CU Dance Connection

Heading into graduation day with excitement and one final student spotlight! 💫 Let’s hype it up for Tyreis Hunte, M.F.A.! Tyreis Hunte is a Creole Amazônido world creator/artistic nomad born in Guyana, South America. Tyreis is keen on the historic/contemporary contributions of street culture in global societies as well as the integrity of consuming/producing the contemporary Black. Hunte has presented work alongside Rennie Harris Puremovement, Giada Negroni(DueDa), Arneshia Williams, Cudjoe Emmanuel, Heather Klopchin, CompanyDance, Palenque Dance Company, BRKFST Dance Crew, Afoutayi Dmaco Dance Company, Marciano Dos Santos (Contempo Dance Company), Mathew Janczewski (Arena Dance Company), Samba Colorado, Raw Groove Presents etc.  Tyreis is grateful to have exchanged with communities and audiences throughout the globe including the National Cultural Center and the National Theatre Guild Georgetown, The New Victory on Broadway, PennLiveArts,  The Royal Family of Norway, Suzhou Industrial District China,  San Vittore Milano Italy, The Cowles Center of Performing Arts Minneapolis, The Joyce Theater, Macky Auditorium, and The Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater. Favorite memories at CU include: “BIPOC jams, my grad-now life homies, my thesis NEGRIA:The Sideshow, ACDA  and all conferences, THE CAUSE community, The BGC(they know who they are), Raw Groove Presents, witnessing the Colorado dance community, performing nationally, the knowledge I got to exchange, the new mentors I made and teaching my students, world building with collaborators, the costume shop,  Samba King Colorado and mon amour🫶🏾.” Let’s celebrate Tyreis as they take the stage today! 🎓 AND, be sure to join us at 2:30 in the Roe Green Theatre to cheer on all of our incredible graduates! Livestream link available on our story. 🎉 #foreverbuffs #classof2026 #mfadance #cuboulder #studentspotlight

Let’s keep it going! 🤩 Camden Sharkey now entering the #SeniorSpotlight chat! Camden is graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder with a BFA in Dance and a BA in Political Science. While pursuing a double degree was no small feat, Camden is deeply grateful to the Dance faculty and his peers for supporting his growth across both disciplines. During his time at CU, Camden choreographed works “including Alivetime” (BFA Thesis), “we didn’t even kiss”, “Disco Confessional”, and “The People’s House”. Beyond the studio, he spent four years in CU Student Government, beginning as a freshman intern in the Executive Branch and graduating as one of the Student Body Presidents. Where he worked to advise for students needs to the Board of Regents, the State Legislature, and the Federal Congress. Camden’s long history with advocacy and passion for policy helped push him to find where both worlds meet and how dance can serve as a tool for education and also activism. Camden is especially thankful to the Dance faculty for continually pushing him beyond what he thought was possible and helping him discover his choreographic voice. His work lives in questions of aliveness, representation, connection, and community. Exploring how we show up for one another and build a “village” in real time. Through play, structure, and a lot of figuring it out along the way, his practice treats movement as a way of being together and truly being with each other. Help us celebrate Camden and wish him all the best as he steps into this next chapter! 🎉🎓 Photo credits: @caitlincondellicreative + @amandatiptonphotography #cuboulder #foreverbuffs #classof2026 #finearts

We are only 1 DAY AWAY from commencement, and thrilled to share another Senior Spotlight! 💫 Today we highlight Adin Williams! Adin Williams is an Unangax̂ woman receiving her BFA dance degree as a first-generation college student. While at CU, Williams has created and choreographed her pieces “Heaven Up There”, “Open This Wall”, “My Love (for you)”, “I’m realizing that”, “a free write”, “The Sum of the Two Proceeding”, and her thesis work, “In My Grandmother’s Garden, Who Are We Becoming?”. She is deeply inspired by and grateful for the mentorship of her professors, including Chrissy Nelson, Michelle Ellsworth, Helanius J. Wilkins, Rennie Harris, and Anya Cloud. Drawing from her Native Alaskan heritage, Williams is committed to creating meaningful, honest, and expressive work through dance. Adin is excited for post-graduation to keep exploring different forms of creating, choreographing, learning, and research tied to Unangax̂ dance and her thesis work. She is incredibly grateful for the time spent choreographing and performing with her peers. She will forever be grateful for her BFA cast and the amazing time spent curating a thesis she is incredibly proud of. Let’s show Adin some love as she prepares to walk that stage! ❣️🎉 Photo creds: @jessicajomckay #foreverbuffs #cuboulder #seniorspotlight #classof2026 #finearts

It’s time for another Senior Spotlight! ❣️ Say hello to Riley Carter! Riley is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and an additional one in Psychology. CU nurtured her love of dance through its teachers, curriculum, and her performances in pieces by faculty, as well as many other graduate and undergraduate choreographers. While at CU, she discovered a deep passion for integrating dance and psychology to explore embodied approaches to supporting individuals with psychological or physical challenges. She cultivated this interest through her leadership with CU Dance Connection, a student group dedicated to connecting dance students and faculty; an internship with the dance wellness program; and research with two psychology laboratories. Building on a CU curriculum project, she created adapted dance workshops for children with medical conditions, which will be offered at a children’s hospital this summer. Riley plans to carry her skills as a mover, artist, and maker into her graduate education, where she will enter the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, this fall. Join us in celebrating Riley as she moves on to what’s next in store! 🎉🎓 Photo credits: @veenvelocity #seniorspotlight #foreverbuffs #cudance #cuboulder #classof2026

Kicking off #internationaldanceday with another Senior Spotlight! 🚨 Today we recognize Jasmine Linkenheil! Jasmine Nicole Linkenheil double majored in Dance + Chinese with a Business minor. She has been dancing since she was three years old and has spent many years studying the Chinese language and culture alongside her academic journey. At CU, Jasmine has continued developing as both an artist and a student through performance, coursework, and creative exploration. Her interests sit at the intersection of movement, communication, and culture, and she is passionate about using dance and language as ways to connect with people and express ideas across different worlds and experiences. After graduation, Jasmine plans to focus on her DJ career and continue pursuing music as a creative direction. Alongside that, she aims to build a career as an international business professional, working on strengthening relationships between China and the United States. Jasmine is especially interested in bridging cultural and business gaps between the two countries through communication, collaboration, and exchange. Her goal is to combine her background in dance, language, and business to create opportunities that connect people across borders, while continuing to grow both artistically and professionally in global and culturally dynamic spaces. Jasmine’s college highlights have included performing DJ sets every weekend at venues such as The Church Nightclub and Rosetta Hall, as well as performing in the Usher Super Bowl halftime performance and participating in multiple dance showcases and performances through CU. In addition to performance, she studied abroad in Bali, China, Chile, and Argentina, which deeply expanded her cultural perspective and artistic inspiration. These experiences have shaped Jasmine both as a performer and as a global thinker, allowing me to grow creatively, academically, and personally throughout her time at CU Boulder. Help us celebrate Jasmine as she steps into this next chapter of her journey! 🎉🌹 #cuboulder #classof2026 #foreverbuffs #seniorspotlight

It’s time for another ✨Senior Spotlight✨— Let’s show some love to Harley Butler! Harley Rose Butler is graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder with a BA in Dance and a minor in Media Production. During her time at CU, she was heavily involved in both the dance program and the CU Dance Team, where she spent four years as a member and served as a senior captain. She’s also a four-year letter winner who competed at UDA Nationals and traveled with CU football and basketball teams for away games. Within her academic studies, Harley has focused on hip hop street styles, dance improvisation, and contemporary movement, exploring how these forms evolve in response to the world around us. Her research centers on the ways dance connects individuals to themselves and fosters a sense of community. Harley aims to carry forward the knowledge and experiences she has gained at CU, using dance as a powerful outlet for self-expression, creativity, and connection as she navigates her future path. Help us celebrate Harley and send her off with all the best as she moves on to what’s next! 🥳🌹 Photo creds: @amandatiptonphotography #cudance #foreverbuffs #classof2026 #seniorspotlight #skobuffs

Happy finals week everyone! 💫 Throughout this week, we’ll be highlighting some of our amazing graduating seniors and celebrating all they have contributed to our community. We’re beyond excited to kick-off our spotlight series with Talli Fox! Talli is graduating with a double major in EBIO + Dance. After graduation, she plans to stay on the Boulder campus, pursuing interdisciplinary research that connects biology and dance. Some of her favorite moments at CU include finding her closest friends, learning from incredible faculty, building lasting connections, and exploring her own research interests. She’s especially grateful for the time spent in the studio, performing and growing alongside this community, and always grateful for the chance to dance! Join us in recognizing Talli and wishing her congratulations as she prepares for this next chapter!🎉🌹 Photo creds: @amandatiptonphotography #finalsweek #seniorspotlight #classof2026 #cudance #foreverbuffs

TOMORROW!!!🕺🪩🩵 Show up and show OUT to support one of our graduating BFA seniors at 7pm in the Irey (4/23). Elizabeth Ervin will be showing work from her thesis concert, ACDA, Open Space, as well as two NEW PIECES featuring lots of familiar faces from our department. 🌟 DON’T MISS IT‼️‼️‼️

Join us this Friday for CUDC Friday🌟 Yoga/ Pilates, Donuts, Bracelet making, and more!! 10:10-11:30 in the Movement Studio 💃 See you there!

FRESH premieres this upcoming week! April 17-18. Join us as the CU Theatre & Dance Department presents a mix of dance styles and improvised offerings crafted by undergraduate and graduate dance students! 🪩 p.s. each show is different 😉 📍Charlotte York Irey Theatre 7:30pm FREE !!!! We hope to see you there! 💟

ONE WEEK AWAY!!! 🗓️ We’re here to remind out about an incredible opportunity within the dance department! Exactly one week from today we are having our BFA dance thesis auditions!!! ✨ Please join us for this audition for next year’s dance BFA thesis choreography which will start rehearsals in fall 2026 and be performed in spring 2027. 🪄 This performance is an opportunity for BFA undergraduate students to share their research and present their theses. 🕺 The audition is open to anyone and everyone who wants to dance! We will be warming up, improvising, and learning some choreography! Auditioning online is also an option if you’re unable to attend in person - please contact [email protected].  🫀 This is an incredible opportunity to dance, be in process, connect with others, and perform in the department! 🏡 Location: Charolette York Irey Theatre / W150 in the Theatre and Dance Building Date: April 10, 2026 Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm 🤍 If you are interested or have any questions, please come to the audition or email [email protected] with anything and everything! 🫂 We hope to see you there!! ✨ @cupresents @cuartssciences @cubouldercha @cutheatredance @cudanceconnection @cuboulder

CU Dance Connection is seeking dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to join our 2026–2027 officer team! As an officer, you’ll help plan events, strengthen connections between faculty and students, and build collaboration across CU dance. We are all about supporting and growing a more inclusive, connected community for dance MFAs, BFAs, BAs, and Minors. We’re looking for individuals who are organized, creative, and passionate about making an impact. (no prior leadership experience required!) If you’re excited to get involved and bring your perspective to the table, we encourage you to apply! The application is in our bio and closes Wednesday April 8th, at 11:59 PM—don’t miss your chance to get involved! 🕺✨🤸