Donna R Davenport

Donna R Davenport is Professor of Dance and Movement Studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), where she has been a faculty member since 1990. She holds an Ed.D. and M.Ed. in Dance Education from Temple University and a B.F.A. in Dance and B.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts. Her academic home is in the Department of Dance and Movement Studies within the College of Arts and Sciences.

• Ed.D., Dance Education, Temple University
• M.Ed., Dance Education, Temple University
• B.F.A., Dance, University of Massachusetts
• B.A., Psychology, University of Massachusetts

Her research and teaching focus on choreography pedagogy, social justice in dance, improvisation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She integrates artistic practice with political and intellectual inquiry, emphasizing anti-racist pedagogy, inclusive curriculum design, and community-based performance. Her work bridges performance, education, and activism, particularly through embodied approaches to social change.

Davenport's recent publications and presentations explore themes such as teaching dance during the pandemic, decolonizing dance curricula, and confronting privilege in dance education. These works reflect a strong trend toward equity, inclusion, and the academic legitimacy of dance as a scholarly discipline.

• Civically Engaged Faculty Member of the Year (2014)
• John Milton Potter Endowed Professorship (2013–2018)

She has co-designed interdisciplinary programs such as Social Justice Studies and Arts & Education, and has collaborated with faculty across philosophy, music, art, and writing. She has advised student ensembles like the Koshare Dance Collective and led service initiatives including the Power of Dance program at the Boys & Girls Club. She has also served as Chair of the Dance Department and Program Coordinator for multiple interdisciplinary majors.

Davenport is an active member of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), where she contributes to the DANCE 2050 Think Tank and the Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JDEI) Committee. She is also affiliated with the American College Dance Association (ACDA) and local arts organizations such as Dances at MuCCC and St. Peter’s Community Arts Academy.