Michele Dunleavy

Michele Dunleavy, Professor of Dance, is an award-winning educator, choreographer, and performer. Dunleavy joined the School of Theatre in 2004 as a member of the highly acclaimed musical theatre program where she teaches studio courses in tap and jazz and contributes original choreography for Penn State Centre Stage. She was recently selected to represent the arts and humanities as the Penn State Laureate for the 2024-25 academic year.

Professionally, Dunleavy has choreographed and performed extensively throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Her work spans multiple dance genres including tap, jazz, and modern, and her choreography has been presented in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, NYC, Maryland, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. Additional performance credits: Take it Away Productions, Pittsburgh Opera, Junction Dance Theatre, Physical Theatre Project, DANA Movement Ensemble, ETCH Dance Co., B3W, and Kompitus Rhythm Collective.

Dunleavy’s choreography explores the human condition through the intersection of sound and movement with projects such as Steel Valley Rhythms (SVR), a percussive dance project that investigates the connections between place, memory, and embodiment as experienced by generations of Pennsylvania iron and steelworkers. Other projects include, 5/4 Ever a tribute to the life and music of Dave Brubeck, and choreographic commissions by jorsTAP and The Lady Hoofers.

Currently Dunleavy collaborates with Dr. Krista Wilkinson, Distinguished Professor, Communication Science & Disorders to research how the performing arts can support the development of communication and social skills in individuals with and without disabilities. Together they host Let’s Dance!, an all ages, all abilities, community dance workshop sponsored by the Center for the Performing Arts at University Park, and co-teach CSD240: Supporting Communication Through Performance. Dunleavy also volunteers with the For Good Troupe, a performing arts organization that prioritizes the experiences of individuals with Down syndrome, directed by Wilkinson. More recently, Dunleavy was a recent guest artist with Denver’s disability affirmative theatre company Phamaly on the premiere of Indescribable, a collaboration with the Silhouettes dance company.

In 2017 Dunleavy received the College Award for Outstanding Teaching and served as the Faculty Marshall for College Commencement. Her work has been supported through grants from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, the Galaxy Arts in Education program, Penn State’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities, Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture, and the Arts and Design Research Incubator where she was an embedded researcher. She served two terms as regional director for the American College Dance Association and is a current board member for the Centre Region Down Syndrome Society and Rocky Mountain Rhythm a Colorado based tap company. Dunleavy received a BA in Dance from Point Park University and an MFA in Choreography and Performance from George Mason University.