Mayra Amaya (Theatre)
Tony Carrillo (Art)
Rachel Eskandari (Art)
Michael Healy (Film)
Molly Kirwan (Dance)
Korbi Adams (Music)
Lucas Mariacher (Film)
James Williams (Music)
Student Stories
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Molly Kirwan |
Molly Kirwan finds Inspiration in Contemporary Dance
I have been a cook at a gourmet pizza restaurant in Montana every summer since high school. Working summers back home allows me to concentrate on my dance and creative writing classes during the school year.
I have been a dancer since I was 6 years old and always wanted to study dance in college. I couldn't pursue collegiate-level dance back home, because there are not as many opportunities in Montana as I have found here at Arizona State University. Until college, I was only able to study jazz and classical ballet, and while this provided a solid foundation, I really found my niche in contemporary dance here in the Herberger College.
The Herberger College has many highly regarded aspects, but I have been most impressed by the faculty. The Department of Dance has some of the most innovative and inspirational teachers in the field today. Jennifer Tsukayama, also known as "The Force" by her students, is a powerhouse. Her class literally changed my life. Her classes are mentally and physically challenging and inspire students to tap into their creativity. Mary Fitzgerald cares so much about her work and gives her students a new respect for theirs. In Karen Schupp's class, you don't stop moving from the time class starts to the minute it ends.
I could go on and on about the teachers who have impacted my educational experience. They have made me change the way I view myself and my dancing. Their encouragement and mentorship has given me a new confidence in my work and has opened my eyes to entirely new ways of thinking about dance.
Being part of a smaller program within a large university gives me the best of both worlds. I get a plethora of opportunities that large schools offer, as well as the familiarity of a close-knit community. This year I am a community assistant in one of the campus residence halls, which allows me to explore another facet of my personality and connect other students to the University and the Herberger College.