Banu Ogan
Adjunct Instructor, Modern, Cunningham Technique
BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Banu Ogan was born in Ankara, Turkey and grew up in Bloomington,Indiana where she studied ballet with Lila Higgins and won a National Society of Arts and Letters Career Award in Dance. In 1991, Banu graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Banu joined the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in 1993 and stayed for over seven years, originating roles in ten new works. Since leaving Merce's company, she has performed in pieces by Foofwa d'Imobilité, Glen Rumsey, Ashley Chen and Jonah Bokaer, and she has also danced with The Seldoms, a Chicago-based dance company directed by Carrie Hanson. Banu has been a faculty member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio since 1998, and has taught technique class and repertory workshops across the USA, and in Canada, Spain, Switzerland, France, Holland, Sweden, Italy, Japan, Brazil, Mexico and Turkey. She has staged Cunningham's work for the following student groups and professional companies: The New World School for the Arts in Miami, Florida (INLETS 2, 1983), Columbia College, Chicago, (MinEvent, 2003), University of Illinois, (MinEvent, 2005), Marymount Manhattan College (Fielding Sixes, 1980), Royal Swedish Ballet (CRWDSPCR, 1993), ATON/Dino Verga Danza, Rome, Italy (CROSS CURRENTS, 1964), Dutch National Ballet (Duets, 1980), Lyon Opera Ballet (Beach Birds, 1991). Banu spent 2004-05 as a full-time faculty lecturer at Columbia College Dance, and has taught at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and at La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts. She performs with the Glen Rumsey Dance Project, is planning a new duet with Foofwa d'Imobilité, and teaches at the Merce Cunningham Studio and at the Juilliard School.
Adjunct Instructor, Modern, Cunningham Technique
BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Banu Ogan was born in Ankara, Turkey and grew up in Bloomington,Indiana where she studied ballet with Lila Higgins and won a National Society of Arts and Letters Career Award in Dance. In 1991, Banu graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Banu joined the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in 1993 and stayed for over seven years, originating roles in ten new works. Since leaving Merce's company, she has performed in pieces by Foofwa d'Imobilité, Glen Rumsey, Ashley Chen and Jonah Bokaer, and she has also danced with The Seldoms, a Chicago-based dance company directed by Carrie Hanson. Banu has been a faculty member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio since 1998, and has taught technique class and repertory workshops across the USA, and in Canada, Spain, Switzerland, France, Holland, Sweden, Italy, Japan, Brazil, Mexico and Turkey. She has staged Cunningham's work for the following student groups and professional companies: The New World School for the Arts in Miami, Florida (INLETS 2, 1983), Columbia College, Chicago, (MinEvent, 2003), University of Illinois, (MinEvent, 2005), Marymount Manhattan College (Fielding Sixes, 1980), Royal Swedish Ballet (CRWDSPCR, 1993), ATON/Dino Verga Danza, Rome, Italy (CROSS CURRENTS, 1964), Dutch National Ballet (Duets, 1980), Lyon Opera Ballet (Beach Birds, 1991). Banu spent 2004-05 as a full-time faculty lecturer at Columbia College Dance, and has taught at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and at La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts. She performs with the Glen Rumsey Dance Project, is planning a new duet with Foofwa d'Imobilité, and teaches at the Merce Cunningham Studio and at the Juilliard School.