Susan Douglas Roberts headshot

Susan Douglas Roberts

Emerita Professor in Classical & Contemporary Dance
Classical & Contemporary Dance

s.douglas.roberts@tcu.edu | 817-257-7615

Education

University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign:
MFA Dance

Texas Christian University:
BFA Modern Dance
BA Spanish

Courses Taught

Contemporary Dance Technique & Artistry: BFA Level I-III and graduate
Choreography: Graduate Dance Composition, BFA Capstone, BFA Dance Composition III, BFA Dance Composition II
Modern Dance Teaching Methods
Pilates I-IV
Pilates Practica
John V. Roach Honors College: Departmental Honors in Dance

Areas of Focus

Research: creative investigation/dancemaking
Education: [contemporary] dance technique, dance composition, teaching methods, Pilates
Facilitator - study abroad and international experience

As a dancemaker, Susan Douglas Roberts is curious about the details that bridge choreographed and lived experience and frame the choices that performing artists make on stage. During almost 40 years on faculty, she was involved in creative studio-oriented research. In addition to ongoing work as artistic director of a professional project-based company, wild goose chase dance, she made over 50 works for DanceTCU. Her choreographies have been performed by invitation across the US and internationally in Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, France, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and in South America. Susan has long been interested in creating work that bridges dance and literary constructs/contexts into abstract theatrical experiences. She is particularly drawn to magical realism and the challenge of conveying overlapping realities. Though she retired in May 2022, she remains connected to the SCCDance as Coordinator of the Pilates Teacher Training Program and continues to teach Pilates. In addition to her own dancemaking, Susan and her husband, Don, facilitate choreographic and educational residencies and retreats at wild goose chase/the landing in Maine.

College of Fine Arts Distinguished Teacher/Scholar (2019)

TCU Office of Community Engagement: TCU Engaged Faculty Award (2019)

TCU Global Innovator Award for Godelieve Mukasarasi, SEVOTA, Rwanda with colleagues Adam McKinney, Assistant Professor of Dance, and John Singleton Director, TCU International Services (2018)

Stonington Opera House Harbor Residency Artist-in-Residence (2017)

TCU Research and Creative Activities Grant 2016-2017 Measuring Time

Adjudicator – ACDA Northwest Conference (2014)

South-Central ACDA Gala (2012)

College of Fine Arts Distinguished Teacher/Scholar Award (2012)

Fulbright Specialist Award: Centro de Danza e Investigación del Movimiento, Universidad Rafael Landívar, Guatemala (2011)

TCU Research and Creative Activities Grant 2010-2011 breath to bone

TCU Deans’ Teaching Award for Outstanding Teaching (2009)

Fulbright Specialist Award: Taipei National University of the Arts, Taiwan (2008)

TCU International Services Award for Intercultural Teaching and Service (2004)

National Pilates Certification Program: Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT)

Artistic Director, wild goose chase dance (since 1995)

Co-Artistic Director, Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth (1990-2000)

Director, New Century Danscene (1989-1997) – community engagement and presenting organization funded by the Bass Foundation through the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County

American College Dance Association

  • Lifetime Member of ACDA
  • Executive Board Secretary (2013-2018)
  • Board of Directors
    • Regional Director, South-Central Region (2007-2012)
    • Representative, South-Central Region (2003-2007)

World Dance Alliance

  • Co-Director Creation/Performance Network (2009-2014)
  • Member since 2004