The Otterbein College Signature Series welcomes the return of alumnus and Broadway choreographer Dan Knechtges to campus in March as the Guest Artist for the 2008-09 academic year. Dan will visit classes, teach a masters class for students of local dance studios, give a public convocation and oversee rehearsals for his choreographed portion of Otterbein College Theatre's Dance Concert 2009: To Each His Own.

Dan will discuss his time at Otterbein and his most recent professional endeavors including choreographing Tony Award Winning 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee and Xanadu now on national tour at a convocation at 7 p.m. on Feb. 26 in the Fritsche Theatre in Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., Westerville. The convocation is free and open to the public.

The public is also invited to see Dan's choreography in Otterbein's Dance Concert 2009: To Each His Own, running March 5-8 in the Fritsche Theatre in Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., Westerville. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling the Box Office at 614-823-1109. The opening night show on March 5 begins at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday matinee on March 8 begins at 2 p.m. All other performances begin at 8 p.m.

After studying theatre and dance through high school near Grafton, Ohio, Dan graduated from Otterbein College with honors with a BFA in musical theatre and moved to NYC where his emphasis switched to directing and choreographing.

Dan has directed and choreographed for numerous theatres across the country and has worked on shows ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan to Rodgers and Hammerstein to Brecht. His choreography has been noted for its exceptional storytelling and deft humor. Dan has had the pleasure of choreographing all four incarnations of The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee - the workshop and the first production both at Barrington Stage Company, the Off-Broadway New York Premiere at Second Stage and the Broadway production - both directed by James Lapine. For the Off-Broadway production, Dan was nominated for a 2005 Lucille Lortel award for Outstanding Choreographer. Visit www.danknechtges.com to see samples of his choreography and learn more about Dan.