Elizabeth Gillaspy

Creative Activity/Choreographic Research

Elizabeth Gillaspy is a Texas-based choreographer and dance educator whose contemporary ballets have been performed in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Bulgaria, France and throughout the USA.  Her choreography has premiered in various New York City venues: Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, New York Live Arts, and TriBeca Arts Center, and internationally at Dance Gala Hiroshima, Korean Dance Festival (Seoul), Moderen Theater (Sofia), and Centre National de la Danse (Paris).  Her original ballets also premiered with the Orlando Ballet under the direction of the late Fernando Bujones.  Critics have noted her work as “skillfully structured” and “poetic”, and she believes deeply in the power of dance to transform, transcend, illuminate, and convey the human experience.  Her own dance background includes ABT School, NCSA (UNCSA), Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Ballet Chamber Ensemble, and North Shore Music Theater in repertoire ranging from Balanchine’s Nutcracker (SE US tour), Coppélia (Danilova), and Cinderella (Pazik) to contemporary ballets, musicals and opera ballet, folk dance, jazz, and modern dance. She has served as an invited adjudicator for numerous American College Dance Association conferences across the US and has been commissioned to create choreography regionally, nationally, and internationally. She is professor of ballet in TCU’s School for Classical & Contemporary Dance where she teaches all levels of ballet technique, pointe, choreography, Senior Capstone, Career Preparation, and regularly choreographs and rehearsal directs for DanceTCU. She served as director from 2014-2024 growing the school’s guest artist program, student career preparation opportunities, community connections, and forging important dancer health and wellness resources.

Additional Research:

Ballet as a Somatic Practice (Pedagogy and Performance)

Bodyspheres ball work

Choreographic investigation in ballet technique class

Women ballet choreographers in the 21^st century

• CORPS de Ballet International, Inc. Outstanding Service Award – 2017
• Dance Council of North Texas, Larry White Award for Teaching Excellence – 2016
• Texas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, nominated for the 2013 and 2015 TAHPERD Honor Award
• Named as “a person on our campus who builds community” as listed in the TCU Skiff on March 13, 2012
• September 2011 – Wassenich Award nomination; TCU’s most prestigious mentoring award
• Finalist, Dance Teacher Magazine, Outstanding Dance Teacher in Higher Education 2008
• Texas Christian University, 2007 Deans’ Teaching Award for Outstanding Teaching
• Texas Christian University, College of Fine Arts Nominee for the Deans’ Teaching Award, 2007
• National Dance Association – National College/University Dance Educator of the Year for 2006. Awarded in Salt Lake City, UT
• Southern District of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (representing 13 states from Texas to Virginia) – District College/University Dance Educator of the Year for 2006. Awarded in Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance – Texas College/University Dance Educator of the Year for 2006. Awarded in Corpus Christi, TX
• Preferred Professor – TCU Ampersand Chapter of Mortar Board Senior Honor Society – 2005
• Numerous Senior Appreciation/Legacy recognitions 1999-2014

Texas State Teacher Certification – Dance 6-12

CORPS de Ballet International, Inc. – President (2008-2010)

Multiple state and national committees/boards for CORPS de Ballet International and Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance

CORPS de Ballet International, Inc. 

Six-years of leadership service: President 2008-2010; President Elect 2006-2008; Past President 2010-2012

Previous CORPS service: Board of Directors; Outreach Committee (now Membership and Outreach)

Current CORPS service: Planning & Development Committee; Bylaws & Constitution Committee

National Association of School of Dance

Institutional Representative 2014-current

Nominations Committee 2017-2020

Committee on Ethics 2021-2024

Texas Association of Health, Physical Education Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD)

Multiple state committees and boards

TCU School for Classical & Contemporary Dance

SCCDance Director (2015-2024)

Interim SCCDance Director (2014-2015)