I am a higher education leader who is dedicated to system transformation through conscious innovation. I bring my experience as an academic and arts administrator to actively engage with communities and stakeholders, fostering growth and creative change. My passion lies in being a positive change agent, championing expansive visions that are realized through shared equity and collaborative leadership. - Rubén Graciani
Afloat Before and After
Swing and a Miss
Untitled Figures
Tenebre
dean - college of visual and performing arts
The College of Visual and Performing Arts is the creativity and arts hub of the University. Our School of Art, Design, Art History; School of Music; and School of Theatre and Dance represent the best opportunity in the Commonwealth for students to leverage their artistic thinking and practice towards a life in the Arts. Each of our academic programs focuses on high-level artistic training combined with entrepreneurial action and the integration of that practical training with your liberal arts studies.
Director, School of Theatre anD Dance - College of Visual and Performing Arts at James Madison UNiversity
Leader of a School of Theatre, Dance and Musical Theatre which is embedded in a vibrant and engaged liberal arts tradition. The programs in the School of Theatre and Dance at JMU are a blend of liberal arts education and critical thinking with intensive pre-professional training and practice. Leading in all aspects of arts administration, curriculum revision and development, vision/mission, change agency, faculty and student support, artistic direction, budget & finance, and strategic planning.
CHAIR & Associate artistic director, Department of dance - conservatory of performing arts AT Point Park University
Leader of one of the largest and most complex dance department's in the country. The programs in dance at Point Park are consistently rated in the "top 5" of the country.
Commission on accreditation
National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission Member
Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools
Dance Representative, Appointed
Adjudicator
American College Dance Festival - SUNY Brockport
New York State Counsel for the Arts - Dance Panel
National Dance Museum - Dance Hall of Fame, Nominating Committee
MASTER TEACHER
Master classes and resident teaching, include:
Great Lakes Dance Festival, Oakland University, Rochester Hills, MI
ACDA, Northeast Region, SUNY – Brockport, Brockport, NY
National High School Dance Festival, Pittsburgh, PA
University of Maryland – College Park, College Park, MD
Newtown High School of Performing Arts, Newtown, Australia
Regional High School Dance Festival, Norfolk, VA
Booker T. Washington Showcase, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts, Dallas, TX
Desales University and Muhlenberg College
Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Hong Kong
Dance Plus Festival, Saratoga Springs, NY
Shanghai American School, Shanghai, China
American College Dance Festival, North East Region, State University of New York at Brockport, Brockport, NY
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
RG DANCE PRojects - collaborators
Rubén Graciani and RG Dance Projects have collaborated with music, theatre, and visual artists, as well as, designers and other performers, including:
Alex Marthaler, composer
NAT 28, performance ensemble
Bach Choir of Pittsburgh & Kiesha Lalama (choreographer)
Ensemble Connect of Carnegie Hall,
formerly Ensemble ACJW - click for photos
Skidmore College Department of Theatre
Luke Frazier, Fairfax Symphony
Philip Treviño, designer
David Quinn, designer of Quinndustry
The Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY - click for photos
John Betz, photojournalist & filmaker
Matthew Cleaver, theatre artist & writer
About Rubén Graciani and RG Dance Projects
RUBEN GRACIANI is a choreographer, master teacher, and arts administration leader.
I’m a passionate change agent and academic innovator who creates space for people to dream. As Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at James Madison University, I value empathetic listening and creative problem solving to build systems through conscious innovation that help the College’s 200 faculty/staff and 1300+ students grow. I collaborate with people to improve processes and systems with transparency through holistic conversation, enthusiastic that we can find joy in the process as we engage with any challenges we may face.
I have an active creative profile with choreographic commissions from regional companies and universities. In 2024, the College of Visual and Performing Arts is hosted the Latinx Dance Educators Alliance Conference.
I created the strategic plan for the College of Visual and Performing Arts at JMU, valuing community participation at every stage. I raised $11.6 million dollars in 3 years, doubling the College’s endowment with our 1st annual In/Ovation Student Celebration fundraising gala and auction. And, I’m proud of bringing siloed institutes, centers, and the Lisanby Museum together into the Office of Creative Propulsion (OCP) which included leading a cohort hire of 11 faculty to drive the arts at JMU in forward thinking interdisciplinary ways.
I’m well-equipped to manage the unique challenge overseeing the complex facilities and budgets for the College’s
-3 schools, including 8 buildings
- technologically-advanced performing arts center with 5 theaters
-8 design, production, and materials shops
I’ve been successful in managing over $600,000 of upgrades to infrastructure and technology throughout our buildings.
My past academic appointments include Point Park University, Skidmore College, Ohio University, and the University of Maryland. I have a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography and Performance from the University of Maryland. I attended The Juilliard School and have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from SUNY Purchase College. I live in Virginia with my husband.
CHOREOGRAPHIC Reviews
"...an all out passionate and focused performance of final redemption and salvation." - Carlos Stafford, Gia on the Move review of We Fall Down, We Get Up
"inventive and well balanced," & "classical long lines woven into poetic phrases - Graciani's work has a real fresh look to it." - Jane Sato, Theatre is Easy review of We Fall Down, We Get Up
"...a strong sense of form and a musicality that nudges the viewers to listen." - George Jackson, Dance View Times review of Search for my Familiar
What the critics say...
"Especially outstanding..." - Anna Kisselgoff, NY Times
"...a true performer with an appetite for space..." - George Jackson, Dance View Times
"Ruben Graciani epitomized the dancers' heedless daring..." - Jennifer Dunning, NY Times
"...exceptional, open and loose bodied but impeccably precise." - Jennifer Dunning, NY Times
"Company members, Ruben Graciani, et al, display acting and singing skills that rival their dancing..." - Leslie Katz, Inside Bay Area
PROJECTS
A few of Ruben Graciani's past and present projects.
2023
Where Once We Stood
10 Dancers, Music: Tarik O’Regan
Premiere: Contemporary Dance Ensemble, Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, Harrisonburg, VA
Where Once We Stood will premiere at Carnegie Hall in March of 2025 with 90 singers and 10 percussionists.
2020
Purigado
6 Dancers, Music: Ezio Bosso
Premiere: Original premiere in 2020 canceled due to COVID. ACTUAL PREMIERE: February 2022, DanceWorks Chicago: Theater Rüsselsheim, Rüsselsheim, Germany.
2019
Nobody But Yourself
9 Dancers, Music: W. A. Mozart, Steve Reich, with a sound score by Tom Carr
Premiere: Contemporary Dance Ensemble, Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, Harrisonburg, VA
2018
Dreaming By Day
Duet, Music: Richard Einhorn
Premiere: New Dance Festival, Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, Harrisonburg, VA
2017
Tethers, Capsules, and Collisions:
13 Dancers, Music: Original score by Alex Marthaler
PREMIERE: February 2017, GRW Performance Space – Conservatory Dance Company, Point Park University - Pittsburgh, PA
2016
Untitled Figures
FIVE
Untitled Figures: 12 Dancers, Music: Max Richter,
PREMIERE: July 2016, Broadway Dance Center – Professional Semester Series: Ailey Citigroup Theatre, New York, NY
Silencio: 18 Dancers, Music: Philip Glass,
PREMIERE: June 2016, Tennessee Governors School for the Arts: Tucker Theater, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Ascending Bird: 14 Dancers, Music: Kalhor
PREMIERE: April 2016, Point Park Conservatory Dance Company: Joyce Theater, New York, NY
FIVE: 15 Dancers, Music: Orff, Mozart, Kalhor
Evening length work made in collaboration with choreographer Kiesha Lalama, and the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh,
PREMIERE: February 2016, Point Park Conservatory Dance Company: Rockwell Theatre, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Pittsburgh, PA
2015
Meetings Along the Edge
18 Dancers, Music: Ravi Shankar & Philip Glass
PREMIERE: Skidmore Dance Theatre, Saratoga Springs, NY. Remounted for Newtown High School of Performing Arts: NHSPA Theater, Newtown, Australia
Why Then Should I Be Afraid:
Duet, Music: Tarik O’Regan
PREMIERE: September 2015, DanceNow Joe’s Pub Festival: Joe’s Pub, New York, NY
Why Then Should I Be Afraid
2014
Shelter
Shelter
Duet, Music: Gordon/Lang/Wolfe
PREMIERE: 2014, Skidmore Dance Theater, Saratoga Springs, NY
Shelter - excerpt:
Duet, Music: Gordon/Lang/Wolfe
PREMIERE: September 2014, DanceNow Joe’s Pub Festival: Joe’s Pub, New York, NY
2013
Shape Shifter: Trio, Music: Blur
PREMIERE: October 2013, DanceNow Joe’s Pub Festival: Joe’s Pub, New York, NY
We Fall Down, We Get Up:
5 Dancers, 24 singers, Music: Various Artists
PREMIERE: May 2013, We Fall Down, We Get Up – an evening with RG Dance Projects: Martha Graham Contemporary Dance Theater, New York, NY
Shape Shifter
We Fall Down, We Get UP
DANCE FILMS:
Complete This Work Which We Began:
Terra Arcana:
Contact ME
For further information about commissions, projects, or collaborations