FILM NIGHT WITH MICHELLE THOMPSON

MICHELLE THOMPSON is currently a professor at SUNY Purchase, and was appointed Artistic Director of Spark Movement Collective in April 2020. She received her training from San Francisco Ballet, and danced for 14 years with Ballet Austin. She performed in works by Balanchine, Twyla Tharp, Ulysses Dove, Stephen Mills, Sidra Bell, Greg Dolbashian, Nelly Van Bommel, Amy Seiwert, James Gregg, Gina Patterson, Thang Dao, and more. Also during her time in Texas she earned her undergraduate degree from St. Edward’s University, and began her choreographic career with an emphasis on site specific and immersive dance experiences. She is a freelance choreographer in New York, and has recently shown work at Mark O’Donnell Theater, Green Space, Dixon Place, and Art On Site. She has recently been commissioned by NuVu Festival, CreateArt, Kingsland Wildflower Festival, and SUNY Purchase. Michelle has worked closely with composer Johnny Butler and creative partner Caleb Patterson on projects performed at The Visionary, Mercury Lounge, Ace Hotel in Brooklyn, C'mon Everybody, and the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, NY. She was chosen as the Women’s Choreography Project winner in 2017 by Avant Chamber Ballet in Dallas and was featured in Dance Magazine. Michelle’s Illusory Impressions collaboration and co-directorship with composer Catherine Davis was given an award by the Austin Critics’ Table for excellence in a Site-Specific work. She also creates for film and music video projects. She teaches for NY Community Ballet at Battery Dance and Peridance. She also teaches yoga, and is a mother of two. @michelle_thompson_ulerich