Acclaimed dancer, teacher and choreographer Jennifer Nugent is visiting UB this week as the first Creative Arts Initiative (CAI) artist-in-residence for 2016-17.

During her residency, which began yesterday and continues through Sept. 17, Nugent is teaching master classes for UB dance majors and community members, and giving a lecture on careers in modern dance.

She also is creating a new piece of choreography for the Zodiaque Dance Company, UB’s resident student dance performance group. A rehearsal of the piece, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts, North Campus.

Nugent danced with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance company from 2009-14, and received a New York Dance and Performance Award (Bessie) for her work with David Dorfman Dance from 1999-2007. She also has performed and worked extensively with such prominent New York choreographers as Martha Clarke, Lisa Race, Doug Elkins, Bill Young, Colleen Thomas, Kate Weare, Barbara Sloan and Dale Andre.

She currently is a teaching artist at Smith College and Amherst College.

Nugent is one of six nationally and internationally recognized artists and performers serving as artists-in-residence with the CAI, a university-wide initiative launched earlier this year dedicated to creating and producing new artistic work.

Read this UBNow story for more information on the other artists-on-residence for 2016-17.