Michael Williams is Professor of Dance at The
University of Arizona’s School of Dance and has
had a rich and varied career in the arts. His
early training was from the famed Gus Giordano
Dance Center in Chicago, where he later
became a faculty member in Jazz (1979-1985).
He was also a principle dancer in the
international touring company, Gus Giordano
Jazz Dance Chicago (1980-1984) and
continued to serve as a master teacher in Jazz
Dance Technique for Giordano Jazz Dance
Workshops. Michael has performed in theatrical productions with such
stars as Ann Reinking and ChitaRivera. He worked in Tokyo on the
Japanese movie musical, Curtain Call with choreographer Michael
Shawn. He danced in the PBS Emmy award-winning special, The
Rehearsal and is a featured dancer in the widely-distributed instructional
video The Jazz Dance Class, both Gus Giordano projects.
Michael has worked as a model, dancer and choreographer with many
of the country’s top fashion designers on their collection showcases for
the Chicago Apparel Center and the Florida Swimwear Association. He
has performed as a union member of the Actor’s Equity Association in
numerous industrial and corporate productions and in professional
musical theater.
Along with his wife Susan Quinn, Michael established a professional
dance company in Florida and together they produced over 30 new
choreographic works. Their collaborative jazz dance, Clouds opened the
first Jazz Dance World Congress (JDWC) in Chicago, 1990. Michael’s
choreography has been featured in other JDWC events including Piano
Man, a dance cartoon - Chicago, 1994; Muted Instrument - Nagoya,
Japan, 1995; and Scat - The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
Washington, D.C., 1996. His choreographic work, POCKETS, holdin’ a
groove!, was performed at the 1997 International Theater School
Festival in Amsterdam, Holland and opened the 1998 Jazz Dance World
Congress in Phoenix, AZ. His choreography is currently in the repertoire
of several professional dance companies.
Michael tours nationally as a master teacher in Jazz and Tap for Dance
Masters of America, Dance Educators of America and other national
dance organizations and schools. Michael did a residency for the
Taiwan National Dance Festival in Taipei, Taiwan and was a featured
choreographer at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Monterrey,
Mexico. He taught Master Classes in Kids Jazz Dance at the JDWC in
San Jose, Costa Rica. Michael received the prestigious Charles and
Irene Putnam Award for Teaching Excellence in the College of Fine Arts
at The University of Arizona and the 2005 Jazz Dance World Congress
award for his significant contributions to jazz dance.
His extensive background in music provides a unique musical
perspective and framework for his teaching and choreography. Michael
continuously strives to stretch his creative voice in the genre of his
American dance heritage, jazz dance.
stars as Ann Reinking and ChitaRivera. He worked in Tokyo on the
Japanese movie musical, Curtain Call with choreographer Michael
Shawn. He danced in the PBS Emmy award-winning special, The
Rehearsal and is a featured dancer in the widely-distributed instructional
video The Jazz Dance Class, both Gus Giordano projects.
Michael has worked as a model, dancer and choreographer with many
of the country’s top fashion designers on their collection showcases for
the Chicago Apparel Center and the Florida Swimwear Association. He
has performed as a union member of the Actor’s Equity Association in
numerous industrial and corporate productions and in professional
musical theater.
Along with his wife Susan Quinn, Michael established a professional
dance company in Florida and together they produced over 30 new
choreographic works. Their collaborative jazz dance, Clouds opened the
first Jazz Dance World Congress (JDWC) in Chicago, 1990. Michael’s
choreography has been featured in other JDWC events including Piano
Man, a dance cartoon - Chicago, 1994; Muted Instrument - Nagoya,
Japan, 1995; and Scat - The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,
Washington, D.C., 1996. His choreographic work, POCKETS, holdin’ a
groove!, was performed at the 1997 International Theater School
Festival in Amsterdam, Holland and opened the 1998 Jazz Dance World
Congress in Phoenix, AZ. His choreography is currently in the repertoire
of several professional dance companies.
Michael tours nationally as a master teacher in Jazz and Tap for Dance
Masters of America, Dance Educators of America and other national
dance organizations and schools. Michael did a residency for the
Taiwan National Dance Festival in Taipei, Taiwan and was a featured
choreographer at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Monterrey,
Mexico. He taught Master Classes in Kids Jazz Dance at the JDWC in
San Jose, Costa Rica. Michael received the prestigious Charles and
Irene Putnam Award for Teaching Excellence in the College of Fine Arts
at The University of Arizona and the 2005 Jazz Dance World Congress
award for his significant contributions to jazz dance.
His extensive background in music provides a unique musical
perspective and framework for his teaching and choreography. Michael
continuously strives to stretch his creative voice in the genre of his
American dance heritage, jazz dance.
Michael Williams
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