Jeffrey Marc Rockland

Associate Professor of Dance at Kent State University, Jeffrey Marc Rockland enjoys helping students expand, discover and excel.  Rockland’s choreography credits include works for: Alaska Dance Theatre, Bristol Ballet, Colorado Dance Theatre, East Meets West Dance Ensemble, Kent State University, Mercyhurst University, Orange Coast Ballet, Patravadi Dance Theatre, SuanSunandha Rajabhat University, the University of Northern Colorado, and as an Honors Choreographer for the 2012 RDA Craft of Choreography Conference in Winston Salem, NC.

Rockland brings his professional experience into the classroom.  He sets a professional standard by which technique and artistry are achieved. Rockland had the great fortune to train with master teachers such as: Laura Alonso, Robert Barnett, William Griffith, Constance Hardinge, Benjamin Harkarvy, David Howard, Robert Joffrey, Donald McKayle and Lupe Serrano. The lessons he learned from these master teachers continue to shape his pedagogical approach today. 

​As Soloist with Atlanta Ballet, Universal Ballet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Rockland danced established repertoire of Balanchine, Bournonville, Feld, Fokine, Najinska, Petipa and Tudor and had new works choreographed for him by choreographers including: Anastos, Bahr, Barnett, Kudelka, McFall, Munroe, Pazik and Taylor Corbitt among others.  As Ballet Master for Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, Rockland was asked to give master classes in cities all over the world. This led to his establishing connections in Asia that many years later have helped build Kent's East Meets West Program which provides Kent students with international opportunities in Thailand and Israel. Today, in addition to enjoying his teaching at Kent State, Rockland is a guest teacher and choreographer for conferences and festivals as well as schools, companies, and universities in the United States and abroad.

In his spare time, Jeffrey enjoys writing.  If you have a moment, please check out two of his publications here:

FINDING MY ROOTS IN ROCKLAND MAINE, American Ancestor Magazine, Summer 2024.

JUMPING FOR JOY: The journey of a male dancer, from first plié to total hip replacement, The Mindful Word Online Magazine, 2020.