Education

2012 Portland State University, B.A.
2017 Norwegian University of Science and Technology, M.A.

Courses Taught

Dance in World Cultures
Dance History

Career Specialties

Elizabeth’s academic interests include popular and social dance, Latin dances, Cuban and Caribbean music and dance, ethnomusicology, ethnography, Francophone and Hispanic cultures, and intangible cultural heritage. She is also an advocate for open culture, placemaking, dance in public spaces, and social sustainability initiatives.

Professional and Community Activities

From 2018-2025, Elizabeth co-directed a dance school based in Southcentral Alaska dedicated to teaching, performing, and disseminating Cuban popular dances. Alongside studio teaching, artistic work, and teaching at national events, her key projects included hosting inclusive social dances for the local community, leading study trips to Cuba, and teaching Cuban dance in public schools.

During this time, Elizabeth continued her academic pursuits. In 2021, she published a chapter based on her master’s research on Cuban dance in Cultural Memory and Popular Dance: Dancing to Remember, Dancing to Forget, edited by Clare Parfitt (Palgrave Macmillan). Elizabeth is also the current secretary of PoP Moves, an international research group for popular dance and performance.