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Jay Kirk, M.F.A.

Professor Emeritus

Contact Information

Pictured is Jay Kirk.

Education

  • M.F.A., Dance, University of Oklahoma
  • B.A., Dance, Mercyhurst College

Courses Taught

  • Kinesiology
  • Classical Ballet
  • Pas de Deux
  • Production, Rehearsal and Performance
  • Male Technique
  • Choreography

Background

Jay E. Kirk began dancing at the age of 18 as a Mercyhurst University freshman. He earned a B.A. in dance in three years and danced professionally with the Americana Dance Theatre, Dallas Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Chicago Ballet, Chautauqua Festival Ballet and the Charleston Ballet Theater. Kirk has danced the repertoire of legendary choreographers such as Ailey, Balanchine, Bournonville, DeMille, Fokine, Frantz, Naharin, Petipa and Tudor.

He was a faculty member of the Mercyhurst University Dance Department and has been engaged as an instructor for the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts and the Interlochen Center for the Arts. He has also been a dance panelist for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Selected Artistic Works

Rehearsal Director

  • Continuo, Conservatory Dance Company (CDC)
  • Mercy, CDC
  • End of TIme, CDC 
  •  Fluctuating Hemlines, CDC Contemporary Choreographers Dance Concert
  •  L'Espace Que Vous Voyez, CDC
  •  Divergence, CDC
  • The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, CDC
  • Silk and Steel, CDC
  • In A Word, CDC
  • Bow Out, CDC
  • Raymonda Variations, CDC
  • Blue Until June, CDC
  • Double Contrasts, CDC
  • Trio for Four, Pittsburgh Connections Dance Concert
  • Conversions, Pittsburgh Connections Dance Concert
  • Modes of Expression, Contemporary Choreographers Dance Concert
  • La Belle Danse, Contemporary Choreographers Dance Concert

Original Choreography

  • Les Nue Bleu, CDC
  • Presto, CDC
  • Presto II, CDC
  • " ... And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him …," CDC
  • Voleé, CDC
  • Unraveling Romex, CDC
  • In The City, CDC
  • Souvenir de Florence, Illinois Ballet Company

Guest Performance

  • Johnstown Concert Ballet

Guest Instructor

  • South Eastern Regional Ballet Association (SERBA)
  • Mercyhurst University
  • Illinois Ballet Company
  • Mary Price Boday/David Howard Workshop for Teachers and Dancers
  • Point Park University International Summer Dance
  • American College Dance Festival

Research Interest

  • Kinesiology

Selected Award

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Oklahoma

Point Park Feature