Miriam Mahdaviani-Goldstone

Miriam Mahdaviani-Goldstone is a Lecturer and Chair of Dance at Vassar College, where she has served since 2004. She holds a BA from SUNY Purchase College and is a renowned choreographer with a career spanning professional ballet and academic roles.

• Teaches ballet technique, coaches classical repertoire, and choreographs for the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre.
• Leadership roles include Chair of Dance and cross-disciplinary initiatives such as a multi-year Cognitive Science dance lab and Dancing to Connect, a community project with Poughkeepsie High School.
• Professional background includes dancing with the New York City Ballet and creating ballets for companies like Pacific Northwest Ballet and Richmond Ballet.

Her research integrates dance with cognitive science and community engagement, emphasizing collaborative and educational outreach. Awards include the Choo-San Goh Award for Choreography and the Mae L. Wein Award.

• Grants & Honors: President's Award for Arts Management, Martin E. Segal Award, and others listed in full description.

Advising and grants focus on dance education innovation and interdepartmental collaboration. She leads the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre and has designed interdisciplinary initiatives with Vassar’s Engaged Pluralism Initiative.