About Dawn
Dawn Schultz is an educator, movement artist, and arts-based researcher currently creating work in Monmouth County, New Jersey. She is the founder of the Movement Exploration Laboratory and co-director of the Dance Department at the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Ocean Township Schools. She is deeply committed to building innovative learning environments where students explore choreography, performance, and the creative process.
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Dawn holds a Ph.D. in Art and Design from Liverpool John Moores University and a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography from Jacksonville University. Her research explores how bodies interact with materials and environments to generate new movement possibilities. By examining the materiality of creative expression, she investigates how choreography acts as both a conduit and a reflection of human ideas, experiences, and environments.
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Her creative work has been showcased across the U.S. and internationally. In 2019, she served as a lead artist for the global performance event Seven to the Seventh, connecting communities across seven time zones. She was later invited by Ana Sanchez-Colberg to collaborate on 1(-1) Materiality of Exile, a MAP Fund–supported project developed at BoxoPROJECTS in Joshua Tree, California. Dawn has been commissioned to choreograph and present work for colleges, dance companies, and performing arts academies nationwide, and has shared her research at national dance education organizations, universities, and international conferences.
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Dawn currently teaches dance at Monmouth University and for the Ocean Township School District, where she choreographs and produces annual performances. She plays an integral role in the development of the Visual and Performing Arts Academy, a transformative program that allows high school students to pursue in-depth study in their chosen artistic discipline.
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As an executive board member of the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, and an active participant in numerous dance and arts organizations, Dawn offers a broad and current perspective to her students. Her ongoing involvement in national and international residencies enhances her teaching and supports her mission to inspire the next generation of creators and movers.
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Dawn remains grateful for the opportunities she has experienced and for the artists, mentors, and communities worldwide who continue to influence her work.
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To learn more about Dawn, visit the Professional Portfolio section of this site.