Artistic Director, Choreographer and Jane Willson Professor in Arts, The University of Georgia Department of Dance. Bala is a Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) specializing in the application of movement theory to dance training and performance. She holds a B.S. and B.F.A. degrees from the University of Utah, M.A. and M.F.A. from The Ohio State University. She has served on the faculty for the José Limón Dance Institute, the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, Seattle Dance Centre. Her dance training approach has been presented at several Laban conferences including El Contro Laban and Global Laban 2008, Rio de Janeiro, International Council Kinetography Laban, Laban Centre, London, and at numerous universities and intensive summer dance programs. Bala has choreographed over 40 full-length dance pieces. Her choreography has been shown throughout the U.S. and China, and in Taiwan, France and Costa Rica. She has presented choreography at Judson Church and St. Marks’ Church in New York City; Seattle Bumbershoot Art Festivals, Seattle, WA; Piccolo Spoleto Festivals in Charleston, SC. In addition, presented choreography at National Dance Association and American College Dance Festival Association conferences, and performed at two National Society for Literature and Science conferences. Shakti-The Force of Destiny, one of the many interactive computer and dance projects, was presented as a Cultural Olympiad Event during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Her dance for camera, Springbreak, was selected for the Quinto Festival International Video Danza ‘99, Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has served on the board for the National American College Dance Festival Association 1995-2001, the UGA Institute for Creative Exploration (ICE) steering committee and the Laban Institute of Movement Studies Management Committee, NYC. Bala served as Head, Department of Dance at The University of Georgia 1998-1999 and 2000-2006.
CORE Concert Dance Company:
Founding Artistic Director of CORE Concert Dance Company, established at the University of Georgia in 1991, CORE CDC serves as a training base for students interested in seeking a professional career in dance. The company's repertoire includes traditional modern, post-modern, experimental and interdisciplinary works. Besides main stage performances, the company tours throughout the Southeastern U.S. and performs in the schools, and at university, community, regional, national, and international events. CORE has been invited to numerous festivals, conferences, adjudicated dance gala events. CORE was selected for a 2004 China Tour, the Laban Institute 25th Anniversary Celebration held at Judson Church, NYC, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Wash. D.C. for the National ACDFA Festival (2006). CORE will perform for GLOBAL LABAN 2008 held in Rio de Janeiro in 2008. The company has performed dance repertory by internationally renowned choreographers including Bebe Miller, Karen Eliot , Bill Young, Molissa Fenley, Alwin Nikolais, Carlos Orta, Sean Curran, Elsie Smith, Matt Kent & Emily Milam Kent, Larry Kegwin and the Pilobolus Dance Theatre.