About STEVIE

Stevie Oakes became enamored with dance at her first ballet performance while living in Amsterdam. Her serious study of classical ballet began soon after under the tutelage of Sandra Balestracci at the Eastern Virginia School for the Performing Arts. She encountered the beauty and rigor of Vagonova training fused with the ease and passion of contemporary ballet icons. At the College of William & Mary, Stevie earned a dual degree in Chemistry and Kinesiology while becoming immersed in the world of dance science. She worked as an intern at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, studying under Dr. Marijeanne Liederbach, PhD, MS, PT, ATC, CSCS and the incredible team of clinicians and educators. She simultaneously fell in love with the dance she encountered in New York City. 

To continue honing both paths, Stevie received her MFA in Dance from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. Living, working, practicing, and teaching, she performed works by a diverse collection of artists including Tere O'Connor, Gus Solomons, jr, Gina Gibney, Arrie Davidson, Roseanne Spradlin, and Gerald Casel. As a member of the team at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries in New York, Oakes combined her passions for dance and science as both educator and researcher. 

Teaching is Stevie’s main passion. Having taught at workshops, conventions, studios, and universities around the globe, she joined the dance faculty as an Assistant Professor at the College at Brockport, SUNY in 2014. Stevie feels privileged to continue her active performance, scientific, and pedagogical interests while maintaining a home base in Rochester, NY.