dance faculty

George Mason University’s School of Dance presents the 2024 Mason School of Dance Gala Concert on March 22 and 23, celebrating a rich array of diverse choreographic voices that span from the early days of modern dance to the freshest perspectives of today.

Prior to her position as Production Manager in the School of Dance, Sophie Sotsky lived and worked in New York City. She was a dancer, choreographer, lighting designer, and production manager.

Celine Berthaud began her formal dance training at the Boston Arts Academy where she graduated as a Dance Major. Upon graduation, she attended George Mason University on a performance scholarship receiving her Bachelors in the Fine Arts for Dance.

Constance Walsh began her training in New Jersey with Vitale Fokine. She continued her training at The French School of Ballet and with William Inglis at the New Jersey School of Performing Arts.

Will Waikart began accompanying dance classes at Mason in the mid-2000s while studying music across the hall at the School of Music, where he earned his BA.

Antoinette Hercules Connell, who is originally from Trinidad & Tobago, has been a performing member with the Kankouran West African Dance Company for the past thirty-five years.

An alumnus of The University of Southern Mississippi and Florida State University, Lawrence M. Jackson is an artist-scholar who has published in scholarly journals in the field of Black Dance.

Christina Robson's extensive performance career includes long term collaborations with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, David Dorfman Dance and Sean Curran Company where she performed historic repertory and premiered several original evening length works at The Kennedy Center, American Dance Festival, Jacobs Pillow, and The Joyce Theater.

Paul Cassens is a principal dancer with the D.C. Casineros, a role which has given him the opportunity to perform, teach, and choreograph with the company throughout the United States and abroad. 

Susan Brionez, Office Manager, School of Dance, has been at Mason for nearly fifteen years.  After 13+ years as Assistant to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs/Office Manager in the Volgenau School of Engineering, Susan transitioned to the artistic side of higher education.