Photo by Todd Carroll
Photo by Todd Carroll
Step into the creative vision of an artist and dance educator who bridges the artistry of ballet, the energy of musical theatre jazz, and the fluidity of modern with the holistic approach of somatic practices into the academic lecture hall, studio classroom, and performance spaces.
Recipient of the New York State Dance Education Association’s 2024
Outstanding Teaching Artist Award
Rusty’s expertise in movement analysis, education, and composition has positioned him as a respected figure in the dance community, inspiring both emerging artists and seasoned professionals.
Rusty Curcio
stands at the intersection of artistry and education in the realm of dance, embodying a sophisticated approach to movement and expression. With years of experience as both a performer and teacher, Rusty has cultivated a unique voice that resonates through his choreography and pedagogical practices.
He approaches all his work from a Somatic point of view. He works with the whole body to create a dynamic technician and performer, blending healthy dancing, injury prevention, and the skills needed for today’s dance artists, theatre performers, and dance educators.
Specialties in Dance History in the United States, Anatomy and Kinesiology, and the Somatic Practices of Irmgard Bartenieff and Rudolph Laban.
Ballet, Musical Theatre Jazz, Modern, Partnering, and Contemporary Dance
Photo by Todd Carroll
““I am endlessly grateful to have had Rusty Curcio as my mentor during my time at Wagner College. His lifelong experience as a professional dancer and movement educator guided me in a compassionately challenging way. I was pushed to new limits within my artistry and given the tools to sustain the physical labor that is a professional dancer’s career. I still use many of his teachings in my own performance work and when I teach young performers today. His wisdom and keen eye are an asset to any young performer’s education and to any creative process.”
Michael Bullard
Performer in Broadway and 1st National Tour productions of Disney’s Aladdin the Musical
“He has many qualities that I highly admire: refined expertise, knowledge, creativity, organization, and intellectual brilliance. There is one aspect, however, that rises above the rest, which is his sense of responsibility and care.”
Anabella Lenzu, DanceDrama
"Rusty Curcio is one of the most knowledgeable, passionate, and skilled dance educators I’ve ever encountered. For over 20 years he has been an invaluable mentor to me, both as a performer and as an educator. His legacy as a brilliant artist and as a professor of dance are simply unmatched."
Lisa Karlin,, Equity Artist and Educator
