Professor: Dance, Choreography, History, Aesthetics

Marc Strauss has studied, trained, performed, choreographed and researched in the dance field and related arts for more than 30 years, and has been a working artist-professor at Southeast since 1995. Over the years, Dr. Strauss has taught several levels of studio ballet, jazz, and ballroom dance, as well as theory classes in dance appreciation, the film musical, the aesthetics of dance, and a variety of other dance and arts-related courses at the university.  He currently teaches dance appreciation, dance history, history of the musical, aesthetics of movement, the creative process, ballroom, and swing dance. Dr. Strauss also regularly provides choreography for the fall dance concerts, and has created choreography over the years for musicals on campus and adjudicated concerts throughout the regional area, and at the national and international level. 

Dr. Strauss received his B.A. in Education from Hobart College (1977), the M.F.A. in Dance Teaching and Choreography from Smith College (1991), and the Ph.D. in Dance and the Related Arts from Texas Woman's University (1996). His professional expertise and interests include dance on film, George Balanchine, Astaire-Rogers, Gene Kelly, The Nicholas Brothers, aesthetics, dance criticism, dance history and appreciation, ballet, jazz, ballroom, folk dance, and the films of Alfred Hitchcock. He recently completed a six-year tenure as a board member of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, and is especially proud of his service towards the university and region in bringing major national and international dance companies to residency, most notably Edward Villella, Artistic Director, and the entire company of the Miami City Ballet, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the Parsons Dance Company, Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels, and the Katherine Dunham Young Peoples performing and touring group from East St. Louis.

Dr. Strauss’s most recent publications include the all-new second edition of The Dance Experience: Insights into History, Culture and Creativity (2003, Princeton Book Company; co-edited with Myron Howard Nadel), Alfred Hitchcock’s Silent Films (2004, McFarland & Company, Inc.), The Dance Criticism of Arlene Croce: Articulating a Vision of Artistry, 1973-1987 (2005; McFarland & Company, Inc.) and Hitchcock Nonetheless: The Master’s Touch in his Least Celebrated Films (2006; McFarland & Company, Inc.).  Some of Dr. Strauss's personal interests include reading, swimming, walking, traveling, playing guitar, bird watching, eating fresh seafood, visiting Cape Cod, and enjoying life with his wife, Sarah Riley, professor of art.