Hope College Department of Dance

09/02/2026

This was so much fun! Who were you rooting for??

08/29/2026

✨ Did You Know?

Newly appointed Department Chair and Professor of Dance, Nicole Flinn-Culver is more than a dance educator!

👧 She is the Artistic Director of StrikeTime Dance Theatre, a pre-professional student company dedicated to bringing dance outreach to children.
📚 She developed and implemented comprehensive K–12 dance curriculum for public schools and has contributed to dance education and assessment initiatives at the local, state and national levels.
🌎 She leads national and international student travel programs, creating opportunities for students to engage in global learning and build creative partnerships.
🤝 She is passionate about connecting dance with the community through youth programming, teaching placements and partnerships—and currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the Michigan Dance Council and as the daCi USA National Representative.

From the classroom to the community and around the world—Professor Flinn-Culver creates opportunities for students and young dancers to learn, lead and connect through dance. 💙

08/28/2026

✨ Did You Know?

Matthew Farmer was recently appointed as the Associate Dean of the Arts! He is also the Dorothy Wiley DeLong Endowed Professor of Dance at Hope College!

🎭 He specializes in modern, contemporary, improvisation and jazz, while also teaching dance history, leadership and career preparation for dancers.
📚 Matthew is the author of Teaching Dance Improvisation: A Beginner’s Guide and co-author of Introductory Modern Dance: A Teaching Manual.
🌎 He has taught, choreographed and presented throughout the United States and internationally, with work featured across Europe, Mexico, Ecuador and beyond.
💃 As a professional performer, Matthew danced with LehrerDance and The Peter Sparling Dance Company, performing at renowned festivals and venues around the world.
🎤 He is a nationally recognized speaker and presenter, contributing to conferences focused on dance education, leadership and the performing arts.

From the classroom to the global stage, Professor Farmer is shaping the future of dance through leadership, scholarship and artistic excellence. 💙

08/26/2026

✨ Did You Know?

Professor Samantha Shelton brings decades of professional ballet experience and international teaching to Hope Dance!

🩰 She is a Visiting Assistant Professor and trained with the Joffrey Ballet, as well as in London and England through the Royal Ballet and Cecchetti programs.
⭐ Samantha serves on the American Ballet Theatre Board of Examiners, teaching master classes and examining dancers across the country.
🌎 She has taught and choreographed for prestigious institutions including Houston Ballet, Interlochen Arts Academy, Grand Rapids Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, and universities in the U.S. and Taiwan.
🎭 As a professional ballerina, she performed leading roles in classics such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote and Raymonda, partnering with artists from American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet.
🎓 Samantha holds an M.F.A. in Dance and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan and has also studied arts administration at New York University.

From the ballet studio to stages and classrooms around the world, Professor Shelton inspires excellence, artistry and lifelong learning. 💙

08/25/2026

✨ Did You Know?
Associate Professor Lindsey Hanson brings Broadway, film and global performance experience straight into the classroom!
💃 She has performed at the Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall and Broadway’s Marquis Theatre—and appeared on TV and film, from Sesame Street to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
🎭 A dancer, choreographer and aerial artist, Lindsey has toured internationally and performed in immersive and commercial productions around the world.
🩰 At Hope, she teaches jazz through a performance lens, along with repertory, ballet and somatic methods.
🎬 Her choreographic work Sanctuary and Selah has been screened at international film festivals, earning multiple awards and recognition worldwide.
🌿 Outside the studio, she enjoys gardening, cooking, running and hosting living room dance parties with her family.
From Broadway stages to Hope studios, Professor Hanson brings industry experience and creativity to every class.💙

08/22/2026

✨ Did You Know?
Assistant Professor Tré Dumas is more than a tap dance educator!
👞 He has performed professionally across the U.S., Canada and Europe—including touring with Riverdance from 1998–2000.
🌎 He has taught, performed and choreographed at tap festivals and intensives across the U.S. and internationally, including in Beijing, China.
🎭 His performance credits include 42nd Street, Sadler’s Wells Sampled, Tap Like Water and Tap Dance Sensations, along with film and television appearances.
🎶 He is the co-founder of M.A.D.D. Rhythms and founder of Jus’LisTeN, using rhythm-based performance, education and community engagement to connect dancers and audiences.
From the stage to the studio—and around the world—Professor Dumas brings decades of artistry, musicality and passion for tap to Hope College Dance. 💙

08/18/2026

✨ Did You Know?
Assistant Professor Ray Tadio brings global dance traditions and powerful storytelling into Hope Dance!
💃 His specialties include jazz dance, musical theatre choreography and Philippine folk dance.
🩰 He has performed works by legendary choreographers including Alvin Ailey, José Limón and Talley Beatty.
🎭 A seasoned choreographer, Ray has created works for college dance programs nationwide and for Hope’s annual faculty concert.
🌍 His international experience spans performances and collaborations across the U.S., Europe and the Philippines.
📚 He teaches repertory, modern dance and dance history, helping shape the foundation of Hope’s dance majors.
🎓 After serving as visiting faculty from 2000–2008, he rejoined Hope College in 2024.
From cultural heritage to contemporary performance, Professor Tadio connects history, artistry and movement in every class. 💙

08/17/2026

We are so thrilled to share that longtime friend, supporter, and guest choreographer of the Hope College Dance Department Mark Yonally will be honored with the Hoofer Award presented by the American Tap Dance Foundation.

The annual Hoofer Award recognizes prominent tap artists as leaders in the community for their unique contribution to the form and for inspiring future generations.

Please help us in congratulating Mark on this incredible achievement! 🎉

08/14/2026

🌊 Bridging cultures through the power of movement. 🇵🇭✨

This past May, the "Across the Tides" project connected Hope College dancers with youth groups and schools in Zambales, Philippines. Led by Hope faculty, this unique educational and cultural exchange brought students together to share indigenous folk dances, tinikling, and modern choreography.
By celebrating each other's histories and styles, these dancers proved that artistic collaboration knows no boundaries.
📖 Read the full feature story about their May 2026 journey of unity and shared pedagogy in the latest Hope College Magazine: https://magazine.hope.edu/summer-2026/across-the-tides/amp/

An Intercultural, Intergenerational Exchange Through the Power of Dance

08/11/2026

✨ Did You Know?
Assistant Professor Lianna Norris brings high-energy hip hop and commercial dance experience into Hope Dance!
💃 She teaches hip hop, introduction to dance, and conditioning & recovery for dancers.
🔥 A professional choreographer and educator, Lianna has created works for college and university dance teams across the country—including Michigan State and Western Michigan.
🎬 Her choreography includes work for a BET+ feature film and national dance competitions.
🎤 She joined the national judging panel for the Turn It Up Dance Challenge in 2023.
🩰 Lianna has trained with leading industry artists including Rhapsody James, Andye Jamison and Janelle Ginestra.
🏋️ Outside the studio, she prioritizes wellness through regular training and enjoys playing tennis.
From studio conditioning to national stages, Professor Norris brings strength, style and industry insight to every class. 💙