Michelle Jarvis
Michelle Jarvis, Jordan College of Fine Arts
Associate Dean and Professor of Dance, received her B.A. and M.A.
from Butler University. She joined the Jordan College of Fine Arts
dance faculty in 1986 after teaching at Millikin University
(Decatur, Illinois) and the Jordan College Academy of Dance. Ms.
Jarvis is a former company member of Dance Kaleidoscope and later
became their company teacher for the 1985 season; she has also
performed with the Indianapolis Ballet Theatre. In addition to her
duties at Butler University, Ms. Jarvis has been guest teacher at
the Hartford School of Ballet, the American College Dance Festival,
Springfield Ballet, Young Audiences of Indiana, Summer Arts
Institute, True Academy of Dance Lincoln, NE and Ballet
Arkansas.
In 1999, Ms. Jarvis was named resident choreographer for
Indianapolis Opera where her choreographic work began in 1987.
Choreography includes Rigoletto, Hansel and Gretel, La Traviata and
Carmen. Currently completing her 20th opera choreography, most
recent credits include The Flying Dutchman, The Rake's Progress,
Die Fledermaus,Aida,Eugene Onegin and Samson and Delilah. As a
former artistic director for Butler Ballet II, Ms. Jarvis received
the Monticello Award in 1984 for choreographic work presented at
the Midstates Regional Ballet Festival. Other choreographic
experiences include Gifts of the Magi for Indiana Repertory
Theatre,Ragtime and Hoop-Lafor Springfield Ballet,1940's RadioHour
for Civic Theatre of Indianapolis and Nocturne for Dance
Kaleidoscope. In 1990, Ms. Jarvis reconstructed the original dances
from the National Touring Company of the original production of
Oklahoma! for the Jordan College of Fine Arts presentation of the
musical. Among her extensive choreographic credits for Butler
Ballet are Graduation Ball, Nothin' But Gershwin, Slavic Suite,
Maiden and the Nightingale, On Tap,and Pas de Grieg. Classical
repertoire includes substantial portions of choreography for The
Nutcracker,Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Coppelia and Petrouchka.
Ms. Jarvis served as the Jordan College of Fine Arts interim
dean for the academic year of 2010-11 and previously was the chair
of the department of dance and artistic director of Butler Ballet
from 2003-2010. Furthermore, she served as a national
officer and participates as an accreditation evaluator for the
National Association of Schools of Dance. Teaching areas of
expertise include Ballet Technique, Teaching Analysis of the
Classical Techniques, Spanish Character Dance, Pointe and Dance
Teaching Practicum along with choreography for the Butler
Ballet.