Amy Marshall of the Amy Marshall Dance Company in New York one of the guest artists at the Great Lakes Dance Festival. (Photo by Lois Greenfield)

Oakland University will hold the second annual Great Lakes Dance Festival July 17 through 28 this summer. The two-week summer program for students, teachers and professional dancers ages 16 and over features an exceptional faculty of professional dance artists. Joel Hall, Amy Marshall and Laurie Eisenhower are among the artists.

Hall is co-founder and co-director of the Chicago City Theatre company established in 1974. This exceptional performing arts organization includes Chicago City Theatre, the Joel Hall Dancers, and the Joel Hall Dance Center. Hall is the artistic director and principal choreographer of his dance company and the director and chief instructor for the training studio. Hall has achieved an international reputation as a teacher and choreographer. His unique Chicago dance style expresses a rich dance vocabulary embracing the classical and modern idioms.

Marshall is the artistic director of the Amy Marshall Dance Company. She received a bachelor’s degree in dance and theater from Goucher College in Baltimore, Md. and has performed in the companies of esteemed choreographers Paul Taylor and David Parsons. While a member of these companies, she taught master classes and residencies throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Marshall has set her repertoire on colleges around the country, including Goucher College, Stockton University, Webster University, Plymouth State University, Winthrop University, The Hartt School, and Dartmouth College. Marshall currently serves on the faculty at Hofstra University.

Eisenhower is the founder and artistic director of Eisenhower Dance Ensemble and professor and program director of dance at Oakland University. She received her master’s degree in performance and choreography from Arizona State University. In 2003, she was awarded the Artserve Michigan Governor’s Arts Award.

Stephanie Pizzo, associate artistic director of Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, will also participate in the Great Lakes Dance Festival at OU. She has performed with Michigan Ballet Theatre, Harbinger Dance Company and Oakland Dance Theatre and received her bachelor’s degree in dance from Oakland University. As a founding member and principal dancer of Eisenhower Dance Ensemble she has staged numerous works of Eisenhower in choreographic residencies throughout the United States.

The Great Lakes Dance Festival offers classes in modern and ballet technique, jazz, hip hop and repertory. Each week will include a student showcase. In addition, the festival will offer our special “brown bag” lunch series that will address current issues and trends in dance.

For more information, or to register for the Great Lakes Dance Festival, call (248) 370-2030 or e-mail stapleto@oakland.edu.