Continuing Education and Outreach

Michael Estanich, Professor of Dance

Michael Estanich is a Professor of Dance and Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at UW-Stevens Point. He teaches all levels modern dance, composition, movement analysis, and repertory. He earned his MFA from The Ohio State University and his BFA from Denison University. Michael’s creative work asserts value in a multidisciplinary approach, relying on movement, voice, sculpture, and dramaturgy to create intimate works of human folly. He formed RE|dance group (redancegroup.org) in 2009 with Chicago artist Lucy Vurusic Riner as a means to explore long distance collaboration. RE|dance group has presented work regionally, nationally, and internationally. Michael and Lucy have presented their research on the collaborative creative process at various conferences hosted by the National Dance Educator's Organization. He is the resident choreographer and dance chair at Trollwood Performing Arts School in Moorhead, MN and serves on the Executive Board of the American College Dance Association (ACDA) as Vice President for Policy and Procedure.

Sarah Olson, Assistant Professor of Dance

Sarah Olson is an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she teaches all levels of ballet, dance pedagogy, and dance history.  She holds an MFA in Dance and a Graduate Certificate in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Iowa and a BFA in Dance Performance, magna cum laude, from Butler University.  Prior to coming to UWSP, Sarah enjoyed a thirteen-year performance career, working with ballet and contemporary companies including among others the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Inaside Chicago Dance, and Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre.  Her choreography has been commissioned by Chicago-based companies such as Nomi Dance Company, Project606 Dance, and RASA Dance Chicago as well as presented at festivals including Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, Dance Chicago, and the Choreographer’s Showcase at the College of DuPage.  As an educator, Sarah has taught for the University of Iowa, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Joffrey Academy of Dance, West Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts, and Lou Conte Dance Studio.