2025 Luchinsky Lecture: Michele Dunleavy

Join the Schreyer Honors College for an evening with Michele Dunleavy, professor of dance and Penn State Laureate 2024-2025 who will share how a lifelong dedication to the practice of improvisation prepared her for the work she does now in accessible and inclusive dance and theatre. The evening will include performances by Dunleavy and Eric Ian Farmer as well as some audience participation.

This event is free and open to the public. A free ticket is required for admission. A livestream link will be available for Commonwealth Campus Scholars.

Dunleavy is an award-winning educator, choreographer, and performer. She is a faculty member in the musical theatre program at Penn State where she teaches tap and jazz dance techniques and contributes original choreography for Penn State Centre Stage. Professionally, she has choreographed and performed extensively throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and her choreography has been presented in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, New York, Maryland, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. Dunleavy's choreography lies at the intersection of sound and movement and includes projects such as Steel Valley Rhythms (SVR), a percussive dance piece that investigates the connections between place, memory, and embodiment as experienced by generations of Pennsylvania iron and steelworkers.

Dunleavy is actively engaged in making dance and theatre more accessible and inclusive. She recently worked on the world premiere of Indescribable with Phamaly Theatre Company, a disability affirmative organization based in Denver. Since 2016, Dunleavy has been leading Let's Dance!, an all ages, all abilities, community dance workshop sponsored by the Center for the Performing Arts at University Park, and she currently volunteers with the For Good Troupe, a local organization providing performance opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome.

Please note that no backpacks, food or beverages are allowed in the auditorium.

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about physical access may contact Donna Meyer in advance of the program. An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter will be present at the event.