Started in performing arts with ballet at age 2, stopped because of an injury, and took up modern dance in teens, attracted to the aesthetic and storytelling you can do with modern dance as well as a new and different thing to try.

 

Currently dances professionally with Muscle Memory Dance Theatre, a dance collective based in Deep Ellum whose choreography and messages revolve around social commentary. MMDT has performed at the Out-of-the-Loop Festival, Fringe Festival, Big Range Festival, and throughout the US. It is looking to tour internationally as part of a cultural diplomacy initiative.

 

Also is working with Hub Theatre to choreograph a scene for Romeo and Juliet. She ees the necessity of collaborations with other artists and disciplines for a richer output of art and communication.

 

“Art isn’t just about community; it’s about what you can do for other people”

 

Still working as a Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, writing and editing papers on education, urban development

 

How does she do all this? No sleeping and lots of coffee! Now, while she can, DG is focused on all her interests- art, community development, making everyone see how art funding and art education are so important and shouldn’t be the first thing to be cut from programs.

 

Makes sure that she takes time for breaks and do things for herself, too – running, dabbling in photography, traveling (most recently was in South Africa for 3 weeks, where her family is from and still lives).

 

Interests are so wide and varied that it is interesting to be able to bring them all together. Eventually wants to go into academia, writing, and advocacy but in a way that reaches everyone, not just those already in the arts or advocating for the arts. Until then, wants to manage-blog-dance and everything!

 

Decision to enter BBA program seemed very mature and far-sighted for a high schooler? – Actually had plans to attend an art school for theatre and dance, but through the audition process, realized that it wasn’t the right thing for her to do. BBA seemed safe, and there was that side of her family that was interesting; she comes from a family of entrepreneurs and small business owners.

 

Halfway through the BBA at UTA, a govt professor suggested that she combine her passions for dance and business with public policy. Junior year, did an internship at the National Center for Policy Analysis and found that she really enjoyed it.

 

Moving on, switched back to liberal arts studies to do MA in political science. UTA gave students the freedom to focus their studies, so DG decided to focus on arts and cultural policy, with a thesis on The Politics of State Public Arts Funding, chosen by UTA to be published. No one had gone through the department to focus on arts and culture before, so they were very excited by it. UTD’s PhD program was also attractive because of its interdisciplinary studies.

 

At UTD, PhD in the Arts and Humanities concentrates on Aesthetic studies and the history of ideas, with a focus on art as a tool for community development and performing arts specifically as a communicative tool. Expects to finish and defend dissertation in 2012.

 

UTD has opened up lots of new opportunities in just one year:
Guest blogs for KERA’s Art & Seek
Adjunct professor/lecturer at Richland College, where her father is dean
Special contributor to DMN as a dance critic
Teaches dance and kinesiology at UTA

 

Danielle intends to stay in Dallas/North Texas for a long time. There is a lot of excitement right now, especially with the DCPA opening in October and the growth of great art. There is room for more growth and more art and communications.

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