About
Angelina Peggy Hunt Richter
A Note from Angelina
When I think about my ideal life, I’m embracing and loving my truthful self and nurturing that same physical, spiritual, and creative self in others.
I have been privileged to share my passions with people of all ages, from all walks of life, and around the globe. Moving is my passion. Sharing dance with people lights up my spirit, whether in a small workshop or performing for a huge audience.
My mission is to help people tap into and open up their creative selves through movement, masks, and movement meditation.
I want to continue to share my gifts and passions with as many other people as possible. Whether leading stress management workshops for teachers and caregivers on “How to take care of yourself as well as you take care of others” or sharing delight with people with disabilities.
I keep finding and rediscovering the breadth and depth of how creative movement feeds my spirit. It is a transformative activity, with the ability to release stress, to feel joy, to dissolve held patterns, both physical and emotional, and to effect conscious change. I am continually amazed that moving allows me to touch my deep self and to connect with others, bringing about new ways of being.
A particular passion of mine is the underserved population of people with disabilities. There is joy when people light up with awe discovering they can dance--in a wheelchair, a walker, or with limited memory. Often our bodies are frozen or numbed by our experience and the simple act of moving can release wonderous sensations. I have seen adults that have been sitting slumped in a wheel chair laugh with glee when their arms opened wide and their heart was freed.
I look forward to the opportunity to share the gift of creativity with you.
About Angelina
Dr. Angelina Peggy Hunt Richter is the founder and artistic director of Dancing Earth. Angelina has danced professionally in Singapore, Australia, Taiwan, Canada, Micronesia, Finland, Brazil, Hawaii, and throughout the US. She received her BA from Goddard College, her MA from Western Michigan University, and her Doctorate in Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Angelina directed the graduate program in dance education at the University of Hawaii, the dance certification program at Radford University in Virginia, and was on the dance faculty at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has been the key presenter at the International Dance Education Symposium in Taiwan and regularly presents at national/international conferences. Angelina has also been a Senior Research Fellow at Nanyang University in Singapore, a Scholar in Residence at the University of Melbourne, Temple University, Columbia Teachers College, and Northern Marians College. She has received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as state and private foundations.
Choreography, performance, and community involvement play a central role in her career. She was the founder and artistic director of Terrestrial Theatre in Michigan for eleven years and was a member of Meredith Monk's “The House” in New York City. She performed for 200,000 children as the artistic director for the UNCG Dance Touring Company from 1987 to 1992. Her colorful performances have appeared in many venues such as First Night Honolulu, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, the National Puppetry Festival in Seattle, the American College Dance Festival and in Australia, Singapore, and Micronesia.
Resume
Teaching Experience
UNIVERSITY POSITIONS 2006-1976 Full time
Tenured Professor, Department of Theater and Dance, University of Hawaii at Manoa: Directed Dance Education MA, Co-Directed MFA in Youth Theatre
Dance Faculty, Director of Dance Education, Radford University, Virginia
Co-Directed Dance Education Program, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Directed Dance Program, Grand Valley State College, Michigan
Present-2006 Guest Artist
Graduate Dance Faculty, Columbia College, Columbia, SC, Converse College, Spartanburg, SC, Lander University, Greenwood, SC
RESIDENCIES, WORKSHOPS, MASTER CLASSES
In Modern Dance, Creative Dance and Drama, Curriculum Integration, Improvisation, Masks, Giant Puppets, Yoga, Stress Reduction.
In Taiwan, Australia, Singapore, Brazil, Finland, Marianas Islands, Canada, Hawaii, and throughout the continental US.
At national and international conferences, Education for Young Children, Puppeteers of America, Dance and the Child International, National Dance Education Organization, AAHPERD.
School Residencies for South Carolina Arts Commission, Greenville Metropolitan Arts Council, North Carolina and Hawaii State Department of Public Instruction, Michigan Council for the Arts, and over 160 school systems and in Michigan, Hawaii, Virginia, North and South Carolina.
Community Residencies for Arts Centers, Head Start, VSA(formerly Very Special Arts) Arts for people with disabilities.in SC, NC, MI, HI, Alliance for Arts Education, Library Systems, Senior Citizens Centers, and diverse community organizations in .
Recognition and Awards
2015 Smart Arts Teaching Artist Award
2007-20 Artists Roster South Carolina Arts Commission
2004-06 Principal Presenter, Taiwan International Dance Education Conference
2003 Visiting Scholar Clarion University, Pennsylvania
2001-02 Senior Research Fellow, National Institute of Education, Singapore (6 months)
2001 Visiting Scholar Temple University, Philadelphia
1996-07 Humanities Scholar, Northern Marianas Humanities Council, Saipan
1996 Scholar in Residence, U of Melbourne. & Australian Dance Council, Melbourne
1978-14 GRANTS: National Endowment for the Humanities, multiple state and private
foundations; Recent :South Carolina Arts Commission, National VSA, Self Foundation
Education
Doctor of Education, Dance Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC
Master of Arts, Dance, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Bachelor of Arts, Dance, Goddard College, Plainfield, VT
Performance Experience
PERFORMANCE COMPANIES, FOUNDER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Dancing Earth A performance company incorporating dance, masks, stilts and giant puppets, in Singapore, Taiwan, Hawaii and the US. 1992-present. Audience 110,000 .
UNCG Dance Touring Company Toured North Carolina Schools with professional and student dancers. Performed for 220,000 children. 1987–92.
Terrestrial Theater A Dance-Theater company, produced dance concerts, toured children's performances to schools, and gave innovative, environmental performances. 1977-86.
MASK, PUPPET AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCES
Full Concerts, Creation, Choreography, and Artist Direction
2006-2020 Celebrating Dance for All Time, regional dance showcases, South Carolina
Masks in Motion, touring in South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Georgia. Audience: 4,700.
2002 Eco-Circus Kennedy Theater, University of Hawaii. Audience: 6,500.
1999 Snow Queen Kennedy Theater, University of Hawaii. Audience: 8,400.
1996 Dragon Quest Outdoor Performance, University of Hawaii. Audience: 9,600.
1993 FOWL PLAY University of Hawaii, performance with PBS documentary.
1984-1980 DUNES AND WOODS A five year series of original environmental performances, Michigan, Audience: 1,500 each year.
Recent Shorter Works
Performed At: International Mask Conference, University of Iowa;
Kennedy Center, Washington DC; Talk Story Festival International, Honolulu, Hawaii;
National Puppetry Conference, Seattle; Edventure Museum, Columbia SC, Greenville Art Museum, SC, Festival of Lights, Honolulu Contemporary Museum, Hawaii State Library, Foster Botanical Gardens and Conference on Literature, Honolulu, Hawaii, First Night Honolulu, Hawaii.
CHOREOGRAPHY FOR DANCE AND THEATER PRODUCTIONS
2007-present Choreographed and performed at venues in the South Eastern U.S.
2006-2002 Produced five original dances on Radford University Main Stage Dance Performance, and for the American College Dance Festival 2004.
2001 –1992 Produced fourteen original dances in: Singapore, University of Hawaii, Honolulu Theater for Youth, Very Special Arts Hawaii and for Ausdance in Australia.
1992 –1986 Produced twelve original dances for: Clarion University of Pennsylvania, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Main Stage Performances and UNCG Dance Touring Company.
1986 –1972 Performed and produced 22 dances including 15, evening length concerts in New York, Vermont, and in a multitude of locations and settings in Michigan.