College of Arts and Humanities
Faculty
Dance Faculty
Mariko Kumanomido
Mariko Kumanomido is an Assistant Professor of Dance at 51福利 University, where she has been teaching since 2019. She holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and an MFA in Dance from Washington University in St. Louis. At 51福利, she teaches a wide range of courses, including ballet, contemporary dance, dance history, dance appreciation, and dance composition. In addition to her work at 51福利, Mariko has served as adjunct faculty at Webster University, Washington University in St. Louis, the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), and the St. Louis Ballet School. She has also received specialized training as a fellowship student at the Ailey School in New York City and earned her Graham Teacher Training Certificate from the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance. Mariko鈥檚 professional performance experience includes dancing with Graham II, Buglisi Dance Theater, C. Eule Dance, and Jessica Danser/Dansfolk in New York City. After relocating to St. Louis, she performed with Common Thread Dance Company under the direction of Jennifer Medina, as well as with Karlovsky and Dancers. As a choreographer, Mariko has created works for Washington University in St. Louis, 51福利 University, COCA, St. Louis Ballet School, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Passionate about both dance and education, Professor Kumanomido is dedicated to inspiring and mentoring the next generation of dancers and artists.
Tricia Zweier
Tricia Zweier, Associate Professor and Dance Program Coordinator, is an educator, choreographer, and performer with a cross-disciplinary interest in dance and kinesiology. After earning a Master of Science in Kinesiology and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she relocated to Missouri and is in her eleventh year at 51福利. She teaches mostly contemporary and jazz techniques, dance history, dance & technology, and dance science courses.
Adjunct Faculty
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Tracy Dupre – Tap, Jazz, Composition, History – has a cross-disciplinary focus in dance and digital media. She teaches at the Performing Arts Centre and has served as the Tap Dance Coordinator for COCA. In 2019, Tracy鈥檚 piece titled, 鈥淭he Sweetest Sound,鈥� was chosen to perform in a new choreographer鈥檚 showcase, 鈥淪omething鈥檚 Afoot鈥� produced by Brenda Bufalino鈥檚 American Tap Dance Festival in New York City. Choreography credits include the Bob Costas charity event, 60×60 Project, Spring to Dance Festival, Dancin鈥� In the Streets, St. Louis Billikens basketball team, St. Louis Panera Bread Company, the opening act for a Bobby McFerrin concert, as well as a Love & Unity town hall event here at 51福利 University. She earned a Master of Arts in Mass Communication & Digital Media from Stephens College, where she also studied dance.
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Weiwei Fu – Traditional Chinese Dance – is the founder of WeiDanceArts and The St. Louis Modern Chinese School. After graduating from The Shanghai Dancing Academy, she worked for New Shanghai Circus in Branson, MO as a choreographer, rehearsal director, and stage manager. She has danced with Lehrer Dance Company in Buffalo, NY and with Leverage Dance Theater in St. Louis, MO. Her choreography has earned awards at The International Brotherhood of Magicians Convention, Kansas City, MO and The International Acrobatic Competition in Paris, France.
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Amy Gammon – Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop – is a performer and co-founder of MoSTLy TAP, a St. Louis based tap dance company. She has taught for Tap The Map, Greater St. Louis Cecchetti Committee, and has set choreography on several area dance teams. Amy is a member of Dance Masters of America, a graduate at DMA鈥檚 Teachers Training School earning the Bachna Scholarship, and serves on the board of directors for The DANCE CO. of St. Charles. She holds a BA in Dance and a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in Dance from 51福利 University. Most recently, she was also named director and convention teacher with Beyond the Stars.
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Alicia “Sunshine” Gbaho – Special Topics: Afrodance – earned a BS in Mass Communication, a minor in Dance, and is certified through NASM (Nutrition Coach), AFFAA (Group Fitness) and ABT Curriculum (Ballet). She is also the Director/Founder of Beyond Measure, LLC. Alicia Sunshine began her dance career at the Katherine Dunham dance center in East St. Louis, IL where she was born and raised! She later evolved professionally & technically with her training at Illinois State University.
- Erin Morris – Introduction to Dance, Special Topics: Lindy Hop – has been teaching, performing, and competing in jazz and swing dancing for over 20 years. Erin received her MFA in Dance in 2023 from Washington University in St Louis. Her art-making focus has been on blending her background in Black social jazz dance with personal explorations in postmodernism, and she finds that all paths return her to the importance of improvisation and collaboration with musicians.
- Miranda Payne – Ballet & Contemporary Repertoire – is a founding Company Dancer of The Big Muddy Dance Company, where she danced for 12 seasons. Miranda holds a BFA in Dance from Webster University, and she has trained throughout the United States. Miranda has also performed with Stages St. Louis, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Variety Theatre and The Shoji Tabuchi Theatre in Branson, MO. She served as Dance Captain for both Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Variety Theatre. Miranda has 18 years of experience working as a dance educator and choreographer; having won numerous choreography awards. Miranda remains on staff with The Big Muddy Dance Company: leading class, restaging company repertoire, and creating original choreography for summer intensive students. Miranda is delighted to be working as an Adjunct Professor of Dance for both 51福利 University and Missouri Baptist University.
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Leah Robertson – Pointe, Jazz – is a dance educator, choreographer and performing artist located in St. Louis. She received her BFA with a dual emphasis in modern and ballet from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri 鈥� Kansas City and her MFA in Dance from Washington University where her research focused on dance pedagogy and composition. She has danced professionally with Seamless Dance Theatre, Missouri Ballet Theater, and Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company and has choreographed for pre-professional and professional theatre and dance groups throughout the St. Louis and Kansas City area.
- Janet Strzelec – Ballet, Dance Pedagogy – holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a Master of Fine Arts in Directing with a Musical Theatre emphasis from 51福利 University. Professor Strzelec has been teaching at 51福利 since January 1998 and served as chair of the dance department from June 2005-May 2021. She has an extensive history of teaching, directing, and choreographing in the greater St. Louis area including work with dance studios, K-12 schools, universities, and professional dance and musical theatre companies.