Scott Stafford

From 2014 – 2018 he performed as a repertory dancer with Stuart Pimsler Dancer and Theater, engaging in community outreach initiatives nationwide. He spent six years on the teaching artist roster for The Cowles Center For Dance, until their closure in 2024 – facilitating over 200 workshops in that time within k-12 populations. He is dance faculty at St. Paul Conservatory For Performing Artists, where he teaches contemporary, composition, voguing. Scott’s wellness initiatives are currently facilitated by Three Rivers Parks, Dakota County, Scott County, and through independent studios around the Twin Cities.

His choreography has been presented by institutions included The Detroit Institute of Art, The Walker Art Center, Franconia Sculpture Garden, Land O’ Lakes Arts, The Southern Theater, The Red Eye Theater, The Cowles Center for Dance, Blue Water Theater, St. Olaf College, Park Square Theater, The University of Minnesota, and Ballare Teatro. His artistic efforts have been recognized by The Foundation for Contemporary Arts, The Minnesota State Arts Board, Minnesota Regional Arts Council, and Springboard For the Arts, and the Jerome Foundation.

Scott earned in B.A. in Dance and Communication Studies from Michigan State University, and continued in studies in a year long Daosit Flow Teacher Training in London, U.K.

“Stafford’s choreography shone with sweeping, luminous flow and pristine technique” – Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2022.

In addition to creating performance work, Scott competes in the ballroom scene in the categories of New Way Vogue, European Runway, and Hand Performance as Edward.007.

Taylor Swift! Eras Dance Mix (All ages) (5 minutes)

A dance performance featuring a medley of Taylor Swift songs that will get students moving and grooving! Following the performance, students will learn a brief section of choreography (follow the leader style) that will invite them into the groove.

Movement for Wellness (All ages – especially suited for senior populations) (virtual or in person)

A dance-based creative movement class – with an emphasis on body, action, space, time and energy. This residency is intended to create an upbeat and fun space for students to express themselves through dance – helping to build classroom community, support individual expression, and support the belief that all bodies are dancing bodies. There will be lots of grooving!

Objectives:

• Develop student’s artistry through exercises that connect dance fundamentals with individual expression.
• Provide a cultural landscape to the history and presence of dance in society
• Support balance, coordination, self-awareness, and dynamic mobility.
• Build student confidence and agency as dancers – emphasizing that everyone can dance.
• Establish a sense of joy and freedom with dance – a.k.a – a fun class!
• This class is best partnered with an existing P.E. Class. Ideally 5 – 10 one-hour sessions.
• Develop student’s artistry through exercises that connect dance fundamentals with individual expression.

Set a dance work on your students! (k – 12)

Have a concert coming up, and want to give your students the experience of learning and performing choreography on stage? This is it! Teachers can choose a desired dance style, and the teaching artist will create a unique dance work for your group of students. Length of dance, style, and music are modifiable to best suit the group of performers. No dance experience required!

This residency is best suited to include 10 – 15 sessions with the teaching artist.

Dance: An Embodied Understanding (Ages 12 – 18, grades 6 – 12)

A residency focused on familiarizing students with dance as a physical discipline and culturally significant artform. Structured to include a warm up, exercises in dance technique, fundamentals of dance composition, viewing excerpts of dance works, guided class discussions, and at home writing assignments. Class will encourage students to engage with dance as informed audience members (how does one watch dance? What does it mean?), and how dance can carry social, community, and cultural significance.

Over the course of the residency, students will collaborate to create short dance works in small groups – with an informal showing at the end of the residency.

This residency is best partnered with a class in social studies, humanities, or theater. 5 – 10 sessions are ideal. Residency is modeled after an ongoing residency with undergraduates in the College of Education at the University of Minnesota.

Creative Movement (ages 4-12 – grades K-5)

A dance-based creative movement class – with an emphasis on body, action, space, time and energy. In this class, we will explore movement concepts like improvisation, dancing like the elements (fire, water, earth, air), creating choreography, tempo, level, and cultivating individual artistic voice. This class is suitable for all levels – no previous dance experience required. 

Objectives: 

• Develop student’s artistry through exercises that connect dance fundamentals with individual expression. 
• Break down components of body, action, space, time and energy to de-mystify concepts of dance composition, improvisation, and movement exploration. 
• Encourage students to approach movement concepts with a sense of curiosity. 
• Build student confidence and agency as dancers – emphasizing that everyone can dance. 
• Establish a sense of joy and freedom with kinesthetic exploration. 

Voguing / Runway (ages 15 – 18 – grades 9 – 12) (virtual or in person)

A workshop to learn the technique of voguing and runway in the context of the ballroom scene. Technique will span styles of Old Way, New Way, Vogue Fem, and Runway – including posing, catwalk, lines, and heightened self-expression. Class will include dialogue on the history of the forms – supporting an understanding of the ballroom scene as a space rooted in Queer and POC artistic expression.

Broadway Jazz / Musical Theater (All ages / grades) (virtual or in person)

This Musical Theater Dance class will introduce students to choreography from broadway shows like “Grease”, “9 to 5”, and “Jersey Boys”! Each class will include a warm up, dance exercises, and learning choreography. By the end of the class, students will have learned a high energy, uptempo musical theater dance phrase. No previous dance experience is required, and all movement is modifiable. The goal of this class is to get students moving with a fun phrase, while teaching them about styles of dance like jazz, broadway, and partnering.

Contemporary Dance (ages 11 – 18 – grades 6 – 12) (virtual or in person)

A contemporary dance masterclass. Class is designed to include a warm up and contemporary phrase material – with a focus on developing technique, body awareness, and individual artistic expression. Classes are designed to suit classes of any dance experience, from beginner to advanced. All material is modifiable.

Storytelling Through Dance (All ages – especially suited for senior populations) (virtual or in person)

Description: In this workshop, we will use dance and choreography to celebrate our individual stories – and illuminate the threads of our collective experiences. Class will include gentle movement exercises, stretches, grooving, and story sharing – modifiable to all abilities. No previous dance experience necessary.

Length of workshop: One hour

Movement for Wellness

Explore systems of movements / meditations designed to help better manage health, energy levels, and well-being. Movement is modifiable to all ability levels. No experience is required. 

Objectives: 

• Reduce stress and support flexibility of muscles, tendons, and ligaments 
• Promote strength and balance 
• Cultivate mindfulness and awareness through the breath 
• Invite a sense of harmony with the flow of nature 

Professional Development For Teachers – Dance in the Classroom (virtual or in person)

A workshop for educators on incorporating movement in the classroom – including the benefits (and examples) of dance games, movement for stress relief (how to balance the nervous system), incorporating dance into curriculum topics, and cultivating body awareness. This workshop is lecture / demonstration – leading to a strengthened confidence in facilitating movement / dance in a classroom setting.

Contemporary Dance Masterclass  (Ages: Grades 9 – 10 (high school), Adults  )

A contemporary dance masterclass with teaching artist, Scott Stafford. Class is designed to include a warm up and contemporary phrase material – with a focus on developing technique, body awareness, and individual artistic expression. Classes are designed to suit classes of any dance experience, from beginner to advanced. All material is modifiable.