OU professor honored with lifetime achievement award by Eisenhower Dance Detroit

Oakland University Professor Greg Patterson was recognized with a lifetime achievement award by Eisenhower Dance Detroit (EDD) for his accomplishments in the field of dance during EDD’s 35th anniversary gala, Vision 30/35: Innovating Arts for a New Era, which was held on Saturday, October 18 at the Maggie Allesee Studios for Dance and Arts Innovation in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

“It was a great night,” said Patterson, associate professor and chair of OU’s Dance Department. “It felt so perfectly timed, given that this is my last year at Oakland University.”

A faculty member since 1991, Patterson has taught courses in jazz, modern, pilates, musical theater, dance history and dance production, as well as choreographed musicals for the Theatre Department. In addition to being a certified Pilates instructor, Patterson was also founder and artistic director of Patterson Rhythm Pace Dance Company for 13 years.

With a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in dance performance from the University of Michigan, Patterson has had a noteworthy career with over 40 years of performing, teaching and choreographing as an international artist. His professional experience has included dancing with Harbinger Dance Company, Ann Arbor Dance Works, Rigmarole Dance Company, and Eisenhower Dance Ensemble. Patterson has also performed as a guest artist with both the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and the Doug Elkins Dance Company of New York.

Throughout his career, Patterson has taught at numerous college dance festivals and workshops, and has choreographed for universities, high schools, studios and dance companies. His work has been performed by Western Michigan University, Bowling Green State University, Hope College, Morgan State University, and Alma College, as well as the Michigan Opera Theatre, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble and Bal-Chi Dance Company of Chicago to name a few.

Patterson has traveled to Greece to teach, choreograph and perform with OU theatre faculty and majors as part of the Oakland University Classical Greek Theatre Summer Study Program, which is the only American university-sponsored program of its kind. He has also travelled with OU dance students to Berlin, Germany to teach and perform as part of the dance department’s Study Abroad program. His signature piece “Who’s the Boss”, was performed in Russia as part of an Eisenhower Dance Ensemble appearance with the Pushkin Ballet.

Patterson has received the Maggie Allesee Choreography Award and in the same year, his work was chosen for the Leo Choreography competition at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Buffalo, NY. He has received several Faculty Fellowships through Oakland University to pursue research, produce concerts and travel.

In 2012, Patterson was named a Travis Professor, which recognizes faculty members from the School of Music, Theatre and Dance for outstanding achievements in teaching, research and professional service. The Travis Professorship Award supported his dance company’s New York debut at the Citibank Ailey Theatre in New York, NY.

Patterson currently serves as president of the Michigan Dance Council and sits on the Board of Directors for Eisenhower Dance Detroit.

“We are so incredibly proud of Greg’s incomparable contributions to the world of dance and the arts in general,” said OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz. “I am personally proud and awed by what he has contributed through his OU connections and work.”

For Patterson, the highlight of the evening was having the dance company performing one of his past works, “Who’s the Boss,” which he choreographed more than 20 years ago.

“It has lived in EDD’s repertory since then,” he said. “In fact, the company performed it at their recent Varner Hall performance in September.”

Patterson said he was honored to receive the lifetime achievement award from EDD with his family, friends, and colleagues in attendance, including OU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Amy Thompson, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Kristin Landis-Piwowar, Associate Professor of Dance Thayer Jonutz, Associate Professor of Dance Ali Woerner, Associate Professor of Dance Elizabeth Kattner, OU Dance Alumna Nicole Mattioli Gillem, and others.

“I can’t say enough about how much the evening meant to me, especially sharing it with great friends and OU colleagues,” he said. “I was just incredibly humbled and grateful.”