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Ava LaVonne Vinesett

Professor of the Practice of Dance
Dance Program
Box 90686, Durham, NC 27708-0686
2020 Campus Drive, Suite 209D, Durham, NC 27708
Office hours By appointment ava@duke.edu  

Presentations, Performances & Exhibitions


Expressive Cultures/Global Flows: Histories and Bodies in Flux - FHI 2015 Global Brazil Conference · March 27, 2015 Instructional Course, Workshop, or Symposium Duke University
A clinical trial to see if dancing to rhythmic drumming might benefit individuals who experience pain, depression and other ailments. Ceremony and focus group follow-up - Wurtele Center for Work and Life, · September 8, 2014 Instructional Course, Workshop, or Symposium Smith College
Traditional African Healing Ceremony in a U.S. Population · April 19, 2014 Instructional Course, Workshop, or Symposium A clinical trial to see if dancing to rhythmic drumming might benefit individuals who experience pain, depression and other ailments. Ceremony and focus group follow-up
Dance: A Visual Integration of Life Experience - Center for Multicultural Affairs’ Down to Earth Series · March 26, 2014 Invited Talk Duke University
Crossing the Color of the Sky: Choreographing Liminality - Dancing the African Diaspora: Theories of Black Performance, Collegium for African Diaspora Dance · February 9, 2014 Instructional Course, Workshop, or Symposium Duke University
Danced Ebós: Choreographing Liminality - Lucumí Dance: Politics, Spiritual Culture, and Embodiment, Lucumí Music: Singing, Dancing, and Drumming Black Divinity Conference · November 8, 2013 Instructional Course, Workshop, or Symposium Duke University Center for African & African-American Research (CAAAR) - Co-sponsored by the Duke University Dance Program/Latin Studies
Between Worlds: How Dance Extends Human Consciousness Into the Realm of the Supernatural - Chautauqua West Series · October 22, 2013 Instructional Course, Workshop, or Symposium Office of Undergraduate Education. Duke University,
Embodied Offerings - Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being & Healing Conference · March 1, 2013 Instructional Course, Workshop, or Symposium Duke University
Reaching Into the Before Time · November 16, 2012 - November 17, 2012 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Reynolds Theater, Duke University Reaching Into the Before Time
African Diasporic Dance in Dance Curricula: Benefits, Challenges and Recommendations - NDEO, Focus on Dance Education: Collaborations: Many Cultures-Strength through Diversity · October 27, 2012 Instructional Course, Workshop, or Symposium Los Angeles, CA
Kanyalang · September 28, 2012 - September 30, 2012 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance North Carolina A&T University Kanyalang
African Diaspora Dance Research Group: Public Roundtable - Duke University · April 14, 2012 Invited Talk The launch of a new national research group focused on African Diaspora dance practices
Jeffrey Page's "Talkin' Loud" - ChoreoLab 2012 · 2012 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance
We Leave Behind · November 11, 2011 - November 12, 2011 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Reynolds theater, Duke University We Leave Behind
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · October 31, 2011 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance RN Harris Elementary School Durham, NC DARE. Outreach performance by Duke Dance Program Repertory Ensembles.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · October 31, 2011 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Sandy Ridge Elementary School Durham, NC DARE. Outreach performance by Duke Dance Program Repertory Ensembles.
Adura: Maferefun Obatalá - CRIATIVIDADE, SER E CURA (Across the Threshold, Creativity, Being & Healing). · October 3, 2011 Invited Talk Salvador da Bahía, Brazil,
Crossing the Color of the Sky · April 22, 2011 - April 23, 2011 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Reynolds Theater, Duke University Crossing the Color of the Sky
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · April 12, 2011 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Butler Elementary School DARE. Outreach performance by Duke Dance Program Repertory Ensembles.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · April 12, 2011 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Shepherd Middle School DARE. Outreach performance by Duke Dance Program Repertory Ensembles.
Kakilambe - 2010 November Dances. · November 20, 2010 - November 21, 2010 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Reynolds Theater, Duke University Kakilambe
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · November 9, 2010 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Forestview Elementary School DARE. Outreach performance by Duke Dance Program Repertory Ensembles.
We Dance our Ancestors - 2010 ChoreoLab. · April 24, 2010 - April 25, 2010 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Reynolds theater, Duke University
What Does Your Dance Say About You? Dance as Intangible Cultural Heritage · February 23, 2010 Lecture Duke University
Seruba · 2010 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Seruba. Spring 2010.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · November 10, 2009 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Holton Career and Resource Center DARE. Outreach performance by Duke Dance Program Repertory Ensembles.
Powerful Long Ladder/Four Women, Aunt Sarah - Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble's Home Season Concerts · October 2, 2009 - October 3, 2009 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance
Ava LaVonne Vinesett: Performances, 2005 - 2012 - Chuck Davis AADE 25th Home Season Concert · October 2, 2009 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Carolina Theater
Maferefun Obatalá · January 2009 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Reynolds Theater
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · November 12, 2008 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Rogers Herr DARE. Outreach performance by Duke Dance Program Repertory Ensembles.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · November 12, 2008 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance WD Hill Recreation Center DARE. Outreach performance by Duke Dance Program Repertory Ensembles.
Vévé - November Dances 2008 · August 2008 - November 2008 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Reynolds Theater
Ava LaVonne Vinesett: Performances, 2005 - 2012 - Second Annual Oshun Festival · July 18, 2008 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Magen's Bay, St. Thomas, VI
Ava LaVonne Vinesett: Performances, 2005 - 2012 - Across the Threshold: Creativity Being & Healing · February 23, 2008 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Nelson Music Room, Duke East Campus performance of "Alaako Oso: The Owner of Songs is Eloquent" with Amma McKen
Ava LaVonne Vinesett: Performances, 2005 - 2012 - November Dances 2007 · November 17, 2007 - November 18, 2007 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Reynolds Theater Yansã the Tempest. Choreographer and performer. This work was developed based on research in the Candomblé religion in Salvador da Bahia, Yansã, the only female orixá, or divinity represents transformation.
Yansã the Tempest - November Dances · August 2007 - November 2007 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Reynolds Theater
Ava LaVonne Vinesett: Performances, 2005 - 2012 - American Dance Festival Performance Series · June 12, 2007 - June 13, 2007 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Page Auditorium Chuck Davis African-American Dance Ensemble
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · June 23, 2006 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Lakewood Elementary School DARE. Lecture Demonstration.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances - Triangle Dance Festival for Aids performance. · April 7, 2006 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance UNC DARE.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · March 24, 2006 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance EK Powe Elementary School DARE. Lecture Demonstration.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · March 23, 2006 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Forestview DARE. Lecture Demonstration.
Soli - ChoreoLab 2006 · 2006 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance
Manjani · December 3, 2005 - April 2005 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Elon University Manjani
Ava LaVonne Vinesett: Performances, 2005 - 2012 · June 24, 2005 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance American Tobacco Warehouse Performance with Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · April 15, 2005 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Forest View Elementary School DARE. Lecture Demonstration.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · April 14, 2005 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Lakewood Elementary School DARE. Lecture Demonstration.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · March 26, 2005 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Exploris Museum DARE class and performance
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · December 3, 2004 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance UNC-CH DARE Master Class for UNC-CH Drama Activities Board
Common Ground · June 2, 2004 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage Concer Common Ground
Jalidon - Unnamed event · December 8, 2003 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Jalidon
Artistic Visions of Aché and Rhythms of Life Summer Jam · June 20, 2003 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Lyon Park Community Center, Durham, NC
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · April 3, 2003 - April 3, 2003 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Club Boulevard Humanities Magnet Elementary School DARE Lecture Demonstration. Lec/Dem for 400 children.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · February 28, 2003 - February 28, 2003 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture DARE Lecture Demonstration. Performance and demonstration for Sophomore Class.
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · February 14, 2003 - February 15, 2003 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance UNC-G Dance Department Duke African Repertory Ensemble Performance. Passport Concert performance of "Gran Chimin".
Jalidon - November Dances · November 22, 2002 - November 23, 2002 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Jalidon
Duke African Repetory Ensemble Performances · February 20, 2002 Exhibition, Screening, or Performance Duke Divinity School Lecture and performance. "Dancing in the Spirit"

Service to the Profession


Co-Convenor, Afro-Feminist Performance Routes: A Dialogue in Movement · 2018 Administration This focused residency was organized in tandem with the third biennial Collegium for African Diaspora Dance Conference, “Dancing Black Joy,” and featured a series of workshops, discussions and performance, to continue the dialogue around feminism (however broadly construed) in African diaspora dance contexts, practice, pedagogy, philosophy.
Organizer, Mabiba Baegne artist residency · October 16, 2017 Administration
Organizer, Rujeko Dumbutshena artist residency · April 10, 2016 Administration Rujeko Dumbutshena artist residency as part of the Africa in Circum-Atlantic Perspective Feminist Performance Route
Co-Convenor, Africa in Circum-Atlantic Perspective: Feminist Performance Routes, · 2016 Administration Duke’s Africa Initiative The project is invested in African and African diaspora women artists whose creative practices enliven and illuminate global movement trajectories and their associated embodied dimensions.
Organizer, Backstage Series · April 10, 2014 Administration co-sponsored by the Dean's Fund, the Baldwin Scholars, Karen Casey of River Rhythms and Happy Beat Drumming, Cradle of Jazz Project, and the Duke Dance Program, Duke University Backstage Series: Malian/Wasulu vocalist, percussionist, and kamele ngoni player Kokanko Sata Doumbia, and Dogon scholar, Assigué Dolo, for a one-day residency in conjunction with Dance and Religion in Asia and Africa.
coordinator, Lucumí Invitational class · December 11, 2013 Other Ark, East Campus Duke University
coordinator, Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being & Healing 2013 International Conference: Personal/Social/Environmental Transformation · December 11, 2013 Event Participation Duke University
presenter, Lucumí Music: Singing, Dancing, and Drumming Black Divinity · December 11, 2013 Event Participation Duke University Center for African & African-American Research
presenter, Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being & Healing 2013 International Conference: Personal/Social/Environmental Transformation · December 11, 2013 Event Participation Duke University
coordinator, Dun-dun Dance with Guinea Artist · December 11, 2013 Other Ark, East Campus Duke University
coordinator, Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being & Healing 2013 International Conference: Personal/Social/Environmental Transformation · December 11, 2013 Event Participation Duke University
instructor, Spoken Word and Slam Poetry in Context · December 11, 2013 Other Ark, East Campus Duke University
instructor, Iemanja Retreat · December 11, 2013 Other Wild Heart Yoga
co-convenor, Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being & Healing 2013 International Conference: Personal/Social/Environmental Transformation · December 11, 2013 Event Participation Duke University
Organizer · August 4, 2013 Administration Ark one-day residency with Guinea artists: Aly Camara and Marietou Cisse Ark one-day residency with Guinea artists: Aly Camara and Marietou Cisse
Organizer, Integrating Traditional African Healing Practices into Western Medicine: A Rite to Embody Change · April 20, 2013 Administration Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation award, Duke University Residency with Mabiba Baegne, Pline Mounzeo, Ken Wilson, M.D.
presenter, NDEO Annual Conference 2012 · October 24, 2012 - October 28, 2012 Event Participation Los Angeles, CA
panelist, African Diaspora Dance Research Group · April 14, 2012 Event Participation Duke University
instructor, Mother-Daughter Weekend (Baldwin Scholars Program) · March 17, 2012 Other Duke University
lecturer, CRIATIVIDADE, SER E CURA (Across the Threshold) 2011 · October 8, 2011 Event Participation Teatro Martim Gonçalves Salvador da Bahía, Brazil
instructor, CRIATIVIDADE, SER E CURA, 2011 (Across the Threshold) 2011 · October 5, 2011 Event Participation Teatro Vila Velha Salvador da Bahía, Brazil
instructor, Projeto Didá Banda Feminina · October 4, 2011 Other Didá Escola de Música Salvador da Bahía, Brazil
moderator, CRIATIVIDADE, SER E CURA (Across the Threshold) 2011 · October 4, 2011 Event Participation Teatro Martim Gonçalves Salvador da Bahía
panelist, CRIATIVIDADE, SER E CURA, 2011 (Across the Threshold) · October 3, 2011 - October 8, 2011 Event Participation Salvador da Bahía
Faculty Review Committee · December 17, 2010 Other
Co-Mentor · December 17, 2010 Other
Co-Coordinator Congolese Master Class · November 15, 2010 Other Ark, Duke University
Co-Coordinator Resurrection Dance Theater of Haiti Master Class · September 18, 2010 Other
instructor, American College Dance Festival Association Mid-Atlantic Conference · March 19, 2010 - March 20, 2010 Event Participation Virginia Commonwealth University
Exploration Faculty Mentor : Robertson Scholars Program · November 16, 2009 Other
Co-director : Unity NC African Arts Exchange · November 16, 2009 Other Durham, NC
instructor, Adura, a Prescription for Healing · March 21, 2009 Other Duke University Dance Program
Co-Principal Investigator, Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being & Healing Conference · March 19, 2009 - March 22, 2009 Event Participation Duke University Dance Program
Panelist : “An Accounting of Africa in North Carolina” · February 5, 2009 Other Hayti Heritage Center
instructor, Master Classes · December 5, 2008 Other Greensboro Cultural Arts Center
instructor, Master Classes · July 14, 2008 Other Antilles School, St. Thomas, VI
instructor, American Cancer Society’s 2008 HBCU Afroflow Tour · March 29, 2008 Other Mariott Convention Center Durham, NC
Logistics Coordinator : Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being and Healing conference · 2008 - 2009 Administration
Volunteer Coordinator : Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being and Healing conference · 2008 - 2009 Administration Duke University
Signage coordinator : Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being and Healing conference · 2008 - 2009 Administration

Service to Duke


President's Arts Advisory Committee (University) · 2019 Committee Service
Faculty Director, Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program · 2018 - 2020 Other
Member of Dance Program Curriculum Committee · 2017 - 2019 Curriculum Innovations The Curriculum committee began the process of revising the Dance Program major to include four pathways as a way to highlight strengths of our faculty and align with the new MFA in Embodied Praxis.
Committee for Facilities and the Environment (Department) · 2017 - 2020 Committee Service Reviews all projects destined for consideration by the Trustees’ Facilities & Environment Committee. Six faculty and six administrative appointments; co-chaired by one faculty member and one administrative member. Term: 3 years.
Executive Advisory Board, DUS (University) · 2016 Committee Service
Member of Search Committe, Development of MFA in Dance · 2016 Curriculum Innovations Participated in general and faculty search for new MFA in Dance Program at Duke
Director of Undergraduate Studies Dance Department · July 2014 Other
Dance Program Publicity (Program) · 2014 - 2017 Committee Service
Co-Director, Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program · 2013 - 2017 Other
The Collegium for African Diaspora Dance (CADD) (Consortium) · April 2012 Committee Service Is a Founding and Executive Member 2012- present

Leadership & Clinical Positions


Faculty Director, Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program 2018-present

 

Co-Director, Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program 2013-2017

Co-Instructor, Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program 2008-present

Academic & Administrative Activities


University Committee Service in 2019

 

Faculty Director, Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program 2018-present

Co-Director, Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program 2013-2017

 

Director of Undergraduate Studies/Dance Program 2014-2020