Kennesaw State alum joins internationally renowned dance company in Chicago

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Aug 26, 2021) — Kennesaw State College alumna Simone Stevens is fiercely self-confident, and not only in her talents as a professional
dancer. Having said that, she acquired this 12 months she can however surprise herself.

She was hired this summertime to sign up for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, an internationally
renowned up to date dance business. The career is just one she experienced been dreaming about given that
early in her job as a dance scholar at Kennesaw Condition.

“I understood I could do it, but I assumed it would be later on in my occupation. When I obtained the
supply, I thought, ‘Oh, we’re doing this now,’” Stevens, a 2017 graduate, reported during
a new visit again to the KSU Department of Dance. She was greeted with excited screams and hugs by pupils and college who had read
the news.

Stevens reported in her new part she will lean on the instruction and inspiration she received
whilst earning a degree in dance at Kennesaw Point out. She excelled in faculty and was
awarded the Emerson Scholarship for the Development of Intercontinental Training to
study dance in Israel and perform directly with artists from the Batsheva Dance Organization
in Tel Aviv.

“Simone excelled artistically as a student at KSU Dance, and it was a pleasure to
have her in my class and choreographic function,” stated Ivan Pulinkala, Kennesaw State’s
interim provost and previously dean of the Faculty of the Arts and chair of the Division
of Dance. “Her range as a firm member for Hubbard Avenue Dance Chicago is an
affirmation of her talent and challenging perform, as nicely as a testimony to the results of
the Division of Dance at KSU.”

Following graduation, Stevens explained she put in a year educating and doing the job as a freelance
dancer in the Atlanta place. Then she packed up her issues and moved 720 miles absent
to Chicago devoid of a job.

“Nobody in my loved ones was astonished,” by the daring transfer, Stevens stated, laughing. “I
like going to new locations.”

The shift has compensated off. When she arrived, she was equipped to get into a yearlong scholarship
teaching application at Lou Conte Dance Studio. Just after completing that, she worked as a
freelance dancer for a yr. She was doing the job in a smaller sized dance enterprise previously this
12 months when Hubbard Avenue Dance introduced auditions for 4 places in its troupe. Pursuing
a two-week audition and interview time period, Stevens was one of the four dancers hired,
out of a pool of 900 hopefuls.

Stevens has some career guidance for Kennesaw State’s existing dance majors.

“Don’t be scared to go away the location exactly where you grew up and see exactly where your talent can
choose you,” she claimed. “Whatever it is you want to do, really don’t be concerned to branch out.”

– Gary Tanner

Pics by David Caselli

Connected Tales

A chief in revolutionary teaching and learning, Kennesaw Condition University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its much more than 41,000 pupils. With 11 schools on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw Point out is a member of the College Program of Ga and the second-premier college in the condition. The university’s vivid campus culture, varied populace, solid international ties and entrepreneurial spirit attract students from in the course of the location and from 126 nations around the world across the globe. Kennesaw Point out is a Carnegie-designated doctoral study establishment (R2), putting it among the an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. faculties and universities with an R1 or R2 standing. For extra info, visit kennesaw.edu.