I believe in the power of art to reveal, transform, empower, and embody the depth of the human experience. I aspire to be a conduit, creator and true advocate for the arts. My skills lie in visioning, collaborating, and making and I commit to doing that with art for the greater good.
Current Arts Advocacy
Spokane Arts Commission
Currently, I am serving as a Spokane Arts Commissioner. Our purpose per the city website is "promoting and enhancing the quality, accessibility and presence of the arts in Spokane." You can learn more about this through Spokane Arts a nonprofit doing great work in our great city.
Member of the Board of Trustees,
The Museum of Arts and Culture
The Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) is a gem of our region. I am very proud to be serving as a member of the MAC's Board of Trustees during this exciting time for the museum.
Dance for Parkinson's with
Gonzaga University Dance
After founding Gonzaga Dance's Dance for Parkinson's program almost two decades ago, I am delighted to now be teaching on a regular basis. This class is offered Wednesday and Saturday from 11-12:15 at the Gonzaga Dance Annex Studio on the Gonzaga Campus. You can find more information here.
Contributions of the Past
ZagDance with
Gonzaga University Dance
I created the ZagDance program for Gonzaga Dance after my experience in Nicaragua and Seattle. This free after school dance program in which Undergraduate Dance Students learn to teach dance continues to this day for the Spokane Community as an example of Dance as Service. Hear the story in my TEDx talk by clicking on the photo.
American College Dance Association
National Board Member
Conference Host 2020
For 17 consecutive years, I brought Gonzaga University students to the American College Dance Association Regional Conferences, and then was elected to the National Board and served for six years. At the conclusion of my second term we hosted the regional conference at Gonzaga. It was a pleasure to serve in this capacity.
Arts Impact
Using Theatre and Dance to teach literacy...
In the News.....
Gonzaga dance welcomes expert on silk-and-blacklight dance, Jessica Lindberg Coxe - Gonzaga Bulletin, October 20, 2016 (www.gonzagabulletin.com)
"Ostersmith sees Loïe as an embodiment of the GU dance program’s future with the introduction of the new interdisciplinary arts minor, as the famous dancer forged connections among the fields of dance, music composition, theatre, visual arts and even science.'"
Parkinson’s patients explore joy of movement in Gonzaga dance class - Spokesman Review, November 14, 2013
"After returning from special Parkinson’s dance training with the Mark Morris Dance Company in Brooklyn last year, Ostersmith began involving her own students more in the class."
Dance Director tackles new art form - Gonzaga Bulletin, November 3, 2011
"Gonzaga's Suzanne Ostersmith is once again using her passion to integrate art, dance and the Gonzaga community into one piece of art. Ostersmith, the director of Gonzaga's dance program, has an art piece in a new exhibit at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Browne's Addition.....'While I am working on my own art, I also feel like I'm teaching. My students are seeing me take risks and put myself out there, and that's what I really want to teach.'"
MAC launches three new exhibits - Spokesman Review Sec. C, October 13, 2011
"Some use surprising methods to make their points. Suzanne Ostersmith choreographed an interpretive dance, which plays on a video screen. near the screen, a tall length of paper cascades to the floor, covered with dark images and footprints. It soon becomes clear: The dancers were dancing on this paper, with charcoaled feet. We are seeing their charcoaled steps on the paper. That's just one of the many thought provoking approaches."
Production unveils lives of women in Scripture - Spokesman Review, January 23, 2010
"A collaboration of the theater/dance, religious studies and music departments, [Weaving Our Sisters' Voices] was created by poet-writer-biblical scholar Linda Schearing and director-choreographer Suzanne Ostersmith. The spark for the production began when Ostersmith choreographed The Medieval Mysteries for the Theater program in 2002 and realized that 90 percent of students auditioning were women, but 90 percent of the parts were for men.'The disparity ignited my desire to create a piece about the lives of women in Scripture in relationship to our lives,' she said."
GU students in step with kids - Spokesman Review, Octover 29, 2005
"Suzanne Ostersmith, who teaches dance at Gonzaga and Whitworth College, set up the program that led to this class. She said each fall her students will be out in the community, and there’s potential for the program to grow."
Green Bluff theater funds scholarships - Spokesman Review, September 16, 2004
"Suzanne Ostersmith, director/actor, is a professor of dance and theater at Whitworth College and Gonzaga University. This is the sixth year she has directed the annual production. 'This is true community theater. It’s a chance for people to come up to Green Bluff, pick some apples and have some fun,' Ostersmight said. 'It’s always silly. Many community members join in.'"