Friends of Dance: Member Portal
Welcome, Friends
I first want to thank you for your continued support of our program and students here at the University of Michigan. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jillian Hopper and I have the pleasure of acting as interim chair of dance for the next academic year. I have worked closely with many of you over the past several years to help bring programing, performances, and masterclasses to our student body, and this year is no exception!
This year, the department is launching several exciting collaborations along with a number of excellent masterclasses, and of course our wonderful performances. Thank you for making many of these opportunities possible for our students! Here’s to a robust and vibrant year of dance!
Thank you, and GO BLUE!
Jillian Hopper
Interim Chair of Dance
FoD Volunteer Chair
Deborah VandenBroek
I have been a life long lover of dance. I studied ballet for years, and in my University of Michigan freshman year studied under Gay Delanghe. At that time we danced in Waterman Gymnasium and dance was a part of the physical education department. I am so impressed by how the department, faculty, the students and the “work” have grown and evolved over the years and look forward to supporting this evolution into a bright future.
Contact Information:
Deborah VandenBroek
[email protected]
2025/26 FoD Events Calendar
Melancholy Order, MFA Candidate Ginny Jiang
Dance Performance Studio Theatre, Dance Building
Film Screening: Daniel Gwirtzman’s Framing Ménerbes
Reserve Tickets
October 25, 2025, 5:00 pm (doors open at 4:30 pm)
Dance Performance Studio Theatre, Dance Building
Post-screening Q&A with Prof. Charli Brissey and Mr. Gwirtzman
Vulture, MFA candidate Scott Crandall
October 24 & 25, 2025, 7:30 pm
Arthur Miller Theater, Walgreen Drama Center
BFA Student Showcase
November 13 & 14, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Dance Performance Studio Theatre, Dance Building
THE LONG FALL, VIM VIGOR
October 30 & November 1, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Arthur Miller Theater, Walgreen Drama Center
Film Screening: FLOCK’s Holy Grail
Reserve Tickets
November 22, 2025, 2:30 pm (doors open at 2:00 pm)
Dance Performance Studio Theatre, Dance Building
Post-screening Q&A with choreographers Alice Klock and Florian Lochner and filmmaker Malcolm Wesley facilitated by Prof. Jillian Hopper
Power Center Preview
RSVP to Attend
December 5, 2025, 10:00 am
Dance Performance Studio Theatre, Dance Building
University of Michigan Dance Company 2026
Buy Tickets
February 5-8, 2026
Power Center for the Performing Arts
Power Center Pre-Glow
RSVP to Attend
February 6, 2026, 5:30–7:30pm
Power Center Green Room
Join us for the Friends of Dance Pre-Glow Reception before the Friday, February 6th performance from the University of Michigan Dance Company 2026. Complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
ON AIR, VIM VIGOR
March 19- 20, 2026
Duderstadt Media Center
First Year Dance Company
April 17, 2026, 4:00 pm
Dance Performance Studio Theatre, Dance Building
Senior Showcase Performance
May 3, 2026, 3:00 pm
Dance Performance Studio Theatre, Dance Building
Membership Benefits
All donors to the Department of Dance are recognized as Friends of Dance.
Friends of Dance enjoy many benefits, including:
- Priority ticket purchasing for SMTD productions
- Invitations to dress rehearsals for BFA Capstone performances
- Invitation to the closed preview of the annual Power Center performance and the pre-glow event at the Power Center
- Invitation to the annual performance by First Year Dance Company
- Invitation to the Senior Showcase Performance
- Recognition in main stage production programs
- Invitations to industry guest events and select master classes
- Email newsletters with the latest updates from the Department of Dance
To confirm that your membership is current, please contact [email protected].
Priority Ticket Information
As a member of the Friends of Dance, you receive priority access to performance tickets before they are available to the general public.
You will receive a special code via email that enables this access. Learn how to redeem a promo code.
Philanthropic Impact
Any gift to SMTD helps launch the next generation of artists, scholars, educators, and entrepreneurs who challenge and inspire the world. You can support the Department of Dance with a contribution to:
- The Friends of Dance fund provides support for students and programs in the Department of Dance.
- The Delanghe Endowment Fund was named in honor of long-time dance faculty member Gay Delanghe to provide scholarship and program support to the Department of Dance.
- The Peter Sparling Screendance Fund supports screendance, new media programming, and the purchase of equipment to support student and faculty projects in the field of dance for the screen.
Alumni Notes
Connect With Us
SMTD Office of Advancement
Phone: 734-647-2035
2005 Baits Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2075
The University of Michigan has 501(c)(3) non-profit tax exempt status. Our federal tax ID number is 38-6006309.
- Ericka Bigelow, Chief Advancement Officer
- Megan Anderson Cook, Major Gifts Officer Intermediate
- Kimberly Baumgartner, Director of Development, Marching & Athletic Bands
- Alison Bur, Development Generalist
- Gretchen Pleuss, Manager of Annual Giving Programs
- Jessica Woodman, Assistant Director of Development, Stewardship