Bio

Degree

MFA in Dance Choreography and Performance

University of Colorado Boulder

BA in Philosophy

University of Southern Maine

Published Works

• Bernier, M., Conz, R. . Pivoting Through the Lens: Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema's Journey in a (Post) Pandemic World. (in press). International Journal of Screendance, 8 pgs. https://screendancejournal.org/index.php/screendance/index.
• Bernier, M. (2016). 3 articles for PARtake: the Journal of Performance-As-Research. PARtake - the Journal of Performance-As-Research, https://partakejournal.org/index.php/partake
• Bernier, M. (2015). Fred Astaire’s site-specific choreography: high art for the low art consumer. Studies in Musical Theatre, 6 pgs. https://www.intellectbooks.com/studies-in-musical-theatre.

Research Interests

somatic pedagogy, historically and culturally informed dance technique, screendance creation and curation, early Hollywood dance, philosophy of dance, social justice, climate change action, community engagement

Teaching Interests

Michelle teaches various forms of dance technique and composition, with an additional focus on dance film and somatics. She believes teaching is about communicating effectively, finding ways to adapt the information to be useful to the student, and letting the learning process unfold unpretentiously and unabashedly. She respects students as decision-makers, and her utmost priority is to show that respect. Over time, this can develop into trust, which she believes is the cornerstone of a great learning environment.