Gregory Patterson

Associate Professor of Dance
Chair, Department of Dance 

Contact: [email protected]
(248) 370-3009

Gregory Patterson is an Associate Professor and Chair of Oakland University's Dance Department. A faculty member since 1991, he has taught courses in Jazz, Modern, Pilates, Musical Theater, Dance History and Dance Production, as well as choreographed musicals for the Theatre Department. In addition to being a certified Pilates instructor, Patterson was also founder and artistic director of Patterson Rhythm Pace Dance Company for 13 years.

With a MFA in Dance Performance from the University of Michigan, Patterson has had a noteworthy career with over 37 years of performing, teaching and choreographing as an international artist. His professional experience has included dancing with Harbinger Dance Company, Ann Arbor Dance Works, Rigmarole Dance Company, and Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. Patterson also performed as a guest artist with both the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and the Doug Elkins Dance Company of New York.

Throughout his career, Patterson has taught at numerous college dance festivals and workshops, and has choreographed for universities, high schools, studios and dance companies. His work has been performed by Western Michigan University, Bowling Green State University, Hope College, Morgan State University, and Alma College, as well as the Michigan Opera Theatre, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble and Bal-Chi Dance Company of Chicago to name a few.

Patterson has traveled to Greece twice to teach, choreograph and perform with OU theatre faculty and  majors as part of the Oakland University Classical Greek Theatre Summer Study Program, which is the only American university-sponsored program of its kind.

In the spring of 2023, Patterson travelled with OU students to Berlin Germany to teach and perform as part of the dance department’s Study Abroad program. His signature piece “Who’s the Boss”, was performed in Russia as part of an Eisenhower Dance Ensemble appearance with the Pushkin Ballet.

Patterson has received the Maggie Allesee Choreography Award and in the same year, his work was chosen for the Leo Choreography competition at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Buffalo, NY. He has received several Faculty Fellowships through Oakland University to pursue research, produce concerts and travel.

In 2012, Patterson was named a Travis Professor, which recognizes faculty members from the School of Music, Theatre and Dance for outstanding achievements in teaching, research and professional service. The Travis Professorship Award supported his dance company’s New York debut at the Citibank Ailey Theatre in New York, NY.

Patterson currently serves on the Board of Directors of both the Michigan Dance Council and Eisenhower Dance Detroit.