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The University of Arizona

Schedule
University of Arizona College of Fine Arts, School of Dance logo

Saturday, 10/18
11:00am-1:00pm
Lorin Mathis, Ballet

Tuesday, 10/21
2:00-4:00pm
Ruben Dorame, Hip Hop

A Large group of dance tightly grouped under the spotlight on a dark stage, each with one arm raised and fingers spread towards the sky
photo courtesy The University of Arizona

The University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

The BFA in Dance at the University of Arizona is a professional training degree emphasizing performance, creativity, and career-sustaining practices. We offer experiences that optimally prepare dancers for future professional careers in dance. Students conduct their studies along three pathways relative to the student’s career goals: Commercial Dance; Concert Dance; or Dance Portfolio. The Dance Portfolio pathway provides a foundation for those interested in a range of career outcomes beyond performance. Students with a double degree are also able to craft a plan of study that allows for successful completion of both degrees. Students receive a well-rounded education and mentorship from a dance program with an intensive focus on professional dance performance, housed within a nationally lauded research-1 (R1) institution.

Lorin Mathis Headshot
Lorin Mathis

Lorin Mathis

Lorin began his training at Ballet Arts Minnesota before training at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and San Francisco Ballet School. Some of his most influential teachers included Bonnie Mathis, Lirena Branitski, Flemming Halby, Jorge Esquivel, Johan Renvall, and Ricardo Bustamante. In 1999, Mr. Mathis was hired as an apprentice with San Francisco Ballet. He continued to dance with SFB for two seasons as a member of the Corps de Ballet, before joining Alberta Ballet from 2002-2005. He then went on to dance with Boston Ballet from 2005-2011 and with Pennsylvania Ballet from 2011-2016. During his performing career he danced leading roles by choreographers such as Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Jirí Kylián, Mikko Nissinen, Angel Corella, Anthony Tudor, Jorma Elo, Helen Pickett, William Forsythe, John Butler, Jerome Robbins, and Nacho Duato. National and International touring has allowed him to perform throughout the United States, Canada, China, England, Ireland, and Spain.

Since retiring from performing in 2016, Lorin has been has been teaching at Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive in New York as well as the University of Arizona School of Dance.

Ruben Dorame headshot
Ruben Dorame

Ruben Dorame

Ruben is a street dance artist, co-director of The Drop Dance Studio and a professor of dance at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He has over 23+ years of dance experience and accumulating knowledge in Hip Hop, House, Popping, and other street dance forms. He also led The Drop Fam — two-time USA HHI Megacrew champions in 2015 & 2017. Ruben has performed, battled, judged and curated street dance events for the past 14 years. Some performance credits include Carnival LA, Vibe, World of Dance, AGT, Kinjaz Arena, Versastyle LA Anniversary and more. Ruben is passionate about creating spaces where dancers can connect, explore and challenge their artistry while staying rooted in street dance culture.