Barbara Sellers-Young has a BS in Sociology, MS in Dance and a Ph.D. in Theatre from the University of Oregon as well as continued study of various western and Asian physical disciplines including Laban, Mask, Meditation, Yoga, Tai chi, Wu chi, and Chi gong. Prior to her academic career, she was a dancer/choreographer/director who performed extensively in the Pacific Northwest and at such venues as Mumokan Theatre (Kyoto, Japan) and University Theatre (Manchester, England).
She has taught workshops and classes in dance and movement for international organizations such as the Association of Theatre in Higher Education and the International Federation of Theatre Research as well as at universities in England, China, and Australia. Her research projects on the moving body have taken place in Sudan, Egypt, Nepal, Japan, China, England, and Australia. Her articles can be found in The Journal of Popular Culture, Theatre Topics, Asian Theatre Journal, Dance Research Journal and elsewhere.
Barbara is the author of three books: Teaching Personality with Gracefulness (published in 1993), a discussion of Kanriye Fujima's life and teaching of Nihon Buyo in the United States, Breathing, Movement, Exploration, a movement text for actors (Applause Books 2001) and an edited volume with Anthony Shay on the globalization of the popular culture form, bellydance, titled Bellydance: Orientalism, Transnationalism and Harem Fantasy. (Mazda Press, 2005).
Her research has been supported by fellowships from the American Council of Learned Societies, Centre for Cultural Research into Risk, Charles Sturt University, Australia, Davis Humanities Institute and the Pacific Rim Research Program. |