise - Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal (2018)
- Ali Duffy - Flatlands Dance Theatre (2014)
- Alicia Gbaho - Beyond Measure Dance Theater (2019)
- Kate Harpootlian - Shaping Sound Dance Co. (2018)
- Trevor Harrison - Diavolo (2011)
- Keli Hermes - Leverage Dance Theater (2015)
- Madison Hicks - Moving Forward Dallas (2021)
- Kile Hotchkiss - Keigwin & Co. (2013)
- Brandon Hudson - b90creative (2021 and 2023)
- Audrey Johnston - RACE Dance Collective, Oklahoma City Ballet (2022)
- Eileen Juric - Power Dance Technique (2021)
- Renee Kester - Playdō (2024)
- Seyong Kim - Registered Somatic Dance Educator (2024)
- Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson- Saint Louis Dance Theatre (2024)
- John Lehrer - Lehrer Dance (2008, 2009, and 2010)
- Devon Lloyd, Brittany Latta, and Company - Hot Crowd (2022 and 2024)
- Joshua Manculich - Sam Houston State University (2021)
- Rian Martin-Jones - Independent Artist (2022)
- Samuel McReynolds - GREYaRea (2016, 2019, 2023)
- Ashley McQueen - Smashworks Dance (2018)
- Michael Mizeraney - Malashock Dance (2009, 2010, and 2012)
- Alicia Okouchi-Guy - Chapman University (2008 and 2013)
- Rafael Quintas - EDGE Performing Arts Center (2015 and 2019)
- Christina Robson - Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company (2015)
- Madison Steitz - Modern American Dance Company (2021)
- Tanya Strautmann Horiuchi - St. Louis Ballet (2017)
- Ashley Tate - Ashleyliane Dance Company (2018)
- Erin Warner Prange - The Big Muddy Dance Company (2018)
- Keith Tyrone Williams - Innervision Dance Theatre (2019)
- Nejla Yatkin - NY2 Dance (2013)
Field Trips
The Dance Program also coordinates regular field trips with local professional dance companies and arts organizations.
Past Trips
- American College Dance Association
- Ashleyliane Dance Company
- The Big Muddy Dance Company
- Leverage Dance Theater
- Modern American Dance Company
- MoSTLy Tap
- National Dance Week St. Louis
SYNERGY
The Dance Program also helps to maintain SYNERGY, the Lindenwood University Student Dance Club
More Information
The club is an active organization that works to unify students in dance. Synergy creates an environment which inspires and enables dancers of all backgrounds to discover their potential, strive for excellence, and improve their technique. SYNERGY also coordinates additional opportunities for guests in dance.
