Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance

Anya Gustafson is a Senior at Indiana University earning her B.F.A. in Contemporary Dance and completing prerequisite coursework for physical therapy. She is originally from Northville, Michigan and has performed professionally at DanceChance: Chicago DanceMakers Forum with Abigail Gerdes. Recently, she has had the opportunity to work with Mora-Amina Parker at IU while restaging “City of Rain” choreographed by Camille A. Brown. Anya will be performing Camille A. Brown’s work as well as Elizabeth Shea’s work in IU’s upcoming concert Reconstructed/Reframed. During her time with IU Contemporary Dance, Anya has performed works by Beatrice Capote, Robert Burden, Evelyn Wang, Katie Phelan-Mayfield in Cultural Immersion, Journeys of Joy, and New Moves/New Directions.
Anya began her training at Angie Hahn’s Academy of Dance under tutelage of Angie Hahn, Christa Smutek, Marie Rabey, and Devon “Uri Mercury” Campbell. At IU, Anya has studied tap, Afro-Cuban (Capotechnique), Horton, ballet, JoJo jazz, Limón Composition, and Pedagogy. Her instructors included Elizabeth Shea, Beatrice Capote, Robert Burden, Lalah Ayan, Christian Classens, Selene Carter, Kate Lyons, Utam Moses, and Jamie Cage. Anya has attended intensives with Eisenhower Dance Detroit, Contexture Dance, and Dance Italia in Lucca, Italy.
Anya also has a passion for choreography. At IU, she has choreographed for shows including SLIP and Afterimages. Her work was recently performed at Terpsichore Collective’s Dancing in Summer festival in Ypsilanti, MI. In addition, Anya has also performed in student works during her time at IU by Cody Watson, Rae Wilcoxson, Zoey Dickenson, Maddie Musgraves, Lauren Woodward, and Baylee McCallister.
Outside the department, Anya acts as the Event Coordinator for the student-led organization, Movement Cooperative. She has also shadowed physical therapy at the University of Michigan’s MedSport Clinic and teaches sailing lessons in her free time. Anya is an artist who values all things movement-related and loves immersing herself in the community around her.