Michelle Mathesius is nationally known as a choreographer, producer, teacher and inter-nationally known for her work in preserving our nation’s dance heritage through revivals of the dances of the “Mother and Father of American Modern Dance,” Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. With her partner Jane Sherman she founded the Denishawn Repertory Dancers currently featured in two video documentaries, DENISHAWN: THE BIRTH OF MODERN DANCE and DENISHAWN DANCES ON. In addition, while serving on the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Governor’s Arts Literacy Task Force, she authored and implemented the original model for Performing Arts “shops” within New Jersey’s Vocational High Schools and co-founded the New Jersey Center for the Performing Arts.