School of Music, Theatre
and Dance

Varner Hall, Room 207
371 Varner Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4485
(location map)
Academic Office: (248) 370-2030
Box Office: (248) 370-3013
Fax: (248) 370-2041
[email protected]

Ali Woerner

Photo of Ali Woerner
Doris and Paul Travis Associate Professor of Dance
Modern Technique, Choreography
Director/Founder of Take Root

Contact: [email protected]
(248) 370-3604

Links: Take Root Website

Ali Woerner is Associate Professor of Dance at Oakland University (teaching modern technique and choreography), and director/founder of the professional modern dance company, Take Root one of Oakland University’s two professional dance companies-in-residence. Ali received her MFA from the University of Michigan and her BPA from Oklahoma City University. Throughout her diverse career within both commercial (performing as a Radio City Rockette) and contemporary mediums, Ali has performed and taught all over the world including; Colombia, Costa Rica, Japan, Berlin and Korea. Take Root been commissioned to perform their original work at the New Dance for Asia International Festival/Seoul, South Korea, Incheon Yeonsu International Dance Festival/Incheon, Korea, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Arts X/ Detroit Institute of Arts, performed at the National Theater of Costa Rica, Uferstudios/Berlin, Germany, DSO/The Cube, The Red Bull House of Art Detroit, TEDx, The Detroit Dance City Festival, RADFest, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, The Music Hall Center for Performing Arts Detroit, Hamlin Field House Theater/Chicago, invited to perform a full length concert as part of opening day of “Dance: American Art 1830 1960” at the Detroit Institute of Arts, invited to present for the National Dance Education Organization (Miami, Chicago and San Diego), Ohio Dance Festival, The University of Costa Rica, the American College Dance Festival, the 21st Century Arts and Arts Education Conference and has received funding from Oakland University’s Research College, Brooksie Way Mini Grant, the Community Engagement Grant, Oakland University’s College of Arts and Sciences, Education Research Grant from the Senate for Teaching and Learning and funding from an “Anonymous Grant.” The company’s mission is  Impacting Lives Through Dance. Take Root teaches  master classes nationally and internationally to all ages promoting the need for connection to the arts and arts education and is deeply involved in their outreach work of Arts Education and Dance for Parkinson’s Disease. Take Root’s Dance for Parkinson’s Disease Program offers weekly classes in four locations including Detroit, Pontiac and Rochester. Ali Woerner was awarded the prestigious Oakland County Executive’s 2016 Elite 40 Under 40 top honor for her creation and direction of the Dance for Parkinson’s Disease program and she is a guest lecturer for Oakland University’s Health Sciences Neuroscience course.