Michael Foley has been involved in the world of professional dance for over 15 years. He began dancing in 1985 under the tutelage of Marcy Plavin at Bates College where he received his B.A. in English and Spanish.
During Michael's 10 years based in New York City following his undergraduate studies, he performed throughout the United States, Europe and Asia in the companies of over two dozen choreographers including Doug Elkins, Kevin Wynn, Sean Curran, Joy Kellman, Ben Munisteri, Donna Uchizono, Ruby Shang and Eun Me Ahn.
Michael has taught workshops and master classes at universities, private studios and academic institutions throughout the United States, Canada, France, The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden Ireland, Northern Ireland, Panama and Cuba and has served on the faculties of New World School of the Arts in Miami, The Amsterdam Dance Center, The Association of Professional Dancers in Ireland and Bates College, where he was a Lecturer in the Department of Theatre in 1996. He has served on the summer faculties of The Florida Dance Festival, The New York Dance Intensive, and Balettakademien in Stockholm on numerous occasions. Michael was also a faculty member at Dance Space Center in New York City for 10 years as well as teaching at Steps, Peridance and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. He has been the co-director of the Bates Dance Festival/Young Dancer's Workshop since 1996.
Michael has received choreographic commissions around the globe from Texas Woman's University, d9 Dance Collective in Seattle, Steeledance in NYC, Moving Current in Tampa, Jus de la Vie Dance Company in Sweden, Double Trouble in Paris, Momentum Danza in Panama and DanzAbierta in Havana, Cuba, among many others. His work has been performed at many well-respected venues for dance around the world, including Lincoln Center 's Out-of-Doors Festival and Dance Theater Workshop in New York City, The Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle, The Dance Place in Washington, DC, Theatre Balettakedemien in Stockholm and The Beckett Centre at Trinity College in Dublin.
He formed his own company, “Michael Foley Dance” in 1994 touring the United States and Europe. Called “exuberant” and “hypnotic” by The New York Times, the Company received funding for new work and outreach programs from Miami Dance Futures, The River Towns Art Council, the Hastings Creative Arts Council, Raritan Valley Community College, Abizaid Arts, Inc., and Evolving Arts, Inc., in New York City. The Company was based in Ireland from 2000 – 2002 as part of a multi-year collaboration with County Kildare's “Fluxusdance,” receiving support from The Iris Arts Council and the Kildare County Arts Council.
Michael received his M.F.A. in Dance from the University of Washington in 2002 where he performed in the works of some of the 20th century's major choreographers, including Mark Morris, Alwin Nikolais, Hanya Holm, Stephen Petronio and Bill Evans.
Michael is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of South Florida where he teaches modern dance technique and dance history.
