Gayle Kassing, PhD
2022 National Dance Society Legacy Award
Dr. Gayle Kassing is the consummate professional in the dance field across a broad range—from dancer and teacher at elementary through higher education to administrator, scholar, consultant, and author. Her diverse performance career includes ballet with the Birmingham Ballet and Ft. Worth Civic Ballet, modern dance with the of MidAmerican Dance Company, musical theater in summer stock, and a Mexican Dance Group. As a scholar Dr. Kassing has wide-ranging publications in the areas of dance history and curriculum development; her textbooks and curriculum guides are used in universities and schools nationally and internationally, and she is a prolific contributor to research publications and dance journals. From 2001-2017 she was an acquisitions editor in the HPERD division of Human Kinetics Publishing Company. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2010 National Dance Association Scholar/Artist and the 2016-17 National Dance Society Scholar awards. Throughout her career, Dr. Kassing has exemplified the highest qualities in dance and fine arts as a performer, teacher, leader, scholar, choreographer, artistic director, presenter, consultant, and editor.