Courtney Liu
Assistant Professor of Music Theatre
Department: Performing Arts
Email: cliu3@elon.edu
Phone number: (336) 278-5691
Brief Biography
Courtney Liu (MFA & BA, Duke University) is an Assistant Professor of Music Theatre at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ and Director-Choreographer whose credits include Forestburgh Playhouse, Timber Lake Playhouse, Playmakers SYC, and the American Dance Festival amongst other concert dance and educational venues.
Performing credits include the Broadway cast of the Phantom of the Opera, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Queen of the Night, AEA & Disney Developmental labs, the Broadway Dance Lab, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Busch Gardens Theme Parks, various performances sponsored by the American Dance Festival, and performances with the Cincinnati Ballet and the Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. Courtney served as Assistant Dance Captain at the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and as Assistant Director for Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Prior to launching her dance career, Courtney managed an NIH-funded study evaluating the effects of Aprepitant for opioid withdrawal at Bellevue Hospital/NYU Langone Medical Center.
Influenced by these early experiences, Courtney frequently collaborates with colleagues in STEM fields (e.g. robotics, psychology, neuroscience) to publish research on flow states, performance, and leadership. Her research has been published in the Journal of Dance Education (JODE) and she has presented at the Embodied Learning Summit, CORPS de Ballet International, the Appearance Matters Conference, and the National Dance Educators Organization.
Links
News & Notes
Education
MFA, Duke University Certificate in College Teaching (CCT) Thompson Writing Program’s Teaching Writing in the Disciplines Certificate (TWP WID)
BA, Duke University
Employment History
PERFORMANCE
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake 20th Anniversary Tour | Featured Dancer
Phantom of the Opera Broadway Cast | Assistant Dance Captain, Meg u/s, Ensemble
Radio City Christmas Spectacular | Ensemble Dancer
Queen of the Night (sister show to Sleep No More) | Swing
Requiem for Mr. B (AEA lab) | Tara
The Broadway Dance Lab Cycle 3 with Camille A. Brown, Andy Blankenbueler, Marcelo Gomez, Josh Prince, Karen Sieber, & Geoffrey Goldberg | Featured Ensemble
Swing! on Norwegian Cruise Lines | Swing covering all female features
Transcendence Theatre Company | Featured Dancer
Busch Gardens Theme Parks | Featured Dancer
Peridance Contemporary Dance Company | Featured Guest Dancer
Cincinnati Ballet | Guest Dancer in Corps de Ballet roles
TEACHING & CHOREOGRAPHY
Dance Instructor & Choreographer | 20 years for more than 20 organizations nationally and internationally
OTHER
DukeEngage in Ahmedabad, India | Project Coordinator
Broadway Choreography Intensive | Head of Student Life
Parcel Inc. (acquired by Walmart in 2017) | Finance Manager
In the Lights Inc. | Operations Manager
NYU Langone School of Medicine at Bellevue Hospital | Research Project Manager
Courses Taught
Dance for the Musical Stage I
Dance for the Musical Stage III
Dance for the Musical Stage IV
MTE Senior Seminar II
Modern IV
Ballet IV
Ballet V
Ballet VI
Dance Ensemble
Music Theatre Ensemble
COR 1100: The Global Experience
Faculty Advisor for Numen Lumen Thesis Prize Award Winner (1)
Faculty Advisor for Honors Thesis (1)
Faculty Mentor for Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) (4)
Faculty Advisor for ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College Fellows Thesis (3)
Mentor for TLA Experiences for Ballet IV, Dance for the Musical Stage I, & Dance for the Musical Stage III
Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURE) Mentor
Courses taught at Duke University: Body Image & Gender, Intermediate Ballet, Beginning Ballet
Research
flow states, pedagogy, performance
leadership and music theatre
music theatre direction & choreography
Current Projects
Development of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Music Theatre Leadership Training Program. Ongoing.
World Premiere at the American Dance Festival's Made in NC Program. Forthcoming Summer 2026.
Hello Dolly! Choreographer. Playmakers SYC. Forthcoming Summer 2026
The Mermaids. Choreographer. Timber Lake Playhouse. Forthcoming Summer 2026.
Come From Away. Choreographer. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Forthcoming Fall 2026.
Collage Family Weekend Cabaret. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Forthcoming Fall 2026.
Grants Awarded
2026 FR & D Award to complete the Verdon-Fosse Intensive
2025 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Office of Leadership & Professional Development Grant.
2024 ATC Technology Grant for StageWrite software for ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Performing Arts Students
2024 College of Arts & Sciences Fund for Excellence Grant for Legally Blonde robot dogs
2023 CATL Teaching & Learning Grant to track dancers in flow with electroencephalography
2023 CATL Conference Grant to Further DEI Curricular Initiatives in Music Theatre Dance
2023 ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Office of Leadership & Professional Development Grant for continued education in New York City
2022 NC Artist Support Grant. Durham Arts Council to complete Giordano Jazz Teacher Training Program
2022 Center for Advancement of Teaching & Learning (CATL) Mini Grant to support ongoing pedaogical development
2020 Dean’s Research Award for Masters Students at Duke Graduate School
2019 Duke Dance Program Annual Fellowship
2019 Career Transitions for Dancers Scholarship from The Actor’s Fund in New York City
2012 Sierra WuDunn Memorial Scholarship from the Duke Asian/Pacific Studies Institute
2012 Service Opportunities in Leadership Grant from the Hart Leadership Program
2011 Benenson Arts Award from Duke Arts to study with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
2010 Baldwin Scholar Grant to complete RYT-200 Yoga Teacher Training
2006 & 2007 San Francisco Ballet Merit Scholarship
Publications
Forthcoming. Liu, Courtney & Hament, Blake. “A SWOT Analysis of Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Performing Arts and Engineering to Create Robot Dogs for Legally Blonde: The Musical.” Theatre Topics.
Liu, Courtney. "The Challenges and Possibilities of a Pedagogy of Flow as a Foil to Self-Objectification in the Ballet Classroom." Journal of Dance Education 23, no. 3 (2023): 223-233.
Presentations
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
The State of the Field. Music Theatre Dance Association (MTDA) Conference. Panel Speaker. 2026.Scaffolding Leadership Learning for Our Students. National Dance Educator's Association (NDEO) Annual Conference. 2023.
Value Expression & Leading Diverse Teams. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Intersect: Diversity & Leadership Conference. 2023
Pedagogical Responses to Ballet's Infamous Problem: A Framework for Discouraging Self-Objectification and Encouraging Embodied Flow States in the Ballet Classroom. CORPS de Ballet International Virtual Conference. 2021.
Object to Agent: Exercises, language shifts, and theoretical frameworks to discourage body dissatisfaction and encourage embodiment. Embodied Learning Summit at Duke University. 2020.
Feasibility of the Dance for Domestic Violence Intervention (DDVI). ACC Meeting of the Minds at Wake Forest University. 2013.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Narratives in Motion: How Non-Dancers Experience Dance in Music Theatre. National Dance Educator’s Association Annual Conference. 2025. Co-Presenter with Anya Jones.
A Curriculum to Enhance Flow States and Understanding of Flow States for Undergraduate Dancers. Scaffolding Leadership Learning for Students. Representative for the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Center for Teaching and Learning at the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference. 2025.
Ballet Identities and the Hidden Curriculum of Body Image and Weight: A Case Study of Ballet-Trained Dancers at a Major Contemporary Dance Company. Appearance Matters Virtual Conference at the University of Bristol 2021.
Engaging Empathy: The Incorporation of Dance into an Interdisciplinary Online Course. National Dance Educator’s Association 2020 Annual Conference.
Mental Health Services and Domestic Violence in the Durham Area: Gaps in Service, Barriers, and Solutions. Vertical Integration Conference at Duke University 2012.
Professional Activities
SELECT TEACHING ACTIVITY OUTSIDE ELON
American Dance Festival. Ballet Instructor. Ongoing.
Commercial Dance Intensive On-Location (CDI). Music Theatre Dance. Ongoing.
Guest Classes & Masterclasses at Duke University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Adelphi, & NC State. Ongoing.
Royal Danish Ballet School Summer Program. Theatre Dance Teacher for Elite Men & Women. Summer 2025.
Chapel Hill School of Musical Arts Summer Intensive. Dance Curriculum Coordinator & Choreographer. 2025.
Dance Project Pre-Professional Intensive. Music Theatre and Ballet Classes. 2025.
Lecture on Creativity for the Duke Medical School's Department of Population Health Sciences. 2024.
Ballet Hispanico Company Class for their performances at the American Dance Festival. 2024.
Broadway Dance Lab Choreography Intensive Lecturer on Flow States & Choreography. 2021-2022.
SHOWS DIRECTED OR CHOREOGRAPHED
Grand Night. Co-Faculty Advisor. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Ongoing.
Collage. Co-Faculty Advisor. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Ongoing.
The Prom. Choreographer. Studio One. Spring 2026.
Romeo & Juliet. Choreographer. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Spring 2026.
RENT. Choreographer. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Winter 2026.
An American in Paris. Choreographer. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Fall 2025.
Rock of Ages. Choreographer. Timber Lake Playhouse. Summer 2025.
Grapes of Wrath. Choreographer. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Spring 2025.
Paris Ballet. Choreographer. Commision for Capital Ballet. Winter 2025.
Legally Blonde. Director. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Fall 2024.
The Prom. Choreographer. Forestburgh Playhouse. Summer 2024.
The Prom. Choreographer. Playmakers Conservatory Program. Summer 2024.
A Chorus Line. Choreographer. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Winter 2024.
RENT. Choreographer. Duke University. Spring 2023.
Fall Dance. Choreographer. ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ. Fall 2022.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Actor's Equity Association (AEA)
Phi Beta Kappa
Music Theatre Educator's Association (MTEA).
Service Activities
Faculty Research & Development Committee. 2026-present.
ARAP Committee for ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Music Theatre, 2024-present
Academic Advisor for ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Music Theatre BFA Students, 2023-present
Music Theatre BFA In-House Audition Committee, 2022-present
Associate Dean Search Committee, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College of Arts and Sciences, 2026
Mission & Structure Cohesion Review Committee for El Centro & CREDE, 2025-2026
Undergraduate Research Program Advisory Committee (URPAC), 2024-2026
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Music Theatre University Communications Representative, 2024-2025ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Admissions Committee, 2023-2025
API_MENA (Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Northern African) Implementation Committee, 2023-2024
Two Guest Lectures/Workshops for the Honors Program Course, International Cool. 2024.
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Leadership Education Faculty Scholar, 2023-2024
Search Committee Member, Music Theatre Faculty, 2023-2024
SMART Mentor, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ CREDE, 2023-2024
Multiracial Awareness Week, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ CREDE, Presenter, 2023 & 2024
National Day of Racial Healing, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ CREDE, Conversation Facilitator, 2023
Duke University Vice Provost for the Arts Council for the Arts. 2019-2021.
Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity Presentation for DuArts (umbrella organization for 90+ student arts organizations) in collaboration with Alyah Baker. 2020.
DukeEngage Advisory Board. 2017-2019
SERVICE TO THE PROFESSION
Monica Hogan Danceworks, Board Member, ongoing
DPAC Rising Stars Adjudicator. 2025 & 2026. DukeArts Alumni Mentor, 2024-2025.
North Texas Perfomring Arts collegiate Pursuits Adjudicator. 2025
Odyssey Stage Theatre Collective Adjudicator. 2025.
Journal of Dance Education Peer Reviewer, 2024
North Carolina Dance Festival Adjudicator, 2024
Joci Awards Adjudicator. 2024.
Durham Arts Council Grant Reviewer, 2023
Professional Development
Forthcoming: Fosse-Verdon 4-Week Intensive in New York City
COMIX Street Dance Education Teacher Training
Theatre Intimacy Education's Best Practices Workshop
Giordano Jazz Dance Teacher Training Levels 1 & 2
A Practical Approach to Directing at Yale University
Leadership Initiative Project (LIP), a program that equips historically excluded theatre artists with the tools to successfully transition into leadership roles.
Best Practices in Inclusive Theatre Spaces, Actor's Equity Association
Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) Suite Modules Community of Practice session offered by ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ's Office for Inclusive Excellence Education and Development
BE Advocates: Shifting Campus Culture, ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Office for Inclusive Excellence Education & Development.
“Ungrading” Workshop & Conversation with President of CORPS de Ballet International.
Luigi Jazz Dance Teacher Training Certification Program, Levels 1/4 & 2/4
ABT Teacher Training Program Levels Primary-3
PartnerUp Partnering Masterclass Series
Mind-Body Centering 200-RYT Yoga Certification
Duke University Post-Baccalaureate Statistics Coursework
- Introduction to Probability and Data
- Inferential Statistics
- Linear Regression and Modeling
Ongoing: embodied learning in Pilates, dance, & strength training
Awards
API Service Award 2024, Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education (CREDE)
API Service Award 2023, Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education (CREDE)
Phi Beta Kappa, initiated 2012 at Duke University.