Michelle E Iklé

Michelle E Iklé is an Associate Professor of Dance and Movement Studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she has been a faculty member since 1995. She is based in the School of Performing Arts within the Department of Dance and Movement Studies at the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts.

• M.F.A., Dance Science; Somatics; Dance Performance – SUNY College at Brockport
• B.A., Dance Teaching and Performance – SUNY at Buffalo
• RSMT (Registered Somatic Movement Therapist) – ISMETA
• Certified Instructor and Co-Director – Eastwest Institute for Yoga, Dance and Movement Studies

Her research and scholarly interests focus on Shin Somatics®, integrative somatic pedagogies in dance training, jazz and modern dance choreography, movement science, and somatic education for all bodies. She emphasizes embodied learning and holistic movement practices in both performance and pedagogy.

Michelle has been a consistent presenter at national dance conferences, including the Dance Science and Somatics Educators Conference, the Somatic Conference and Performance Festival, and the National Dance Education Organization. Her choreographic work has been commissioned by The Society for New Music, Wells College, and Middle Tennessee State University, showcasing her national recognition in the field. Though no formal articles are listed, her creative output in performance and choreography is extensive and peer-recognized.

She has no listed scientific awards or formal prizes in the provided text.

Michelle actively advises students through independent studies and directs the Dance Ensemble. She has been instrumental in developing somatic-based curricula and leads annual certification workshops in Shin Somatics®. Her teaching spans beginning to advanced levels in modern, jazz, and ballet techniques, as well as specialized courses in somatics, anatomy, and interdisciplinary seminars like Knowing Bodies and Body and Self.

She co-directs the Eastwest Institute for Yoga, Dance and Movement Studies, a professional training and certification organization that extends her pedagogical and somatic work beyond the college. This institute offers workshops and master classes nationally, reinforcing her leadership in somatic dance education.