Radford University
James Robey
Chair, Dance/Professor
Dance, Dept of
- Phone:
- (540) 831-5186
- Address:
-
Artis Center 318D
Box 6966 - Email:
- jrobey3@radford.edu
James Robey with dance students right before the annual Dancing on the Edge concert.
Focus and Philosophy: James W. Robey views dance as a form of embodied inquiry—an art that synthesizes creativity, scholarship, and community. His philosophy emphasizes cultivating resilience and imagination in young artists, while also advancing the role of dance within broader conversations of leadership, education, and innovation. As a teacher and choreographer, Robey empowers students to see dance not only as technique or performance, but as a way of knowing and engaging with the world.
Background: Robey’s journey began at age 13, shortly after recovering from a broken ankle sustained while breakdancing. What started as a way to redirect his energy became a lifelong calling. Formal training soon revealed the transformative power of dance as both an art form and a way of thinking. After performing professionally, Robey transitioned into higher education, where he integrated artistry and scholarship. Today, he is recognized as a choreographer, educator, and author dedicated to advancing dance as a vital force in education and culture.
Teaching and Leadership: At Radford University, Robey serves as professor and chair of the Department of Dance. He has also held leadership roles as Interim Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and as Executive Director of the Summer Residential Governor’s School for the Visual & Performing Arts and Humanities. In 2023, he received Radford’s Outstanding Mentor Award. His service extends nationally through his work as a visiting evaluator for the National Association of Schools of Dance and as a member of the Cultivating Leadership Committee for the National Dance Education Organization.
Professional Work: As a performing artist, Robey danced with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, GroundWorks Dance Theater, Connecticut Ballet, and New York Dance Theater, as well as in productions for Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Busch Gardens. He founded the Bare Bones Dance Project in New York City, later renamed James Robey Dance in Connecticut.
Research and Presentations: His creative research includes choreography for his own company as well as Connecticut Ballet, Modern American Dance Company, Missouri Ballet Theatre, Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, Alarm Will Sound, and the Jazz Dance World Congress, among others. His scholarly work bridges leadership, creativity, and dance pedagogy. Robey has presented on topics such as Leadership and Innovation in Arts Education for the Webster Center for Creativity and Innovation in Switzerland and Leadership Jazz with Oxford University’s Dr. David Pendleton at both Henley Business School and the Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival in the UK. His research on applying the Gravesian framework to contemporary dance has been presented at international and national conferences, including the Arts in Society Conference in Spain, Performing Arts Between Tradition and Contemporaneity in Austria, the National Dance Education Organization, the American College Dance Association, and Hawaii University International Conferences on Arts and Humanities.