Research Statement

My research combines both creative and scholarly mediums, and pursues the analysis of historical, cultural, pedagogical, and interdisciplinary modes in relation to classical and contemporary ballet. Four primary interests comprise my current research agenda: best practices for effective and efficient collaboration in the arts; the authentic use of character, folk, and ethnic dance forms in ballet and the potential for these dance forms to assist with cross-cultural communication and understanding; the development of ballet as a tool for community outreach programs and atypical learning groups; and the incorporation of technology in dance education for pedagogical effectiveness and efficiency.

Each of these research aspects serve to enhance the presence of classical and contemporary ballet in higher education. From the strong influence of music in my choreography and collaborative activities, to the study of world dance forms and involvement in outreach programs, my creative and scholarly research constantly connects various art forms and external fields to ballet. I am enthusiastic about the possibilities for pedagogical development and artistic innovation in ballet, and my research will continue to investigate and inform the interdisciplinary, societal, and educational attributes of this art form.    

Research Keywords

  • Folk or Ethnic Arts
  • Collaborative art
  • Choreography

Creative Research

  • Spanish character dance featured in "Carmen" for the School of Dance Gala. Choreography for 12 dancers, based on the patterns of Sevillanas with a focus on Flamenco dance traditions and the use of castanuelas/castanets for rhythmic accompaniment. Choreography, completed 04/02/2022.
    https://issuu.com/uofudance/docs/s22_gala_concert_...
  • "Threshold" for Fall Concert I. 15-minute contemporary ballet work for 19 dancers (2 casts). Choreography, completed 10/23/2021.
    https://vimeo.com/676790466/6b1720057f
  • "Dream Scene from Don Quixote" for Utah Ballet II live-streamed performances. Restaging of classical ballet repertoire, after Alexander Gorsky. 14-minute piece for 17 dancers. Adaptation, completed 04/24/2021.
    https://vimeo.com/676725289/1a6f991f70
  • "Intermission" for the Utah Ballet II live-streamed performances. 13-minute work for 12 dancers, including both screendance and live performance components. Collaboration with the University of Utah Campus Symphony (Dr. Robert Baldwin, Brandon Horrocks, and Mike Leavitt). Choreography, completed 04/24/2021.
    https://vimeo.com/557449077/890c911b33
  • "Ebb & Flow" for the Utah Ballet I live-streamed performances. 16-minute work for 7 dancers with a focus on the elements of grief. Also presented as part of Red Butte Garden’s BOOtanical Festival (10/26/2020) Choreography, completed 10/24/2020.
    https://vimeo.com/503550267/3ee8d1b9cb
  • "Hungarian Dances #5 and #6" for the Salt Lake Symphony's Family Concert, featuring dancers from the School of Dance. Choreography based on research from Character Dance Ensemble's 2015 tour to Budapest, Hungary. Choreography, completed 02/01/2020.
    http://www.saltlakesymphony.org/season.filter.php?...
  • "The Firebird (Berceuse and Finale) and Swan Lake (Act IV)" Choreography for the Salt Lake Symphony, featuring students from the School of Dance. Creative research focused on collaboration between live music and ballet, development of plot within musical excerpts, and adaptation of classical ballet repertoire in unique performance spaces. Choreography, completed 01/12/2019.
    http://saltlakesymphony.org/season.filter.php?seas...
  • "Trochi Balbatni" Creative research of Belorussian folk dance, restaged for Character Dance Ensemble and presented in Florence, Italy. Choreography, completed 05/2018.
  • "Janana" Creative research of Afghan folk dance and music. Developed with International Movement & Music Collective in collaboration with, and live musical accompaniment from, Eastern Arts and Qais Essar Ensemble. Choreography, completed 03/2018.
  • "Gragnili Biliki" Creative research and performance choreography based on Georgian folk dance movement. Research was enhanced by cultural exchange with Ensemble Gurjaani of Georgia, and also contributed to reworking "Gantiadi" for Character Dance Ensemble's repertoire, as well as Georgian etude for Character Dance II course. Choreography, completed 11/07/2017.
  • "Gilaki Rice Dance" Creative research and performance choreography based on ethnic cultural traditions of northern Iran. Performances: Eccles Theatre Grand Opening (10/22/2016) and WorlDance (11/16/2016) Choreography, completed 11/16/2016.
  • Choreography for Utah Ballet/Character Dance Ensemble performance: - "Gantiadi" (based on Georgian women's ethnic dances and also presented for WorlDance) - "Seguidilla" (developed from research in the Basque region of Spain) - "Yablochko" (Russian folk dance medley) Choreography for WorlDance: - "Samaia" (depicting the remaining frescoes of Queen Tamar of Georgia) Choreography, completed 11/15/2014.

Geographical Regions of Interest

  • Azerbaijan
    Choreographic interest, with small group study under the tutelage of Namus Zokhrabov (former soloist and resident choreographer with the State Ensemble of Azerbaijan).
  • Czech Republic
    Choreographic interest in Czech, Slovak, and Moravian dance and music. Coordinated research tour in Prague for Character Dance Ensemble in 2019.
  • Hungary
    Coordinated research trip for Character Dance Ensemble to study at the Hungarian Dance Academy (2015). Studied folk foundations of the Hungarian Csardas as applicable to ballet and character dance.
  • Japan
    Choreographic interest in traditional Japanese folk dance and theatrical movement practices. Coordination started in August 2019 and is in progress for Character Dance Ensemble's upcoming research tour to Tokyo in May 2023 (postponed from 2020).

Publications

  • Sheedy-Kramer, J. (2015). The Symphony and the Ballet: Select Compositions of Tchaikovsky as an Educational Tool for Music and Ballet. The Journal of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, Vol. 92. 47–65. Published, 03/2016.
    http://www.utahacademy.org/academy-journal/