Lyn C Wiltshire

Lyn Wiltshire comes to Austin,Texas by way of New York City. At present she is Associate Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas at Austin. She has trained at the prestigious Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Martha Graham School, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and with notable teachers such as, Melissa Hayden, Tanaquil LeClercq, Victoria Simon, Willhelm Burmann, Fred Matthews, Gary Masters, Tim Wengart and Michael Shawn. Her professional career began as an apprentice with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, she has worked with Patricia Birch in a multimedia adaptation of The Me Nobody Knows and danced in the movie The Wiz. Lyn’s experience also includes dancing with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and tours of Europe, Asia and South America. She tours with Sophisticated Ellington: Symphony and Swing, choreographed by Mercedes Ellington, which is presented by symphony orchestras nationally. In addition to her extensive performing experience, she is also an accomplished choreographer and teacher. She has created both ballet and modern works for a variety of professional and regional companies. Her teaching credentials include positions at the Dance Theatre of Harlem School, Jordan College Academy of Dance, Butler University, Ball State University, Anderson Young Ballet Theatre and Purdue University. She has also taught master classes and workshops for dance intensive workshops throughout the United States. During her time here at the University, Lyn has directed and choreographed for the performing ensemble Dance Repertory Theatre producing concerts and coordinating the company tours for the American College Dance Festival. In 1990 and 1991 she was the recipient of the Monticello College Foundation Choreography Award and a Masters Fellowship for Choreography and Dance from the Indiana Arts Commission. In 1994, she received the honor of having one of ballets placed on the registry of the National Choregraphy Plan of Regional Dance America. While creating works for concert audiences, she continues to work across the disciplines of television, film, and fashion. She had taught on the faculty of the first National Festival of Regional Dance America held in Houston, Texas in June of 1997. She is the Coordinator and Director of Modern Dance for the Glenda Brown Choreography Project held at UT every summer. She has served on the Dance Advisory Panel for the Indiana Arts Commission, Louisiana Division of the Arts has adjudicated pre-professional companies throughout the Mid-West. Her research has been presented at several conferences in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.Lyn Wiltshire was touched by dance at a very young age growing up in New York City and her career fits the model of passion and fervor surpassing credentials. She has trained and performed with many notable teachers and dance companies, including the Dance Theatre of Harlem and toured nationally and internationally with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. To her credit she has performed in film, television and with symphony orchestras around the country. Her path to academia has been by way of “the school without walls”, choreographing and teaching until finally her reputation preceded her. As an Associate Professor of Dance at the University of Texas she is a dance educator, administrator and director. Beyond her work at UT, Lyn has presented workshops, master classes and lectures in London, Portugal, Taiwan and all over the U.S. and Hawaii. Her choreography has been commissioned by companies in Texas, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, New York and California and through this network presented to Canadian and European audiences. During her time at the University, Lyn has directed and choreographed for the UT performing ensemble Dance Repertory Theatre and in 2004 and 2006 the ensemble premiered her work in Innsbruck, Salzburg and St Johann, Austria for performances in the Young Tanzsommer Festival. In 2004 she became the Artistic Director of L’A.R.T Dance Project . She is privileged to take this opportunity provide direction and bring her expertise to the dance project. She is the recipient of Choreography Awards and Masters Fellowships for Choreography and Dance and is on the registry of the National Choreography Plan. She synchronized a five year affiliation between the Department of Theatre and Dance and the Glenda Brown Choreography Project as one of the departments Summer Programs. Through her efforts, the first MFA in Dance at UT was initiated in the department. In addition, she has served on the Dance Advisory Panel for the Indiana Art’s Commission, Louisiana Division of the Arts and has adjudicated pre-professional companies throughout the mid-west. She will be an adjudicator for Regional Dance America’s National Festival to be held in Pittsburgh, PA in 2007.