Judy Bejarano (M.F.A., B.S.) is an award winning choreographer and artistic director of IMPACT Dance Company. She recently received the “Legend of Dance” award for the state of Colorado. She is a long time faculty member at Colorado State University where she teaches modern technique, choreography, pedagogy, and repertory. Bejarano loves building connections between her company and CSU. She presents performances and workshops for both that use momentum-based movement, original text and projection in work that is both intimate and universal. Bejarano finds great beauty in examining the human experience through movement and spoken word. Her work has been commissioned and performed throughout the region and has been described as “…existing in the poignant space where comedy and tragedy intersect.” For years, Bejarano has been interested in redefining the relationship between performer and audience. Therefore, IMPACT’s work can often be found in nontraditional spaces, such as art galleries, museums and outdoor historical sites. She encourages nontraditional work in her choreography classes at CSU, helping the students find their artistic voices. IMPACT also has a well established integrated arts outreach program called Every Voice Matters that is presented at conferences throughout the region and within CSU classes. Bejarano’s work has been selected for regional and national festivals including National American College Dance Festival, Colorado Choreographers Showcase, and Gala Concert for the National Dance Association Festival. Her topic driven work continues to be presented at CSU and commissioned by universities as well as independent dance, theatre and music groups. Bejarano, an enthusiastic and demanding instructor, also teaches throughout the region including at Canyon Concert Ballet and in the University of Northern Colorado Master’s of Dance Education program. She received her Master of Fine Arts from CU Boulder in dance with an emphasis in choreography and performance.