Gianna "Gi" Dobrich
Choreographer
Performer
Educator
ARTS ADMINISTRATOR
PHOTOgrAPHY: GRETCHEN HURD
About Me
Gianna “Gi” Dobrich (she/her) is a choreographer, performer, educator, and arts administrator from Erie, Pennsylvania. She received a BFA in Dance with a concentration in Performance and Choreography from Slippery Rock University in 2026. Gianna has performed in works by Trisha Brown, Dianne McIntyre, Cameron McKinney, Shakia “The Key” Barron, Jon Lehrer, and Carlos Jones, among other artists. During her senior year, she was awarded the Thom and Christine Cobb Award for Excellence and Promise by the SRU Dance Department faculty. Gianna has attended the 2024 American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina, and the 2023 Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Explore Summer Intensive. Her choreography has been selected for Gala performances at the American College Dance Association, presented at the ACDA National Festival in Washington, D.C., and performed at festivals including the WHITE WAVE SoloDuo Dance Festival and the Cleveland Dance Festival. Gianna is currently working at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival as a Company Management intern for the Ted Shawn Theatre.
PHOTO by: Cassie dietrich
PHOTO BY: BEN VIATORI
PHOTO BY: MASHA AFSHARI
PHOTO BY: JENNIFER KELLER
Duet selected for national gala
BY: Justin Zackal
Slippery Rock University students Paula Rodríguez-Alvarez and Gianna Dobrich will perform among the top collegiate dancers in the country.
The duet that they performed and choreographed was chosen, along with approximately 30 other dance pieces, for the American College Dance Association’s 2025 National College Dance Festival, May 2-4, in Washington, D.C.
Palenque travels to Colombia
BY: KAYLA RAYNAK
Over the summer, Slippery Rock University’s dance company Palenque traveled to Colombia to learn about the culture and bring back research to grow Palenque.
“I think it’s a twofold thing. I wanted to be in it to experience the culture and experience a new way of dancing, but I also wanted to be in it for the community aspect, because I knew everyone in the group was so close, and there’s something so beautiful about all learning a new culture together and investing your time in it together,” Dobrich said.
Dance major gainS career insights through Belgium study-abroad
BY: Hayden Schultz
Beyond the studio and stages, students explored historic and cultural landmarks that deepened their understanding of Belgium’s artistic and societal contexts. From medieval castles in Ghent to the canals of Bruges, the group gained valuable cross-cultural insight.
SRU Dance Theatre’s Emerging Artists Concert returns Jan. 31 and Feb. 1
By: Aaliyah Thomas
Described as dynamic’ and ‘exciting’ by Erin Kouwe, a Slippery Rock University assistant professor of dance, SRU Dance Theatre’s Emerging Artist Concerts returns with new performances by current SRU students and guests, Jan. 31 to Feb. 1
PHOTO BY: BEN VIATORI
Dancing with the SRU Stars
BY: Justin Zackal
An annual contest at Slippery Rock University is never the same old song and dance because each year “Dancing with the SRU Stars” features new contestants and pairings from the campus community. This year’s competition is 7 p.m., March 28, in Stoner West Dance Studio Theater. Cost is $10 for general admission.