WKU News

Charlotte Bariteau, a dance major from Louisville, Kentucky, has always had a deep connection to movement. "I technically started taking classes when I was two," Charlotte shares, recalling the early days of her dance journey. However, it was around age 11 or 12 that she began to take dance seriously, particularly ballet. Despite starting a bit later than some of her peers, she was determined to catch up. "I worked really hard for a couple of years to get back up, and it was really fulfilling because I had to fight for it."

Dance was never just an extracurricular for Charlotte—it became her passion. "It was kind of like, dance is the thing I want to focus on. It's my passion." Her dedication to the art form led her to WKU’s dance program, where she found a home that offered the breadth of dance styles she desired. "Western had all of those [styles], like tap, jazz, ballet, and modern. A lot of other college programs focus on just ballet and modern, but at WKU, I could do all four."

Charlotte's decision to come to WKU was also influenced by a pivotal experience. She attended the WKU Summer Dance Intensive before her junior year of high school. "It was really important to me because I got to experience what it was like to be a college dance major before I even came here," she reflects. During the intensive, she saw firsthand the opportunities that WKU's dance program could provide, especially in the area of tap, which she had always loved.

But it wasn’t just technique that drew Charlotte to WKU—it was the community. "My best friends in dance are also in honors," she says. She credits the Honors College for being a key part of her college experience, helping her find a sense of belonging. "I found my community within the Honors College. Getting to be involved on that level really helped me see what was possible."

One of the most meaningful experiences Charlotte had was the opportunity to apply for and receive a FUSE (Faculty-Undergraduate Student Engagement) grant. This grant allowed her to conduct in-depth research into the history of jazz dance and its African American roots. "There's such a rich and diverse history that has to do with African American Vernacular dance, but when we get into our classes, it's often more Eurocentric," she explains.

Her research included a trip to New York City, where she took classes, explored archives, and even attended Broadway shows. She later presented her findings at the National Dance Educators Organization Conference and the Student Scholar Showcase at WKU. "It was really exciting to see people I had read about in my research and then present my work to them," Charlotte says, still filled with excitement.

But her research didn’t stop there. She went on to work on a thesis that challenged how jazz dance choreography is taught, focusing on bridging the gap between the historical roots of jazz and the way choreography is often presented in academia. "I really wanted to focus on how we better cultivate new jazz choreographers," she explains. This work was influenced by a jazz dance scholar, Melanie George, whom Charlotte had the opportunity to interview. "She wrote about how there aren’t many jazz choreographers coming up in higher education, and that really inspired me to keep going."

Charlotte's time at WKU has opened up a new world of possibilities for her, both creatively and academically. "If you had told me my freshman year that I would want to go get my MFA in dance and become a professor, I would have said, ‘You're crazy.’" Now, however, she sees a future in which she blends dance with scholarship. "I love dance and scholarship and how they align. I think I'll always be involved in research and dance education."

Looking ahead, Charlotte plans to teach dance and continue exploring her passion for both performance and research. "My goal is definitely to go to grad school for dance and get my MFA," she says. Though unsure about the exact path, she remains excited about the future. "I want to continue working, teaching, and doing research in dance education," she shares.

Charlotte’s journey is a testament to the power of exploration and the importance of finding one’s community. Her advice to incoming students is simple: "Explore and see what you like. Trust that what’s right for you will come when you do that exploring." Her path at WKU has been marked by self-discovery, hard work, and a deep passion for dance—and she's only just getting started.

In addition to her academic achievements, Charlotte has also embraced the challenges of living with ADHD, using it as a tool to fuel her creativity. "It's made me so creative," she says. "It's been really important in my process, even though it comes with its challenges."

As Charlotte prepares to graduate next week, she reflects on her time at WKU with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead. "I see so many more possibilities with dance now," she says. "It's not just about performing anymore. There’s so much more to it, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next."