Rate My Professor Balinda Craig-Quijada

Balinda Craig-Quijada is Professor of Dance and head of the dance program in the Department of Dance, Drama, and Film at Kenyon College, a position she has held since joining the faculty in 2000. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from The Ohio State University in 1995 and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1987. Before arriving at Kenyon, Craig-Quijada served on the faculty in the Department of Dance at The Ohio State University from 1998 to 2000. Her expertise encompasses dance history, choreography, contemporary modern dance, and ballet. As an active choreographer, she has presented her work throughout the United States and abroad. Additionally, she has served as Regional Director on the Board of the American College Dance Association for over thirteen years.

Craig-Quijada's research and pedagogical approach emphasize collaborative projects that incorporate a global dimension into dance education at liberal arts institutions. She has pioneered Global Course Connected classes, fostering environments where students from diverse backgrounds and locations collaborate, communicate, and engage in creative problem-solving across varying cultures and aesthetics. She is the author of the book 'Dance for Fun!', a children's introduction to dance published in 2004, and contributed the chapter 'Physical Embodiment of Culture Through Movement' in 2022. Her research presentations include conferences hosted by the International Council of Kinetography Laban (ICKL), Society of Dance History Scholars, and National Dance Educators Association, among others. Through her leadership and innovative teaching, Craig-Quijada has significantly influenced dance education by bridging local and international perspectives.