Dr. Thea Patterson

Biography

Born in Oakland, California, Thea Patterson holds a Master of Fine Arts in Ballet from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and English from the University of California, Irvine. After receiving her MFA, Thea worked as a freelance dancer, choreographer, and teacher in the Bay Area, teaching ballet and contemporary techniques to a range of levels and ages. During her career, Thea was a company member and collaborator with the Strings Attached Dance Company, a project-based company founded by Lissa Resnick, and performed with various ensembles such as Peninsula Ballet Theater and Garrett+Moulton Productions. Thea's performance with the Strings Attached Dance Company contributed to winning the Audience Choice Award at the PUSHfest Dance Festival in 2018. She was also co-awarded the Isadora Duncan Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Performance Ensemble work with Garrett+Moulton Productions in 2020. From 2021 to 2023, Thea worked full-time as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Utah, where she taught ballet techniques in the Ballet Modern Programs School of Dance. Her research focuses on dissecting the construct of the 'ballet body' and its impact on the physical and mental health of ballet practitioners, particularly professional ballerinas, with the aim of making ballet more inclusive and enjoyable for all levels.

Research Interests

Experience