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Noles in NYC: See these FSU Fine Arts alums on stage this month

Yeman Brown (BFA Dance ’14) Yeman Brown has been cast as Billy Boy Bill in…

Announcing the Retirement of MANCC Director, Carla Peterson

Carla Peterson, the esteemed director of the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC) at Florida State…

Dance Professor Jawole Willa Jo Zollar to Receive Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award

The American Dance Festival (ADF) will present the 2024 Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for…

Noles in NYC: See these FSU Fine Arts alums on stage this month

Yeman Brown (BFA Dance ’14)

Yeman Brown has been cast as Billy Boy Bill in Encores! “Urinetown,” showing at the New York City Center from February 5-16.

Brown appears in the critically acclaimed musical alongside well-known artists including Rainn Wilson of “The Office” and Keala Settle of “The Greatest Showman.”


Dori Waymer (BFA Music Theatre ’18)

Dori Waymer made her Broadway principal debut as Alpha Smith in “A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical” at Studio 54 on January 10! She is currently a member of the show’s ensemble and understudy for the roles of Daisy Parker and Alpha Smith.

You can see the show at Studio 54 now through February 23.


Lily Kaufmann (BFA Music Theatre ’17)

Lily Kaufmann appears in the new musical “Elton John’s Tammy Faye” as a member of the show’s ensemble and understudy for the role of Tammy Faye.

Prior to her role in “Tammy Faye,” Kaufmann served as a swing, understudy for Lady of the Lake, and Assistant Dance Captain for “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” which closed last April.


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Announcing the Retirement of MANCC Director, Carla Peterson

A message from Dean Frazier: 

As you may have heard, Carla Peterson, the esteemed director of the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC) at Florida State University has announced her planned retirement, effective December 31, 2024. Carla’s leadership of MANCC has been nothing short of transformative. For over a decade, she has been at the forefront, championing the support and engagement of artists’ research and creative processes. Her contributions have significantly helped to shape the field of dance, and for this, we are immensely grateful.

As part of this major transition, MANCC will be taking a strategic pause on hosting residencies starting in late January 2025. This hiatus will extend through to the beginning of 2026. In an era where the arts face unprecedented challenges, we want to assure everyone that this pause is a proactive measure. It is an opportunity for reflection on MANCC’s 20-year legacy and to strategically plan for the next phase of our journey, taking thoughtful steps toward a vibrant future.

MANCC is a cornerstone of the research portfolio of the FSU College of Fine Arts and an integral part of FSU’s institutional culture. We are committed to advancing the field of dance and continuing our legacy of innovation and excellence.

We applaud Carla’s remarkable career and are indebted for her years of impassioned service. Her vision and dedication will continue to inspire us as we look forward to the future of MANCC and the broader dance community.

Carla Peterson, with José Ome Navarrete Mazatl and Debby Kajiyama (NAKA Dance Theater) and FSU’s Communication Professor, Dr. Felecia Jordan, 2024.
Carla Peterson with MANCC’s namesake and benefactor, Margaret (Maggie) Strum Acheson Allesee (1928–2023) with her daughter, dance teacher Kathy Cooke and School of Dance Assistant Professor Caleb Mitchell, 2018.