Department of Theater and Dance
As a permanent faculty member with the department for many over five years prior to taking on the role of program director, she has proven to have the experience, dedication, and vision to Lead the Dance Program forward. Originally founded by Miryam Moutillet, the dance program welcomes students as a place to explore a variety of techniques and styles, experience the joys of performing onstage, and engage in creation through choreography while learning about the power and connection of embodied movement. Our dance minor has welcomed students from across every discipline at Union College, giving them a place to express themselves through movement and forge a mind-body connection in a supportive, academic environment. Cawley has taken that even further, offering our students extended residencies with professional artists, a chance to learn and perform works from world-renowned choreographers such as Robert Battle, and bringing in unique and inspiring companies that speak to our student as well as the local community, such as Soles of Duende, our most recent Stephanie C. Davis Residency guests. The continuing support of the Davis Family has been instrumental in allowing our students to learn from professional artists, and be led by innovative teachers. We look forward to the inspiration that Cawley brings to the Dance Program, and enthusiastically welcome her with her new title as the Gustave L. Davis '59 & Susan S. Davis Director of Dance.
Laurie Zabele Cawley has over 35 years of experience in performance, choreography, and dance education. She has performed with esteemed dance companies such as Whitley Setrakian and Dancers-People Dancing, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Harbinger Dance Company, Ann Arbor Dance Works, and 2 Duet Theater. Additionally, she has collaborated extensively with independent artists and taught nationally and internationally in academia, conservatories, residencies, and workshops.
Laurie's choreographic works across her career embody her distinctive artistic vision and innovative approach to movement. In 2013, she founded the multigenerational Loose Change Dance Collective with a mission to challenge conventional perceptions of dancers. The collective has performed in notable venues across cities such as NYC, Rochester, Brooklyn, Geneva, and throughout the capital region. As Artistic Director, she has devised full-length productions such as Interplay, Tides of Magnets, and She Said, alongside festival and commission work. Her production Women, Work, Force brought together female choreographers from Detroit, Seville, NYC, and Saratoga, highlighting her dedication to collaboration and women’s voices in dance.
Laurie holds a BA from Empire State College and certifications in Level 1 Franklin Method, DMA, PBT, and PMT. Her work reflects her belief in the transformative power of movement, uniting artistic innovation with community-building to create spaces where diverse voices and generations can connect, collaborate, and thrive.
