Sara Pearson

Sara Pearson is a Professor of Dance Performance and Scholarship at the University of Maryland (UMD) since 2009, affiliated with the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. She is co-artistic director of PEARSONWIDRIG DANCETHEATER (since 1987), a globally acclaimed company known for subversive, intimate works. Her research focuses on choreography and improvisation, blending performance with interdisciplinary exploration.

Education: BA in Music/Dance from the University of Minnesota (1971), followed by training at the Nikolais Louis Dance Lab (1973–74) and extensive somatic studies (1976–96). Professional affiliations include roles with the Murray Louis Dance Company, Nikolais Dance Theatre, and commissions from institutions like TanzPlan Ost (Switzerland) and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Her work spans 15 full-evening dance theatre productions and over 30 solo/duet works, performed globally at venues such as Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and international festivals. Recent engagements include site-specific performances in UNESCO World Heritage sites like Zeche Zollverein (Germany) and Castillo San Cristobal (Puerto Rico).

Awards include the American Choreographer Award and First Prize at Nyon’s International Choreographic Competition. Grants from NEA, NYSCA, and others have supported her transnational touring and collaborations. She has mentored TDPS graduates and guest-taught at Juilliard, Laban Centre London, and NYU.

PEARSONWIDRIG DANCETHEATER’s mission emphasizes transforming the familiar into provocative, emotionally resonant art. Current company members include UMD alumni such as Emily Ames, Atlas Hill, and Connor Voss.