OU Dance

Bangaranga! Enjoy travel snaps from Bulgaria!

Our dancers and faculty have returned from an incredible week of dancing, performing and exploring the ancient city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria!

Congratulations to all on a successful trip, and welcome home!!

Reminisce with us!!

CONTEMPORARY DANCE OKLAHOMA 2026

Photo Credits:
1. Taylor McCardle and CDO Company in “Tears of Rage” choreographed by Roxanne Lyst 📸: Lucas Knapp
2. CDO Company in “New Second Line” choreographed by Camille A. Brown 📸: Lucas Knapp
3. Dani Bush and Averie Warren in “Garage Fantasy” choreographed by Glenn Edgerton 📸: Travis Caperton
4. Trisha Pareizs and Ben Nemmers in “Retrograding” choreographed by Austin Hartel 📸: Travis Caperton
5. Averie Warren in “New Second Line” 📸: Travis Caperton
6. Kameron Bryant and Madi McVey in “Garage Fantasy” choreographed by Glenn Edgerton 📸: Travis Caperton
7. Gabby Garbarini in “Retrograding” 📸: Travis Caperton
8. CDO Company in “Tears of Rage” 📸: Lucas Knapp

CDO CREDITS:
Guest Choreographer: Camille A Brown
CDO Artistic Director/School of Dance Choreographer:
Roxanne Lyst
School of Dance Choreographers: Glenn Edgerton, Austin Hartel
Costume Designer: Paige kasulis
Lighting Designers: ruby ravsten, Philip Treviño Scenic Designer: jalisa Stage Managers: Rylee Ann Luellen,Paeton Walker Director, School of Dance: Michael Bearden

Graduate Spotlight!!

Cheyenne Lok Suet Yeng, from Malaysia, recently graduated with two degrees - a BFA in Ballet Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Biology. We are so proud of you, Cheyenne!

Favorite memory at OU?
Getting to perform Tsela by Rena Butler!

What advice would you give your younger self?
Four years go by so fast, enjoy every moment and say yes more!

What are your plans after graduation?
I will be joining Dayton Ballet (Dayton Ballet) as a studio company dancer!

Congratulations, Cheyenne! We will miss you!

OUSI update ✌️

Continuing with our 2025 - 2026 Season Recap!

2026 began with an incredible weekend of new works of collaboration between OU School of Dance Student Choreographers and Helmerich School of Drama Student Lighting Designers. The works were selected for performance by a panel of OU SOD faculty and performed by an entirely student run cast/crew. Take a look back at some of our favorite shots!

Credits:
“Pertubée”, Damerah Estelle Coleman, choreography; Malerie Po***ck, lighting design

“As Seen Through a Keyhole”, Sophia Smith, choreography; Carleigh Nickel, lighting design

“The Power Within Us”, Joelle Kimborough, choreography; Conner Lin, lighting design

“Spite and Basslines”, Darby Bauer, choreography; Mathieu Gay, lighting design

“Lotus Land”, Blake Vest, choreography; Madeline Lewis, lighting design

“Lost in Translation”, Ben Nemmers, chreography; Mathieu Gay, lighting design

“We Became the Fire”, Melissa Quirós Díaz, chreography; Mathieu Gay, lighting design

“Liminal Spaces”, Caitlin Smith, chreography; Kai Allen, lighting design

“Human”, Cheyenne Lok Suet Yang, choreography; Sophia Smith, lighting design

“Black Bird”, Kameron Bryant and Averie Warren; Conner Lin, lighting design

Dancers:
1. Kameron Bryant, Olivia Williams and YCS Company in “Lotus Land”
2. Payton Van Poppel in “Human”
3. Cheyenne Lok Suet Yang and YCS Company in “Spite and Basslines”
4. Sophie Kanzler in “The Power Within Us”
5. Dani Bush and YCS Company in “Liminal Spaces”
6. Veronica Baxter in “Liminal Spaces”
7. Ella Backus and Eve Grunenwald in “As Seen Through a Keyhole”
8. Lucy Wagner and YCS Company in “Pertubée”
9. Dani Bush in “Black Bird”
10. Andrew Parson and Taylor McCardle in “Lost in Translation”
11. Lily Potter in “We Became the Fire”
12. Olivia Williams and YCS Company in “Lotus Land”

Study Abroad Announcement!!

We are so excited to send off EIGHT of our students along with Director, Michael Bearden, and Prof. Roxanne Lyst, to Plodiv, Bulgaria!

While in Bulgaria, our students will perform choreography by faculty members, Michael Bearden, Boyko Dossev, and Roxanne Lyst at the National Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts.

Follow along as our dancers keep you up to date with their travels on Instagram stories!

Dancer Credits:

1. Larissa Yakunovich is an incoming Senior pursuing double majors in Ballet Performance and Biology. She is from Houston, Texas.

2. Danielle Bush is an incoming Junior Modern Dance Performance Major from Houston Texas.
📸: Olivia Moon

3. Eve Grunenwald is an incoming Sophomore Ballet Performance major with a double major in Communications. Her hometown is Simpsonville, South Carolina

4. Ruby Peterson is an incoming Senior Modern Dance Performance Major from Fayetteville, Arkansas.

5. Payton van Poppel is a rising Senior pursuing a double major in Ballet Performance and Business Management. She is from Frisco, Texas.

6. Madison Hoadley is a Modern Dance Performance Junior from Eldersburg, Maryland.

7. Anna Zimmerly is a rising Junior pursuing a double major in Ballet Performance and Psychology. She is from Wyoming, Ohio.

8. Zooey Cooley is an incoming Junior Modern Dance Performance Major with a Minor in Art. She is from Flower Mound, Texas.

We’re not done celebrating our 2026 graduates just yet!! Class of 2026!!

Meegan Hertensteiner, currently residing in OKC, has recently graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Dance! Her hometowns include Upper St. Clair, PA; Simsbury, CT; Norman, OK; and San Francisco, CA. Congratulations, Meegan!

Favorite memory at OU?
I am super grateful that I had the chance to Direct three new major works. Two evening length works (one of them working with 20 undergraduates), and one work which premiered at CDO ‘25.

What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to channel your inner red panda sooner and stay playfully curious.

What are your plans after graduation?
My next chapter will include revamping my dance company that I Co-Direct with former OU alum, Derek Harris. Human Creature Dance Theatre () was founded in San Francisco in 2008 and will be reestablishing here in OKC. I am also working with RACE Dance Collective (), as a company member, teacher, and staff for RACE the Space.

We are so proud of you, Meegan!

📸: Simon Hurst Photography (Photos 1&2)

Introducing our incredible Guest Faculty for the OU Dance Summer Intensive!

Swipe to read about each of the accomplished dancers/choreographers/teachers that will be imparting their knowledge to young dance students from all over the country over the next month on the University of Oklahoma’s Norman Campus!

Stay tuned for more OUSI content and keep a special eye out for the incoming Freshman Class of OU Dance who will be popping up throughout!

degree unlocked 🎓

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