“I had a tremendous amount of support from Honors. They look at each student’s skills and talents and then make things happen. My Honors research grant allowed me to explore dance film and to collaborate with the Department of Media Study to create a multimedia work that involved combining projected film with live dancers. The collaboration was good for Dance and good for Media Study. Now we’re editing a film of the piece, which includes film shot from a camera among the dancers, and we hope to show it in Europe where dance film is big.”
Teal came to UB from Billings, Montana, because UB had the dance reputation and the triple-track dance program she wanted (jazz, modern, and ballet). When she goes home, she teaches at the studio where she got her start. “It’s so important to remember where you came from.” Her long-range goal is to have her own dance company.
“I did well my first two years at UB and I was invited into the Advanced Honors College.” There were three conditions Teal had to meet: find a second major or area of study (she was already doing a double major, pairing exercise science with her dance program, so that was easy); take on a thesis project, which she was hoping to do in any event; and take Honors College courses. “I said yes, absolutely. I’ve always thought it is important to take advantage of every opportunity I have.“
After five years at UB, Teal moves on to the University of Arizona to study choreography and dance film. She’ll also be teaching dance biomechanics with the expertise she gained in her exercise science program, which was one of the things that drew her to Buffalo. “Exercise Science at UB is a phenomenal program.”