Position:
Assistant Professor, Modern Dance
Email:
dpadiern@su.edu
Employed Since:
2020
Educational History:
B.A., Montclair State University; M.F.A., Tisch School of the Arts, New York University
Professional Highlights:
Daniel L. Padierna, artistic director of Padierna Dance Project, is a queer Latino dance creator born and raised in Wallington, New Jersey. Padierna earned a Master of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University in May 2020. Prior to that, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education at Montclair State University (MSU).
He is currently programs director for Diversity of Dance, Inc., directed by Fredrick Earl Mosley and has directed yearly programs including Dancing Beyond Winter Repertory Series, Hearts of Men Workshop Series and Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts Summer Dance Intensive.
Padierna has performed works from a diverse group of choreographers including Antony Tudor, José Limón, Rennie Harris, Camille A. Brown, Ronald K. Brown and Larry Keigwin to name a few. His choreography has recently been produced at Bryant Park, 14th Street Y, Dance Against Cancer at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, Brooklyn High School of the Arts, Frank Sinatra School for the Arts, Passaic County Technical Institute and numerous New Jersey and New York pre-professional dance programs. Padierna was selected to commission work for the Young Choreographer’s Festival at Symphony Space, New York City, as well as Jersey (NEW) Moves! Festival of Dance at New Jersey Performing Arts Center. He is now choreographer and creative collaborator for Olivia Lux, Emmy award-winning drag queen and performer from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 13.
He was awarded the MSU Scholarship and Talent Award in May 2016 and MSU College of the Arts Dance Education Award in May 2017. This will be Padierna’s fourth year as an assistant professor at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virgina.