Rate My Professor Jennifer Pontius

Jennifer Pontius serves as Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Dance at Sam Houston State University, leading the program that offers Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees in Dance. She earned her B.A. in English from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1986, M.A. in English from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 1990, and M.F.A. in Dance from Florida State University in 1996. Pontius has a distinguished career in dance performance, choreography, and pedagogy, beginning with early performances as a dancer with The Birmingham Ballet under Artistic Director Alfonso Figueroa from 1976 to 1979. She continued performing with Birmingham-Southern College Dance Department from 1981 to 1983, Pacific Dance Ensemble directed by Danielle Shapiro in 1986, Charles Edmondson in 1986–1987, South Bay Ballet in 1992–1993, and Donna Sternberg and Dancers in 1992–1993. Later, she danced with the Alabama Repertory Dance Company from 1998 to 1999 and Kista Tucker Dance Company in 2003.

At Sam Houston State University, Pontius has contributed extensively to the department's productions through original choreography and staging of classical repertory. Her choreographic works include Pas de Ducks: The True Story of the Ugly Duckling (2018, Gaertner Performing Arts Center Dance Theater), Frivolities (2017), Pas de Six (2015), Impressions (2014), Cerulean Sea Creatures and La Sylphide (2012), In Character (2011), Vientos Verdes (2010 and earlier), Hesperios (2009), Ocean (2007), Roses (2006, premiere 2004), In Time (2005, adjudicated at the American College Dance Festival), Dreams (2002), The Secret (2003), and Ensemble! (2003), among others presented in Dance Spectrum concerts at the University Theatre Center. She has also staged classical pieces such as The Peasant Pas de Deux from Giselle, Pas de Quatre, and Act I of Giselle (2002 and 2008). Pontius has directed rehearsals for The Nutcracker (2006, 1999) and Cinderella (2001), managing divertissements including the Snow Scene, Waltz of the Flowers, and Grand Pas de Deux. During her time at Florida State University from 1994 to 1996, she participated in diverse original choreography and repertory reconstructions.