Roberta Wong
Assistant Teaching Professor of Ballet/Dance Generalist
Roberta Wong is:
Happy to be here at Ball State University. Main goals are student success and growth discovery, through the power of dance and the arts.
So far, 30+ years teaching, including pre-professional/pre-college, university, professional company, dance festivals, medical health challenges, Parkinsons, military, seniors, Bloomington Boys and Girls Club, Madame Walker Urban Life Center, USA Diving National Training Center.
Professional work: Boston Ballet (apprentice), Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, Dance Kaleidoscope, “Yuletide Celebration” with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show.
Other professions: professional dance photographer, company teacher, rehearsal director
Curriculum coordinator: Dance Every Journey, serving seniors and military in Johnson County
Past and present:
- board member, Dance For Parkinsons Bloomington IN, Indy Dance Council
- memberships: Dance For PD, International Dance Council CID UNESCO, NOAH/National Organization for Arts in Health
- artistic advisory: Indiana Arts Commission Strategic Framework Advisory Committee
Awards:
Creative Renewal Fellowships from the Indy Arts Council, Indiana Arts Commission Individual Artist and Lifelong Indiana grants, Ball State University CHIRP grant.
Choreography presented at: “Candles and Carols” of Anderson University, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, Indy Convergence, Peggy Dorsey Memorial concerts, Indianapolis Ballet company and school, Stage 1 annual recitals.
Education:
B.S. in Biology from Butler University
Training: RAD Royal Academy of Dance based, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, José Limon Dance Company, Mark Morris Dance Group, Dance For PD, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Adaptive Dance, Stott Pilates mat
Some highlights:
Featured in the short film "Dreaming of You(th)" (Mike Woodall, Stuart Lewis, Gabriel Royal) which won "Best Music Video" at Short. Sweet. Film Fest. in Cleveland, OH.
Cover and feature, Indianapolis Woman Magazine
Guest dancer for Weird Al Yankovich “Poodle Hat Tour” (Indianapolis only).
Thank you to David Hochoy for inspiration, Louise “Weezie” Smith, founder of Dance For Parkinsons Bloomington, for grace, “Sophia: The Crusher” whose joy, conflict and tenacity taught me how to be a better teacher, and to Charles, who came back from hospice to remind us all that the power of dance reaches beyond what we can comprehend.