STEPHEN WELSH/SWERVE

Education

MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 1988
BA in Art History, Concentration in Dance, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 1984

Teaching Experience

Modern
  • College Level
    • Swarthmore College 1996 – present
    • Eastern University 2005 – present
    • Comm. College of Philadelphia 1999 – present
    • Drexel University 2005 – 2006, 2008
    • Bryn Mawr College 2004
    • University of Pennsylvania 1995 – 1997, 1999-2004
    • University of the Arts 2000
  • Adults and Teens
    • Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center, Pennsylvania 1995 – 2006
    • First Position Movement Arts, Pennsylvania 2004 – 2006
    • Russian Ballet Centre, Delaware 2000, 2001
    • Astoria Dance Center, New York 1994
    • Nikolais/Louis Dance Lab, New York 1988
  • Master Classes
    • Budzynski Studio, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 1997 – 1999
    • Stockton State College, New Jersey 1996, 2004
    • East Orange High School, New Jersey 1995
    • Fort Myers Catholic High, Florida 1995
    • Rye Country Day School, New York 1994
Improvisation
  • Master Classes
    • Trinity College, Connecticut 1994
    • Holy Cross College, Massachusetts 1992
Creative Dance
  • Pre-school – 8th Grade
    • Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center, Pennsylvania 1995 – 2000
    • Community Education Center, Pennsylvania 1995
    • South Phila. Outreach Camp Programs, Pennsylvania 1995
    • Headstart Programs, New York 1992 – 1995
    • NAACP Center, New York 1992 – 1995
    • Day Care Centers in Chinatown, New York 1992 – 1995
Dance Therapy
  • Youth with severe ADHD
    • Children’s Crisis Center, Pennsylvania 1998 – 2000
  • HIV Positive Children
    • St. Anne’s Homeless Shelter, New York 1992 – 1994
Ballet
  • Adult and Teens
    • First Position Movement Arts, Pennsylvania 2006 – present
    • Working Pointe Studio, Pennsylvania 1995 – 2000
    • Bank Street College, New York 1990
Yoga/Stretch
  • Multi-level Classes
    • Community College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2002 – present
  • 2nd Grade – Elderly
    • Agnes Irwin Summer Session 2006 – present
    • Bala Cynwyd Gym, Pennsylvania 2005
Lecture/Demos
  • Audience Appreciation
    • Grant Sponsored Area 6 – 12 grades 2007 – present
  • Improvisational Duets
    • Academy of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania 1995 – 2002
  • Creative Process
    • Movement Theater International, Pennsylvania 1995 – 1996
  • Choreographing
    • Job Corps Center, Pennsylvania 1994
  • Personal Rituals
    • Charlotte Country Day School, North Carolina 1992
    • Heritage Hills, New York 1991 – 1992
Guest Choreographer
  • Princeton University, Stockton State College, West Chester University 1996 – 2005

Choreography

Caught in the Crosshairs Community Education Center, Philadelphia 2008

Comic solo demonstrating a re-imagined 007’s uncanny ability to escape whatever deadly situation he encounters.

Under a Microscope McInnis Auditorium, Eastern University, St. David’s, Pa. 2008

12 person abstract work revealing particles that randomly accumulate, disperse and then reform in discernable patterns.

Phantom Troops Mandell Theater, Philadelphia 2008

23 min. dance/theater event, based on secret mission of WWII decoy units involving original music, visual art, prop play and aerial stunt work performed In-progress by Drexel Dance Ensemble in February and again as a completed work At the Philly Fringe Festival in September

Off Kilter 2007 – 2008

Performed by Stephen Welsh/SWERVE at Philly Fringe Festival’s International House, Main Line First Friday Showcase and for ACDFA in Towson, Maryland.

Near Miss Eastern University and Main Line First Friday Showcase 2006

10 person dance

Put on a Happy Face Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania 2006

Dark Comedy about plastic surgery addicts with original script and aerial fabric choreography

Wherewithall Eastern University and Drexel University 2005, 2006

9 person group dance

Suiting Up Eastern University 2005

Comic duet performed by Stephen and his wife, Lisa Welsh

Outstretched In 2005, 2006

Sextet performed at Philly Fringe Festival, Swarthmore College, and Bryn Mawr

Ensnarled Iron Gate Theater, Philadelphia 2004

Commissioned by Fusion 2

Glimpses Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr 2004

Duet with new toddler twins

Coming Through 2003, 2004

Large group work commissioned by Princeton University; Performed by Princeton, Drexel and West Chester University students.

Serpentine Community Education Center, Philadelphia 2002

Snake-like quartet performed by Stephen Welsh/Swerve

Serpentine Outback Iron Gate Theater, Philadelphia 2002

Curvilinear Sextet performed by the Fusion2 Dancers

Desert Bloom Painted Bride and Fairmont Park Wheelchair Facility 2002

Multimedia project with Fusion 2 Dancers and teenagers with cerebral palsy

Relinquish Temple University and Swarthmore College 2001

Ritualized solo with lit candle walking performance

Hushed Painted Bride and CEC 2000, 2001

Tribal group work performed by Swarthmore College, Drexel University and Fusion 2 Dancers

Fashion Miss-Fits Merriam Theater, Philadelphia 2000

A spoof of runway fashion modeling; Commissioned by U Arts

Two Upon a Mattress International House, Philadelphia and Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania 2000, 2001

Gymnastic male partnering duet on a mattress

Corporate Takeover Drexel University and Penndance at Mandell Theater and MTI, Philadelphia 1999, 2000

Twelve person epic based on aggression in the work place.

General Anesthesia Kumquat and Swarthmore College 1998 – 1999

Humorous male trio with real hospital gurney performed on Glue Series

Nautical Dash Kumquat, Conwell, and the Drake for Philadelphia’s 2000 Feet Celebration 1998-2000

Spoof of aquatic sports commissioned by Fusion 2 Dancers. Performances

Sleepless Painted Bride and Kumquat, Philadelphia 1998

Sextet dealing with insomnia commissioned by Fusion 2 Dancers

Doves (Excerpts from Suite Aviation.) Conwell and 2000 Feet Celebration 1999
Suite Aviation Community Education Center, Philadelphia 1998

Bird-like sextet to Vivaldi and Bach; Funded by IPAP Grant

Christmas Suite Germantown Friends School and Mandell Theater, Philadelphia 1997 – 1998

Part of annual Twelve Days of Christmas Show by Gwendolyn Bye and Dance Fusion

Interplay Parallax Studio and University of Pennsylvania Art Museum, Philadelphia 1997 – 1998

Septet commissioned by Fusion 2 Dancers

Urban Rotation Drake and Kumquat, Philadelphia 1997

Trio with life-size revolving door

Custom Wrapped Stockton College and Kumquat 1997

Sextet inspired by Classical Indian dance; Commissioned by Stockton College

Passage Annenberg Theater, MTI and Kumquat, Philadelphia 1996 – 1997

Athletic male trio influenced by Hip Hop and African dance

Facings Painted Bride, Kumquat and Swarthmore College 1996 – 1997

Theatrical gender questioning quartet. Performed at the

ShE-MAIL Community Education Center, Philadelphia 1996

Comic female duet based on an anonymous E-MAIL relationship

Flocking 1995-96

Highly physical quintet choreographed with funding from a PIAIS Grant and New Performance Dance Mix Exchange Grant; Performed at Conwell Hall, C.E.C., Danceworkspace, Philadelphia and U. Settlement, NYC.

Skitter Annenberg, Phiadelphia 1995

10 person work commissioned by University of Pennsylvania

Fractured Orbits 1995 – 1996, 1998

Abstract quartet inspired by Chaos Theory. Performed at 92nd Street, Hunter College, NYC and Movement Theater International, Philadelphia

Ozone 1993 – 1994

Futuristic multimedia quintet performed at Washington Square Church White Street Theater, Williamsburg Outdoor Festival, Charas Center, NYC

Performance Experience

Jeanne Ruddy Dance 2001 – 2005
  • Touring repertory troupe directed by former Graham Company Soloist, Jeanne Ruddy
  • Performed in works by Jeanne Ruddy and Jane Comfort at the Painted Bride Arts Center, Kimmel Center, Performance Garage and Mandell Theater, Philadelphia
  • Toured to Heintz Theater Pittsburgh.
Louise Gillette 1997 – 2003
  • Trapezius aerial dance company
  • Performances at Conwell Hall, The Wilma Theater, Philadelphia Fringe Festivals, Martha’s Vineyard Residency
  • Guest artist at Boulder CO. Int’l Aerial Dance Festival
Dance Del Bello 1998, 2000
  • Featured roles in Cinderella and The Nutcracker, directed by Delphine Del Bello
  • Bucks County Community College Playhouse
Lisa Bardarson 1998
  • Funded by Philly Dances
  • Performed at Drake Theater, Philadelphia
Dance Theater of Pennsylvania 1998, 1999
  • Featured roles in Cinderella and The Nutcracker, directed by Marilyn Budzynski
  • Bucks County Community College Playhouse.
Dance Fusion 1995 – 2005
  • Repertory Modern Dance Company featuring works by Gwendolyn Bye, Mary Anthony, Kun Yang, Colin Conner, Anna Sokolow, Stephen Welsh
  • Performances at Movement Theater International and Germantown Friends, Philadelphia
SCRAP 1995
  • Performance Art and Dance Collective
  • Performances at Arts Bank, Philadelphia
Convergence 1995
  • Choreography by Janea Rose Lynn
  • Performance at Philadelphia Museum of Art
Anna Sokolow 1995 – 1996
  • Historic pioneer in American Modern Dance
  • Performances at Central Park, Summerstage, 96th Street Playhouse, Danny Kaye Playhouse, The Church of Our Savior, New York City
StraightJacket 1991 – 1995
  • Co-artistic Director along with David Matiano
  • Extensive performing throughout New York City including Washington Square Church, White Street Theater, the Cunningham Studio, Charas Community Center, Williamsburg Outdoor Festival in Brooklyn and Carnegie Hall’s APAP presenters convention
  • Tours to Rye Country Day School, Rye, NY; Belvoir Terrace Arts Camp, Belvoir, MA; Trinity College, CT; Fort Meyers, FL
Rondo Dance 1989 – 1992
  • Repertory Modern Dance Company featuring works by noteworthy American Theater Choreographers such as: Jose Limon, Moses Pendleton, Pauline Koner, Murray Louis, Anna Sokolow, Doug Varone, Paul Sanassardo and Katiti King
  • Performed in New York area at Brewster Playhouse, Brewster, NY and Heritage Hills Theater, New Bedford, NY
  • National tours to: Gettysburg College, PA; Randolph-Macon College, VA; Vermont Military Academy, VT; Beaufort, SC; Hilton Head, SC; Muscle Shoals, Ala; Pensacola, FL
  • International tours to Aruba and Curacao.
Richard Biles 1989 – 1991
  • Post-modern choreographer with performances at St. Marks Church, Nikolais/Louis Choreospace and Carnegie Hall, NYC
Gerald Otte 1990 – 1991
  • Modern Choreographer who was soloist with Nikolais Dance Theater for ten years
  • Performances at St. Clements Church and the 14th Street Y, NYC; also at Yonkers Outdoor Arts Festival, Yonkers, NY
Claudia Gitleman 1990
  • Co-Chairperson at Rutgers University Dance Department
  • Performances at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ and at the 14th Street Y, NYC
Ernestine Stodelle 1988
  • Historic reconstruction of Doris Humphrey’s Water Study
  • Performed at DIA Arts Center, New York City
Sara Pearson 1987
  • Post-Modern choreographer famous for her release technique and explorations into spoken texts
  • Performed at Coney Island, NY

Honors and Grants

  • Choreographic Commission for 14 member large scale production for Drexel University Dance Ensemble 2008
  • Pew Charitable Trust, Philadelphia Dance Alliance and Five County Cultural Arts Foundation combined to fund an outreach program for dance education in Phoenixville and Kennett Square Elementary, Middle High schools in conjunction with Chicago- based River North Dance Company and Dave Morgan 2007
  • Five County Cultural Arts Foundation Grant to create a collaboration between teenage dancers from the Fusion 2 Company and students with cerebral palsy from the HMS School, Philadelphia 2002
  • University Of the Arts Choreographic Commission: 9 member cast, Merriam Theater 2000
  • University Of Pennsylvania Choreographic Commission: 12 member cast, Iron Gate Theater 2000
  • Drexel University Choreographic Commission: 12 member cast, Mandell Theater 1999
  • PIAIS Choreographic Grant from PEW Foundation and Community Education Center 1998
  • Commission for sextet from Stockton State College Dance Department, NJ 1997
  • New Performance Dance Mix Choreographer’s Exchange Grant, NYC 1996
  • Pennsylvania Council for the Arts Choreographic Grant through Dance Fusion 1996
  • PIAIS Choreographic Grant from PEW Foundation and Community Education Center 1995 – 1996
  • Commission for two group pieces: University of Pennsylvania Dancers 1995 – 1996
  • Rockefeller Foundation/Bi-National Foundation for the Arts USA/Mexico Grant for research, choreography and performance 1993 – 1995
  • Circum-Arts Foundation, New York University, NY; Belvoir Terrace Fine Arts Camp, MA 1991 – 2001
  • Nikolais Dance Theater, NY- Understudy 1987

Dance Training

  • Modern: Karen Bamonte, Karen Carlson, Susan Deutsch, Jim May, Doug Varone, Megan Williams, Ruth Currier, Gerald Otte, Hellmutt Gottschild, Betty Jones, Alwin Nikolais, Murray Louis, Sara Pearson, Ernestine Stodelle, Ann Vachon
  • Ballet: Ann Moser Trenka, Cynthia Babat, Marion Tonner, Jennifer Wheat, Christine Wright
  • Choreography: Murray Louis, Alwin Nikolais, Claudia Gitleman, Sara Pearson, Hellmutt Gottschild
  • African: Chuck Davis, National Ballet of Senegal
  • Pilates: Anne Moser Trenka, Karen Carlson, Jessica Blank
  • Yoga: Jivamukti Staff at the Yoga Center, New York City

Related Experience

  • Chief Writer/ editor for non-profit dance performance and outreach collective, Indigenous Pitch 2006 – present
  • Panel Judge for Pennsylvania Governor’s School 2004
  • Part-time student in Dance Therapy at Hanneman University 1998
  • Facilitator for post performance discussions for Independent Choreographer’s Exchange and Glue 1996 – 1998
  • House Manager and tech support for Independent Choreographers Series 1996 – 2000
  • Improvisational Modeling for Academy of Fine Arts Sculptors Collective, Philadelphia 1996 – 1997