About
Fiona Scruggs is a Berkshire based dancer, choreographer, researcher and educator. Her choreographic interests are driven by history, visual art, and music. Fiona’s choreography has been presented at The Foundry and Berkshire Theatre Group’s Unicorn Theatre in western Massachusetts, New Rochelle Arts Fest, and Radford University.
Her research interests relate to the history of ballet, the jazz and African diaspora, and early modern dance. Fiona received several fellowships and grants to conduct research in France and the USA on the life, career, and legacy of Josephine Baker, and presented at numerous regional conferences. She trained at the Salzburg International Ballet Academy (Austria), Bates Dance Festival, and Next Generation Ballet, and served on the dance staff of the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts and Radford University Ballet Youth. Fiona currently works at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival as the School Programs Coordinator and at Berkshire Pulse as a Teaching Artist.
Born in Tübingen, Germany, Fiona moved to the USA as a child and has since continued dancing. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Radford University in Dance Education. She advocates and shares her passion for the arts to positively influence people’s lives through research, education, choreography, and performance.
Work Experience
Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival | School Programs Coordinator | present
Berkshire Pulse | Teaching Artist | present
Adult/Teen Beginning Ballet
Adult/Teen Open Level Ballet
Youth Beginning Ballet
Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival | School Programs Intern | 2019
Managed the Contemporary Ballet Program in The School at Jacob’s Pillow
Managed the Tap Program in The School at Jacob's Pillow
Radford University Ballet Youth | Instructor | 2016-2019
Ballet, Creative Dance/Pre-Ballet, and Jazz
Radford University Ballet Youth| Administrative Assistant | 2017-2018
Enrollment management, registration, communication
Radford University Dept. of Dance | Office Assistant | 2017-2018
Departmental audition tours, costume shop organization, file management
Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts | Counselor | '16, '17, '18
Dance Division, Assistant Stage Manager, Rehearsal Assistant
Next Generation Ballet Summer Intensive | Resident Assistant | 2016
Choreography
"La Revue de Josephine Baker: A Contemporary Perspective on the Performer and Activist's Life" | Evening Length Show | 2018
Choreographed by Fiona Scruggs
"Leaving St. Louis" | Trio | 2018
"French Cancan" | Quintet | 2018
"The Cabaret" | Quintet | 2018
"Medal of Resistance" | Quartet | 2018
"La Tribu Arc-En-Ciel" | Medium Group | 2018
"J'ai deux amours" | Solo | 2018
"Before the Dust" | Solo Piece | 2018
Choreographed by Fiona Scruggs
"Unearthing the Way" | Quartet Piece | 2018
Choreographed by Fiona Scruggs
"Reputable Sources" | Solo Piece | 2017
Choreographed by Fiona Scruggs
Research and Conference Presentations
The Legacy of Josephine Baker: Performer & Activist | 2018
Honors Capstone Research and Choreography Project
Supported by:
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship | Radford Univ. | 2018
Scholar Citizen in Action Grant Awardee | Radford Univ. | 2018
McGlothlin Award - International Education | Radford Univ. | 2018
Southern Regional Honors Conference | 2019
Memphis, TN
The Legacy of Josephine Baker: Performer and Activist
Southern Regional Honors Conference | 2018
Washington, D.C.
The Legacy of Josephine Baker: Performer and Activist
Education & Training
Radford University | Department of Dance & Honors College | '2019
BS Dance Education, Minor German Language
Salzburg International Ballet Academy | Summer Intensive | 2018
Bates Dance Festival | Summer Workshop | 2017
Professional Development
Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) at Jacob's Pillow | 2019
DEL Essentials Workshop
Dance Performance
Dancers of the Berkshires | Colonial Theatre | 2020
"Love Yourself" Art Gallery Opening
Berkshire Pulse | Chesterwood Site-Specific | 2019
Radford University Dept. of Dance | "Paradigm Shift" | 2019
"Before the Dust" (Solo), Choreographed by Fiona Scruggs
Radford University Ballet Theatre | "The Nutcracker" | 2018
Clara's Friends, Snow, Flowers, Choreographed by Inessa Plekhanova
Radford University Dept. of Dance | "Fall Dance Fest" | 2018
"It Don't Mean a Thing, If It" Choreographed by Amy VanKirk
Salzburg International Ballet Academy | Gala | 2018
"Before the Dust" (Solo), Choreographed by Fiona Scruggs
Radford University School of Dance & Theatre | "Oklahoma!" | 2018
Ensemble, Dream Ballet Dancer, Featured Dancer "All Er' Nuthin," Farmer Gal
Radford University Dept. of Dance | "Chopiniana" | 2017
For "Evening of Ballet," choreographed & directed by Inessa Plekhanova
Bates Dance Festival | Festival Finale | 2017
"Points on a Curve (excerpt)," choreographed by Danny Buraczeski
Radford University Dept. of Dance | "Dancing on the Edge" | 2016
The Encounter, choreographed by Deborah McLaughlin
Radford Univ. School of Dance & Theatre | "Anything Goes" | 2016
Ensemble, Passenger
Leadership
College of Visual & Performing Arts | Ambassador | 2017-2019
Radford University, Arts Society, Community of Artists
The Tartan Newspaper | Assistant Scene Editor, Writer | 2016-2017
Radford University's Student-Run Newspaper, Arts Section
Honors
Dean's List | Radford University | 2015-2019
Outstanding Dance Scholar | '19
Radford University, Dept. of Dance
Outstanding Honors Contract Award | Honors College | 2018
Radford University, "The Legacy of Josephine Baker: Performer and Activist"
Horth Scholarship for Summer Dance Study | '16, '17, '18
Radford University, Dept. of Dance
Pegeen H. & David L. Albig Dance Scholarship | '18-19
Radford University, Dept. of Dance
Anna and Ruth Cronise Scholarship | '16, '17, '18, '19
Radford University, Dept. of Dance
Special Skills
German Language (basic conversation, reading, and writing)
Microsoft Word and Excel
Google Suite
Salesforce
Basic Sound Editing
Dance
Piano
Singing
Theatre
Writing
Driver's License
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
Dance Studies Association
National Dance Educaton Organization (NDEO)
New England Presenters