Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Savannah Bunn, a senior dance performance and choreography major in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Denard Haden School of Theatre and Dance, has been selected as a fellow of the thINKingDANCE Emerging Writers Fellowship for her scholarly and creative work.
Bunn was one of two undergraduates nationwide chosen for the fellowship, which recognizes exceptional dance writing by U.S.-based students and recent graduates studying performing arts, journalism, writing or a related field.
Selected fellows have their work published as a featured article on the thINKingDANCE website and receive professional mentorship with a member of the publication’s editorial board.
“Being selected as a fellow of the thINKingDANCE Emerging Writers Fellowship has been incredibly affirming,” Bunn said. “What began as a deep interest in ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ evolved into my undergraduate thesis and first choreographic work. This recognition feels both humbling and empowering.”
Bunn’s article, “Ephemeral Patterns: Translating ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ into Movement,” explores how literary works can be examined and interpreted through movement, demonstrating dance’s capacity to function in both performance and academic settings.
Bunn’s research and choreography have been presented in multiple venues during the current academic year and were recently recognized as a Top Scholar project for SFA’s Undergraduate Research Conference.
“The significance of Savannah’s selection is quite large,” said Heather Samuelson, SFA’s dance program director and associate professor. “She was selected from a competitive national pool of applicants to have her work published. These are significant milestones during an undergraduate career.”
Following her graduation in May 2026, Bunn will join the Limón Training Program in New York to continue refining her artistry in a professional setting.
For more information about SFA’s Denard Haden School of Theatre and Dance, visit sfasu.edu/theatre-dance.