About Me
Hello, I'm Dawn Schultz, an educator, artist, and Ph.D. candidate at Liverpool John Moores University through Transart Institute for Creative Research.
I was born and raised in New Jersey. I earned my BA in Special Education from Kean University in 1999. After graduation, I migrated to the West Coast for five years before returning to my home state. For 14 years, I had the privilege of enhancing the educational experience of public schools in California, Hawaii, and New Jersey by implementing personalized learning paths for students with unique abilities.
Throughout my career, I have always been passionate about implementing dance programs wherever I taught. After obtaining my New Jersey Dance Teaching Credentials through industry experience, I furthered my Health and Physical Education education by returning to Kean University in 2009. Since then, I have shifted to teaching dance full-time and am proud to be in my 25th year of teaching. I am the co-director of the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Ocean Township Middle and High School, where I teach Dance and Physical Education. I am deeply committed to helping shape the academy and am thrilled to participate in such a transformative initiative for our students.
In 2018, I decided to continue my pursuit of knowledge by enrolling in a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography program. Currently, I am conducting cross-disciplinary research as a part of the Ph.D. Art and Design program at Liverpool John Moores University. My research methodology involves integrating fluid acrylic flow paintings as a visual art form into dance to enhance dancers' physical cognition. I have been able to create unique choreographic pieces that offer a new perspective on movement by combining visual art imagery and improvisational movement tasks. Through my research, I have discovered how artistic expression can capture our ideas and experiences, allowing choreography to resonate with the world. Ultimately, my work aims to uncover new methods choreographers can use to propel bodies into motion. Building on the foundation laid during my Master's and Ph.D. studies, academic research provided the theories and methodologies connecting with the larger artistic community and offered real-world insights and exposure. This interplay between structured learning and experiential knowledge has been pivotal in shaping my approach to arts-based research.
I am eager to widen my horizons in arts-based research. As an executive board member of the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and a member of the National Dance Education Organization, I attend diverse residencies that equip me with a rich reservoir of knowledge. I am passionate about channeling this knowledge into the Arts Academy and fostering a lifelong appreciation for movement in the coming generation of creators. My journey has been enriched by countless learning opportunities and interactions with globally renowned artistic minds.
I've had the privilege of disseminating my research on both national and international stages. In the summer of 2022, I embarked on a transformative journey to England, collaborating with an ensemble of dancers from various European corners. That fall, during the National Dance Education Conference, I led a workshop on Senergetic Agential Choreography for an audience of dance educators across the United States. Following this, numerous high schools, collegiate dance programs, and professional dance companies have extended invitations, eager to integrate the innovative methods derived from my research into their curricula and practice. These engagements affirm the relevance and impact of my work, and I'm excited for the continued opportunities to influence and elevate the world of dance.