Mrs. Terri L. Filips Vaughan

Biography

Mrs. Terri L. Filips Vaughan is Professor and Chair of Theatre and Fine Arts where she also serves as the resident choreographer and coordinates the dance program . She is a master teacher in the areas of tap and musical theatre and a prolific choreographer.  She has worked as a freelance teacher, choreographer and theatre director for numerous schools, community groups, studios and professional companies At NU she teaches dance and movement, Ballet 3 and 4, Advanced tap, choreography and dance history.

She has choreographed numerous musicals professionally, working at such places as; Artpark, Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Jewish Repertory Theatre, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, Rochester Association of Performing Arts (RAPA), OFC/Rochester Lyric Theatre and O’Connell and Company.  Highlights include South Pacific at Artpark staring Tony Award winner Mark Jacoby and choreographing world premiere musical Two Tickets to Paradise written by and starring rocker Eddie Money. She has set concert choreography at SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Fredonia, Texas Woman’s University, Grand Valley State College and Hope College. She was the co-founder of InSync Dance Theatre, a professional tap and jazz company based in Michigan, for which she choreographed and performed. She has also worked professionally as a director for musical theatre and theatre for young audiences. Terri also serves as a judge for the Cutting Edge Dance Competitions and Miss Vermont. She has taught dance educators at numerous National Dance Education Organization Conferences across the U. S.

Focus of Teaching

Mrs. Terri L. Filips Vaughan has choreographed over 40 musicals and 19 concert works at Niagara University during the last 20 years. During this time, she had the privilege of working alongside the great musical team of John Kander and the late Fred Ebb on NU Theatre productions of The Rink, Chicago and Curtains. She has also directed The Pajama Game, 9 to 5: The Musical, and 10 summer Theatre For Young Audience productions. Other notable NU Theatre productions include: Moving Back Home: NU Dance Theatre, Freaky Friday, Legally Blonde, Little Shop of Horrors, She Loves Me, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Drowsy Chaperone, Guys and Dolls, Sweeney Todd, Bat Boy and Urinetown, among others.

Current Research

Mrs. Terri L. Filips Vaughan is currently choreographing Cabaret here at NU.

Current Involvement

• National Dance Education Organization
• New York Dance Association

Educational Background

• Master of Fine Arts  – Dance and Related Arts: Drama, Texas Woman’s University
• Certification to Teach Pilates-based Mat and Reformer Work, Physical Conditioning Center
• Bachelor of Arts – Dance Minor: History, Hope College
• Bill Evans Method of Teaching Laban Based Modern Dance Technique – First year Certificate
• Beginning and Intermediate Labanotation Certificates