Faculty

NORMA SUE FISHER-STITT

BA, MFA (York), EdD (Temple)
Associate Professor: Dance History, Ballet Technique, Dance Education
Department of Dance, York University

normasue@yorku.ca

A graduate of Canada's National Ballet School, Norma Sue Fisher-Stitt danced with the National Ballet of Canada for four years prior to attending York University. A technique teacher for many years, the subject of her Master's thesis was "The Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet: An Investigation into its Evolution". Other historical research projects have focused on dance in Canada during the early 20th century, including Anna Pavlova's Toronto performances and entertainment in Dawson City at the turn of the century. She is the author of the book The Ballet Class: A History of Canada's National Ballet School 1959-2009, released in 2010 in conjunction with the school's 50th anniversary celebrations [full story].

Professor Fisher-Stitt is also involved in exploring the potential of computer-assisted instruction in dance education. For her doctoral dissertation at Temple University in Philadelphia, she created and tested a computer tutorial on ballet allegro terminology. Together with her department colleague Professor Mary Jane Warner, she authored and produced the groundbreaking educational CD-ROM Shadow on the Prairie: An Interactive Multimedia Dance History Tutorial [full story]. She is a former member of the board of the Society of Dance History Scholars and regularly presents at conferences in the fields of dance history, dance education and dance technology.

Dr. Fisher-Stitt has served as Chair of York's Department of Dance, associate dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, associate dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and associate vice-president, Academic Learning Initiatives. She currently directs the Graduate Program in Dance (MA) and the Graduate Program in Dance Studies (PhD).