Dorothy O'Shea Overbey grew up in Austin, training and performing corps de ballet roles with Ballet Austin while studying classical piano with The University of Texas at Austin professor Dr. Amanda Vick Letcho. She received her B.F.A. in Dance Performance and B.A. in Philosophy from Southern Methodist University in 1999. While at SMU, she was coached by The Royal Ballet's Valerie Taylor and American Ballet Theater's Jeremy Blanton. She performed principal roles in Raymonda, Les Sylphides, La Bayadere, as well as reconstructions of the Anthony Tudor ballets Soiree Musicale and Fandango. She began work as a choreographer and her ballet Les Joueurs was performed at SMU's Commencement Ceremony in 1999.

Overbey danced with Colorado Ballet, David Taylor Dance Theater, Ballet Nouveau Colorado and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. After moving to New York, she danced for Ballet New York, Dances Patrelle, Collective Body Dance Lab and John-Mark Owen Presents, working in a wide range of styles. She began acting, training at the Atlantic Acting School and appearing in indie films, commercials, Off-Broadway and as a dancer in the movie Black Swan.

Along with Magdalena Riley and Sara Paul, Dorothy is a co-foudner of Austin Community Ballet, an organization that provides affordable, professional-quality ballet classes.

Areas of Expertise

Ballet/Contemporary Ballet, Choreography, Production, Filmmaking, Conditioning and Injury Prevention, Feldenkrais™ Method, Gyrotonic™ and Gyrokinesis™

Classes

Ballet/Contemporary Ballet, Choreography, Production, Filmmaking, Conditioning and Injury Prevention, Feidenkrais Method™, Gyrotonic™ and Gyrokinesis™

Recent Performances

• String Circle - choreographer and dancer.
  A multi-fielded College of Fine Arts collaboration involving dancers, musicians, integrated media, set and costume design.
  Performed at the Blanton Museum, Bates Recital Hall, and as "pop-up" shows during SXSW 2016.
• Prelude - writer and director.
  A short film exploring a new genre: a mix of silent film and dance film, set to music.
• Prelude Variation - dancer and choreographer.
  A solo dance work exploring themes of the film.
  Dance Repertory Theater's Fall For Dance concert, B. Iden Payne Theater, November 2015
• Maximizing the Audience - dancer.
  Choreography by Manuel Vignoulle.
  Dance Repertory Theater's Fall for Dance concert, B. Iden Payne Theater, November 2015.

What do you enjoy most about being a part of UT Theatre and Dance?

I enjoy learning from the students! I am enriched and inspired by relationships with students not only in Dance, but in Theater, Set/Costume Design, Integrated Media, the Butler School of Music and Radio-Television-Film. This is a community of exceedingly talented and motivated people. I am grateful to be part of it. I love being involved in collaborative projects with undergraduate and graduate students. It is a constant source of vitality and new ideas - I am humbled and revitalized by the talent and depth of engagement of those around me.

What is your favorite thing about Austin?

There is a good energy here. People value experimentation. Austin is growing fast, attracting artists, foodies, entrepreneurs of all kinds. It's an exciting place to be. Also it's outdoorsy and beautiful!