College of Arts and Humanities

Guest Artists

Guest Artists

College of Arts and Humanities NAVIGATION

The Dance Program coordinates a variety of opportunities for students to network with internationally recognized artists. These experiences include lectures, demonstrations, master classes, assessment classes, and week-long residencies that culminate in an original work for the stage.

2023-2024 Guest Artists

Seyong Kim

Seyong Kim

Seyong Kim, an Associate Professor of Dance at Western Michigan University, holds an MA in Dance Education from NYU Steinhardt and an MA in Dance from Sung-Kyun-Kwan University (Seoul, South Korea). He is a CMA (Certified Movement Analyst) from Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, a RSDE (Registered Somatic Dance Educator), and a PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) Certified Teacher. Seyong is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 7 of the American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum.

Hot Crowd

Hot Crowd

Hot Crowd is a Chicago-based modern dance company located in Logan Square whose goal is to stimulate and inspire dancers and non-dancers alike through innovative movement, community interaction and accessibility to strengthen and spread the art of modern dance throughout the Chicagoland area and beyond.

Renee Kester

Renee Kester

Renee Kester is a choreographer, educator and director based in Los Angeles. She started breakdancing at the age of 12 with the guidance of Quest Crew and was later classically trained at Southland Ballet Academy. By 15, she was the youngest member of Sonya Tayeh’s company and an original member of Westside Dance Project and Entity. Renee was scouted to be a trainee for the Washington Ballet at World Ballet competition. She then danced and toured with Houston Ballet before returning to L.A. to create the viral video, “Slip” with Phillip Chbeeb. “Slip” amassed over 20 million views and pushed Renee to choreograph several music videos, commercials (Toyota, Lenovo, Nair, and Timberland), web series “Making Moves” and dance in stage performances (VMA’s and Dancing with the Stars). Renee has won best choreography at the World of Dance Awards and best choreographer for digital content at the World Choreography Awards. She has taught at colleges Princeton and LMU, and travelled the world performing, choreographing and teaching in Jamaica, Mexico, Sicily, Romania, Canada, Singapore, Slovenia and throughout the states. Renee co-founded creative training company, Playdō, in 2022. She is currently creating a feature film and performing in LA.

Sam McReynolds

Sam McReynolds

Sam McReynolds is a freelance dance artist originally from St. Louis, MO, where he received his BFA in Dance at Lindenwood University and trained closely under hip-hop choreographer/instructor REDD Williams. He quickly discovered a deep passion for choreography/creation throughout his college career. He expanded his understanding of dance greatly through his experience exploring the movement language known as “Gaga” here in the U.S. and in Tel Aviv, Israel. Since moving to LA in 2016, he has worked with several choreographers and dance companies, such as Sarah Elgart/Arrogant Elbow, Brian Friedman, Marguerite Derricks, No)one. Art House, Ate9 Dance Company, WHYTEBERG, Fabe Dance, The TL Collective, Sidra Bell, Bryan Arias, and many more. He often returns to Kansas City, MO to dance for Owen/Cox Dance Group. His relationship with the company has only grown stronger over the years. As an educator, Sam has served as a contemporary teacher/choreographer at several studios around the St. Louis area, and most recently in LA and Orange County, CA. He has been on faculty with Joffrey Ballet School for the past two years, where he taught and choreographed for the JoffreyRED and Joffrey West Intensives. He also taught intermediate, advanced, and professional level contemporary this past season at Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy. As a choreographer, Sam has presented live original works in LA at CONGRESS: Legalize Dance, Club Jete, LAVENDER, Stage & Screen Show, LA Dance Festival International Exchange, and VOICES: Queer Artist Showcase. In May of 2021, he won the Best New Filmmaker Award at the Dare to Dance in Public Film Festival for his dance short film Proclamation, which he conceptualized, directed, co-choreographed, and edited. He occasionally holds "GREYaRea" sessions, most consistently at Stomping Ground LA, which serve as a space to workshop movement with dancers of all levels and backgrounds. He has also had the pleasure of hosting several improv jams with live accompaniment and lighting installation. Sam finds much of his inspiration and passion for dance through improvisation both as a mover and an observer.

Guest Artists

Field Trips

The Dance Program also coordinates regular field trips with local professional dance companies and arts organizations.

SYNERGY

The Dance Program also helps to maintain SYNERGY, the Lindenwood University Student Dance Club