Alex Tecza
Adjunct Professor
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
College of Fine & Applied Arts
Department of Dance
907 ½ West Nevada Street
Urbana, IL 61801-3810
Email: atecza@illinois.edu
Website: alextecza.com and dynamiccoordination.com
Education
Master of Fine Arts in Dance
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
May 2025
Bachelor of Science in Microbiology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
December 1995
Experience
Academic Teaching
Instructor, Dance I/Dancing Technique Elective/Dancing Techniques Graduate Elective/Ballroom
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Fall 2026
Designed the syllabus and taught class activities, focusing on proper technique and principles of several ballroom dances to undergraduate and graduate students
Instructor, Ballroom Dance
School of Theatre Arts, Illinois Wesleyan University, Spring 2026
Designed the syllabus and taught class activities, focusing on proper technique and principles of several ballroom dances to undergraduate and graduate students
Instructor, Lyric Theatre Dance
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Fall 2025
Designed the syllabus and taught class activities, focusing on proper technique and principles of several dance forms used in 2025-2026 production season to Lyric Theatre at Illinois students
Instructor, Embodied Performance: Movement, Awareness, and Stage Presence
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Fall 2025
Designed the syllabus and taught class activities, focusing on developing body awareness through Alexander Technique and other somatic forms to Lyric Theatre at Illinois students
Co-taught with the Director of the Lyric Theatre at Illinois program, Nathan Gunn
Instructor, Dance I/Dancing Technique Elective/Dancing Techniques Graduate Elective/Ballroom
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Fall 2025
Designed the syllabus and taught class activities, focusing on proper technique and principles of several ballroom dances to undergraduate and graduate students
Instructor, Dance II/Dancing Technique Elective/Dancing Techniques Graduate Elective/Ballroom
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Spring 2025
Designed the syllabus and taught class activities, focusing on proper technique and principles of several ballroom dances to 20-30 undergraduate and graduate students
Instructor, Dance I/Dancing Techniques Elective/Dancing Techniques Graduate Elective/Latin Jazz
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Fall 2024
Designed the syllabus and taught class activities, focusing on musicality, alignment, coordination, and patterns in several Latin-American dances in solo form
Recognized to be included on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (Fall 2024)
Instructor, Dance I/Dancing Techniques Elective/Dancing Techniques Graduate Elective/Swing
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Fall 2024
Designed the syllabus and taught class activities, focusing on technique of partnering and patterns of East Coast and West Coast Swing
Recognized to be included on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (Fall 2024)
Instructor, Introduction to Contemporary Dance Online
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Spring 2024
Delivered a pre-existing online course to over 20 students online, maintaining timely communication, grading, and feedback activities
Instructor, Repertory Company
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Spring 2024
Choreographed and taught a ballroom/Latin dance piece to a group of Dance at Illinois freshmen, focusing on proper technique and execution of the material
Instructor, Dance I/Dancing Techniques Elective/Dancing Techniques Graduate Elective/Ballroom/Partnering
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Fall 2023
Designed the syllabus and taught class activities, focusing on proper technique and principles of several ballroom dances to 30-40 undergraduate and graduate students
Recognized to be included on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (Fall 2023)
Instructor, Introduction to Contemporary Dance
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Spring 2023
Prepared lectures, focusing on the chronological progression of the development of contemporary dance from the era of the late romantic ballets to the present
Designed movement activities, focusing on both traditional and improvised components, with clear anatomical and somatic cueing to ensure safety and clarity of instruction
Recognized to be included on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (Spring 2023)
Instructor, Dance l/Dancing Techniques Elective/Dancing Techniques Graduate Elective/Ballroom
College of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Fall 2022
Designed the syllabus and taught class activities, focusing on the proper technique and principles of several ballroom dances to 20-30 undergraduate and graduate students
Recognized to be included on the List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students (Fall 2022)
Professional Teaching
Ballroom Dance Instructor, Dynamic Coordination, Inc.
2005-present
Designed and taught group classes, workshops, and private lessons on a daily basis
Choreographed and performed dance routines with students in showcases and competitions
Alexander Technique teacher, Dynamic Coordination, Inc.
2020-present
Taught private Alexander Technique lessons to clients
Ballroom Dance Instructor at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Champaign, IL
2017-2022, 2025-present
Designed and taught “Popular Ballroom Dances” class
Administrative
Business Owner, Dynamic Coordination, Inc. (formerly Master Dance, Inc.)
2005-2017
Performed daily administrative, customer service, and janitorial operations in a dance studio
Trained and managed employees
Publications
Reichgott Junge, E. Dance of Resilience. She Writes Press, 2026. https://www.thedanceofresilience.com
Contributed a chapter about history and current trends of same-sex partnerships in ballroom dancing
Vanier, Luc, Rebecca Nettl-Fiol and Elizabeth Johnson. The Dance of Everyday Movement: A Developmental Framework for Whole-Body Integration. University of Illinois Press, 2026. https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p089657
Contributed a chapter about applications of Framework for Integration in pedagogy of ballroom dancing
Lau, S.S., Bokenkamp, K., Tecza, A. et al. Mammalian Cell Genotoxicity of Potable Reuse and Conventional Drinking Waters. Environmental Science and Technology, 58/20 (2024). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.4c01596#
Performed experiments an academic laboratory, gathered and interpreted data used for publication
Lau, S.S., Bokenkamp, K., Tecza, A. et al. Toxicological assessment of potable reuse and conventional drinking waters. Nat Sustain 6, 39–46 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-00985-7
Performed experiments an academic laboratory, gathered and interpreted data used for publication
Presentations
Ballroom dance masterclass, School of Theatre Arts, Illinois Wesleyan University, February 2024
Alex Tecza, Rebecca Nettl-Fiol, Workshop. From Rolling to Ballroom Dance: Dart’s Double Spiral in Action, 11th International Alexander Technique Congress, Chicago, July 2018
Honors and Awards
Ballroom Dance Professional Championship Titles
North American Same Sex American Smooth (Floorplay L.A., Palm Springs, CA, January 2019)
North American Same Sex American Rhythm (Floorplay L.A. Palm Springs, CA, January 2019)
North American Same Sex Best of the Best (Floorplay L.A. Palm Springs, CA, January 2019)
Dancers Cup Tour 2009
World Professional American Smooth finalist (Ohio Star Ball, Columbus, OH, November 2009)
Open Professional American Smooth (Hotlanta Dance Challenge, Atlanta, GA, October 2009)
Open Professional American Smooth (Windy City Open, Chicago, IL, September 2009)
US National Professional American Smooth finalist (United States National Dance Championships, Orlando, FL, September 2009)
Professional Showdance (Heart of America Dancesport Championships, Kansas City, MO, August 2009)
Professional Showdance (Volunteer State Dance Challenge, Nashville, TN, July 2009)
Professional Showdance (Twin Cities Open Ballroom Competition, Minneapolis, MN, July 2009)
Professional Showdance (Chicago Crystal Ball, Wheeling, IL, June 2009)
Open Professional American Smooth (Chicago Crystal Ball, Wheeling, IL, June 2009)
Professional Showdance (City Lights Ball, San Jose, CA, February 2009
Open Professional American Smooth (Indiana Challenge, Merrillville, IN, February 2009)
Dancer's Cup Tour 2008
Professional Rising Star American Smooth (Ohio Star Ball, Columbus, OH, November 2008)
US National Professional Rising Star American Smooth finalist (United States Dance Championships, Orlando Fl, September 2008)
Professional Rising Star American Smooth (Volunteer State Dance Challenge, Nashville, TN, July 2008)
Professional Rising Star American Smooth (Twin Cities Open Ballroom Competition, Minneapolis, MN, July 2008)
Open Professional American Smooth (Sapphire Dancesport Championships, Austin, TX, June 2008)
Professional Rising Star American Smooth (St. Louis Star Ball, St. Louis, MO, March 2008)
Open Professional American Smooth (St. Louis Star Ball, St. Louis, MO, March 2008)
Open Professional American Smooth (Indiana Challenge, Merrillville, IN, February 2008)
Open Professional Standard (Windy City Open, Chicago, IL, August 2007)
Open Professional Standard (Sapphire Dancesport Championships, Austin, TX, June 2007)
Open Professional Standard (Indiana Challenge, Merrillville, IN, February 2007)
Professional Rising Star Standard (Pacific Dancesport Championships, Los Angeles, CA, November 2005)
Professional Rising Star Standard (Capital Dancesport Championships, Washington DC, August 2005)
Open Professional Standard (Volunteer State Championships, Nashville, TN, July 2005)
Open Professional Standard (Chicago’s Crystal Ball Dance Competition, Chicago, IL, June 2005)
Open Professional Standard (Sapphire Dancesport Championships, Austin, TX, June 2005)
Open professional Showdance (Sapphire Dancesport Championships, Austin, TX, June 2005)
Professional Rising Star Standard (Atlanta Open, Atlanta, GA, May 2005)
Professional Rising Star Standard (Wisconsin State Dancesport Championships, Milwaukee, WI, April 2005)
Open Professional Standard (Vegas Showdown, Las Vegas, NV, March 2005)
Professional Rising Star Standard (Chicago Harvest Moon Ball, Chicago, IL, October 2004)
Open Professional Showdance (Chicago Harvest Moon Ball, Chicago, IL, October 2004)
Professional Rising Star Standard (Galaxy Dance Festival, San Jose, CA, September 2004)
Open Professional Showdance (Chicago’s Crystal Ball Dance Competition, Chicago, IL, June 2004)
Open Professional Showdance (Great Race Sports Festival, South Bend, IN, May 2004)
Choreography and Performance (recent and most notable)
Carnaval!, Lyric Theatre at Illinois, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, February 2026 (choreography)
Choreographed and taught ensemble and small ensemble dance numbers to the Lyric Theatre at Illinois students
Anastasia: The Musical, Lyric Theatre at Illinois, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, November 2025 (choreography)
Choreographed and taught ensemble and small ensemble dance numbers to the Lyric Theatre at Illinois students
Strongly Correlated Bodies, Footloose and Fancyfree: a Dance Concert, Illinois Wesleyan University, School of Theatre Arts, Bloomington, IL, April 2025 (choreography)
Choreographed a group piece for six students of School of Theatre Arts at Illinois Wesleyan University
Entangled, or Adventures of Time Traveler in the Quantum World, Studiodance 2025, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, March 2025 (choreography, performance)
Choreographed and performed the MFA thesis dance piece
Carnaval!, Lyric Theatre at Illinois, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, March 2025 (choreography)
Choreographed and taught ensemble and small ensemble dance numbers to the Lyric Theatre at Illinois students
Black Square, Lyric Theatre at Illinois, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, April 2024 (choreography)
Created specific gestures and movement patterns for actors
Carnaval!, Lyric Theatre at Illinois, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, February 2024 (choreography)
Choreographed and taught six ensemble and small ensemble dance numbers to the Lyric Theatre at Illinois students
Die Fledermaus, Lyric Theatre at Illinois, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, October 2023 (choreography)
Choreographed and taught a waltz ensemble number to the Lyric Theatre at Illinois students
Dance at Illinois Downtown, Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL, March 2023 (performance, choreography)
Performed in Rebecca NettlFiol’s Danse Soirée de Bonbons; provided choreographic material for two duets
Joy of Regathering, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, September 2023 (performance
Carnaval! Lyric Theatre at Illinois, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, February 2023 (choreography, performance)
Choreographed and performed two duets
Carnaval! Lyric Theatre at Illinois, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, February 2022 (choreography, performance)
Co-choreographed and performed two duets; assisted in choreography of two ensemble numbers
Tangos for Jupiter, American Dance Guild Festival, Ailey Citigroup Theater, New York City, NY, September 2019 (performance)
Co-choreographed and performed two duets
Tangos for Jupiter, Jupiter Quartet with Chungliang Al Huang, Krannert Center 50, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Champaign, IL, February 2019 (performance, choreography)
Co-choreographed and performed two duets; performed in a small ensemble number
Stay, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival (HCCDF), Chicago, IL, September 2014
Choreographed and performed a duet