Blue Devil comes home to teach Dance Education

Central alumnus Lenard Foust ’17 is returning to his alma mater as an instructor in the Department of Physical Education & Human Performance within the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, where he will teach courses in Dance Education. Foust was in the first cohort of students to graduate from the Dance Education program. 

“Central is where my own journey in dance education began, so returning to my alma mater as a faculty member feels especially meaningful,” Foust says. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the program that helped shape me as an artist and educator, and I’m looking forward to working with the next generation of dance educators.”

A performing artist, educator and Fulbright Scholar, Foust holds an MFA in Dance Performance and a certificate in World Performance Studies from the University of Michigan. He has taught at universities in the United States and abroad, including Capital Normal University, Beijing Dance Academy, Shanghai Theatre Academy, the University of Michigan and Alabama State University, where he served as assistant professor of Dance.

At the University of Michigan, Foust worked closely with BFA Musical Theatre majors, teaching Jazz, Hip Hop and Theatre Dance. His teaching emphasizes versatility, technique and cultural context, encouraging dancers to explore the connections between personal and cultural identity through movement.

As a performer, Foust draws on African diasporic traditions, blending the energy and storytelling of Hip Hop with the technique and musicality of Jazz. His professional credits include working with renowned choreographer JaQuel Knight, serving as a movement coach for actor Famke Janssen and performing in Kanye West’s album “Donda.” His choreography credits include Sheila E.’s 2022 performance at the World Games.

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