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The Faculty

Messages can be left for any faculty member by calling the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts at 757-683-3828 or 757-683-5455.  Individual contact information can be found next to the biographies below.  

Amanda Kinzer -  Modern Dance, Intermediate/Advanced Ballet, Jazz, Composition, Dance History, Dance Appreciation

Associate professor and Dance Program director, Amanda Kinzer has been with Old Dominion University since 2001.  She received her M.F.A in dance performance and choreography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2000.  Amanda has performed with the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Virginia School of the Arts, Modernextension Dance Company, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Second Wind Dance Company, the Tidewater Dance Collective, Gravity Optional Dance Company, the CREO New Music Ensemble and as an independent artist. Her choreography has been produced at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Elon University; Old Dominion University; Salem College; the University of Virginia; in the 2004 Richmond Choreographers’ Showcase; at the 30th International Choreographers’ Showcase in Louisville, Kentucky; at the Merce Cunningham Studio in New York City; by the Virginia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (VAHPERD); and by the Southern District of the American Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (SDAAPHERD).  She has taught at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Elon University, and since 2001, at Old Dominion University.    Contact Professor Kinzer at 757-683-3002 or akinzer@odu.edu

                Marilyn Marloff -  All levels of Modern Dance, Beginning and Intermediate Ballet, Jazz, Anatomy/Kinesiology, Pedagogy, Composition, Dance Appreciation, 
                                                    Chief Advisor for Dance

Associate professor and Dance Program advisor, Marilyn Marloff has been with Old Dominion University since 1987. She was Dance Director from 1987 till 2010 and now serves as the Chief Departmental Advisor for all dance majors and minors. She holds a B.F.A. and a M.F.A. degree in dance from the University of Oklahoma. Her early training included study at Chautauqua Institution, Point Park College, and the Fort Lauderdale Academy for the Performing Arts. She has performed and/or choreographed for dance companies in New York and throughout the United States including Broadway Express, Ananda Dancers, New Orleans Contemporary Dance Company, Oklahoma Repertory Dance Theatre, Virginia Ballet Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, Second Wind Dance Company and CREO New Music Ensemble. Her choreography has also been presented at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; the Richmond Choreographers’ Showcase; Dance Exchange in Tulsa, OK;  the Merce Cunningham Studio in New York City; and the Virginia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (VAHPERD). Her video work has received awards in Europe, Canada, the United States, and South America. Ms. Marloff is the co-artistic director of Old Dominion University Dance Theatre and teaches all levels of modern technique, beginning ballet, anatomy / kinesiology for dance, teaching principles, dance composition, dance appreciation, and improvisation.   Contact Professor Marloff at 757-683-4354 or mmarloff@odu.edu.

 

 

Megan Thompson - Modern Dance, Dance Appreciation, Pilates, Yoga

Megan Thompson received her MFA in Dance from the University of Maryland and her BS in Dance from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her early dance training included study at the Gus Giordano Dance Studio, the Lou Conte Dance Studio and the Laban Centre in London. She has danced professionally in the Li Chiao-Ping Dance Company and the Maida Withers Dance Construction Company and has presented her own work in Chicago, Madison, WI, Washington, DC and Krasnoyarsk, Russia. In addition to her dance training, Megan completed a 700-hour Pilates certification program in 2006. She has taught dance and Pilates at numerous festivals and universities, such as the University of Maryland, Winona State University, the Isadora Dance Festival in Russia, the Suzanne Farrell Ballet's summer program, and the National Institutes of Health. Megan joined the ODU faculty in 2009.

Michael Kaiser - Rhythmic Analysis

 

 

Kathy Brenner-Lasakow – Intermediate and Advanced Ballet Technique

Kathy Brenner Lasakow danced for nine years as a principal dancer with BalletMet Columbus where she performed a wide variety of leading roles in the works of George Balanchine, Glen Tetley and Frederick Ashton. Prior to joining BalletMet she danced with The Cleveland Ballet and did guest appearances with the Louisville Ballet and Opera Columbus.  Kathy has taught on the dance faculties of the University of Wisconsin, BalletMet,  the School of the Atlanta Ballet, Virginia Ballet Theatre and presently at the Governor’s School for the Arts and the TRDance Center in Norfolk.  She has staged many classical ballets including Paquita, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and La Sylphide on such noted organizations as Ballet Academy East in New York City, Virginia Ballet Theatre, the Governor’s School for the Arts and The Virginia School of the Arts. She has also staged her original choreography on Terpsichord Dance Company in Chattanooga, Virginia School of the Arts, and The Carver Center for the Arts and Technology in Baltimore. Her choreography has won national acclaim at numerous National and Regional High School Dance Festivals in Miami and Baltimore. Ms. Brenner Lasakow received her early dance training at the North Carolina School of the Arts and the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. She has been an Adjunct Professor at Old Dominion University since 2001.
Contact Professor Brenner Lasakow at kbl@141.com


Joni Petre-Scholz - Intermediate and Advanced Ballet Technique

Joni Petre-Scholz is a former member of the Berkshire Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet and Manhattan Ballet. Joni toured internationally and performed in over 12 countries dancing works by Vincente Nebrada, Robert North, Gary Pierce, Billy Wilson and others. She began working with Dances Patrelle in 1988 appearing in many Patrelle ballets including The Yorkville Nutcracker, Adieu with a Handshake, Madame X,  Rhapsody in Blue, American Dreamer, Romeo and Juliet, the world premiere of Notturno for Strings and Harp and as Lady Macbeth in the 2001 revival of Macbeth.  In addition, Ms. Petre-Scholz was rehearsal director as well as assistant to the managing director. She has also re-staged many Patrelle ballets for Dances Patrelle as well as other companies. In 2002 Joni was a featured performing artist at The Lyric Recovery Festival at Carnegie Hall appearing in excerpts of Beauty and the Beast with original choreography by Ginger Thatcher and original score by Paul Winston. Ms. Petre-Scholz was a principal dancer in the world premiere of “POP” as well as Glad to be Unhappy choreography by Francis Patrelle. Joni has also appeared as a guest artist with Annabella Gonzalez Dance Theater. A former member of the faculty of Ballet Academy East in New York City, Joni has recently joined the adjunct faculty of the Old Dominion Dance Department. She also teaches in the dance department of Virginia’s Governor’s School of the Arts as well as the TR Dance Center in Norfolk.  Contact Professor Petre-Sholz at Jatdscholz@aol.com


Tami White       -      Dance and It's Audience, Jazz, Introduction to Dance Technique
Tami White (adjunct faculty and guest artist) has studied dance at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Virginia School of the Arts, University of Richmond Summer Governor's School, Old Dominion University and the Virginia Governor's Magnet School for the Arts in Norfolk.  She holds both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Education degrees from Old Dominion University.  Tami has taught dance locally for the past eight years at The Starting Pointe, Creative Energy, the Jewish Community Center, and others.  She currently teaches dance at the YMCA and teaches two sections of Dance and Its Audience here at ODU.  She is also employed as a teacher for Norfolk Public Schools.  Contact Professor White at tmwhite@odu.edu



Rachel Thorne-Germond - Dance Appreciation, Beginning Jazz 

Wesley Acker - Dance and Its Audience, Latin Ballroom

Danny Charles   -    Ballroom Dance

Penelope Haws  -   Yoga  

Kathrine Iacono - Dance and Its Audience, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop

Ashley Budy Whitlinger-   Ballet, Modern, Pointe, Yoga