The Project
Throughout history, social dance has been one of the most popular, but least appreciated, forms of dance. While exhibition and competition forms get all the press, social dancers simply dance on, upholding a tradition that has been well-documented for over 500 years, and stretches back, in less-documented forms, for much longer.
The Gallery of Dance is a multimedia celebration of social dance.
Through a variety of engaging exhibits related to social dancing, we aim to elevate awareness and appreciation of this essential art and practice.
The Team
Nick Enge
Curator
Nick Enge is a Lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin, where he runs the social dance program, teaching Beginning Social Dance, Intermediate Social Dance, Social Dance Traditions, and Teaching Social Dance, with his wife, dance partner, co-teacher, and long-time collaborator, Melissa Enge. He is the co-founder, with Melissa, of the Library of Dance, University of Dance, and Gallery of Dance. He is also the co-author of three books on social dancing: Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living with Richard Powers, Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer’s Guide with Richard and Melissa, and The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted with Richard and Melissa.
Melissa Enge
Art Director
Melissa Enge is the co-teacher of the social dance classes at the University of Texas at Austin, the co-founder of the Library of Dance, University of Dance, and Gallery of Dance, and the co-author of Cross-Step Waltz and The Book of Mixers. Prior to coming to UT, she was the long-time teaching partner of Richard Powers at Stanford University. Before becoming a social dancer, she did ballet, tap, and jazz, and played and taught violin. Having worked in tech for many years, in quality engineering and program management roles, she brings her technical attention to detail to bear on her various artistic projects, including the Gallery of Dance.