Name: Meg Schriffen
Title: Associate Professor of Dance and Dance Program Director
Education: M.F.A., Choreography and Performance, Florida State University
B.A., Dance Education, Winthrop University
Office: 229 Johnson Hall
Phone: 803/323-4496
E-mail: schriffenm@winthrop.edu
Area(s): Modern Technique, Ballet Technique, Introduction to Dance, Choreography, Dance Pedagogy,
Winthrop Dance Theatre, and Dance Education Coursework
Meg Schriffen is the Dance Program Director at Winthrop University. She began her
early dance training in Ashland, Ohio, at Opus II Dance Studio and with the Opus Dance
Company (now Ashland Regional Ballet), under the direction of Hellie Schussler. She
performed principal roles in The Firebird, The Nutcracker, The Rite of Spring, and
The Sleeping Beauty. After her graduation from Winthrop with a B.A. in dance education,
Meg taught dance at Camden Elementary of the Arts for two years before becoming head
of the Dance program at Thomas Sumter Academy. While teaching, she also performed
and choreographed for the Sumter Civic Dance Company. She also was a member of the
Power Company in Columbia, S.C., where she performed works by Lisa Wheeler, Sean Curran,
Alison Tipton, and Martha Brim.
While pursuing her MFA at Florida State University, she was an active member of Dance
Repertory Theatre (DRT) and performed in pieces by many guest choreographers including,
Terry Creach, Bruce Wood, Jawole Zollar, Gerri Houlihan, and Nancy Smith Fichter.
She also performed works by Lynda Davis, Anthony Morgan, Patty Phillips, and Rick
McCullough during her time at FSU. Meg also had the distinct honor of working closely
with Dan Wagoner as one of her mentors for her thesis concert, and performed in master
works including Martha Graham's "Steps in the Street" from Chronicle. She also served
as rehearsal director and a performer in Paul Taylor's Esplanade.
Meg has performed and had her choreography showcased at the American College Dance Association conference, the Charlotte Dance Festival, and in several Piccolo Spoleto Festivals. She serves on the board of the American College Dance Association. Meg has also been on faculty for the Staibdance Summer Dance Intensive in Sorrento, Italy, teaching, choreographing and performing with the Staibdance Company. She is a member of Bodiography Contemporary Ballet Charlotte and performs annually in Charlotte and Pittsburgh. She is also certified in Bodiography Fitness and Strength Training system designed for dancers, and has recently completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification.
