Dance

solo dancer

Shenandoah's Dance programs provide the academic and professional preparation demanded for a wide variety of career options in dance. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees are designed for the highly motivated, pre-professional dancer who is seeking a career as a concert performer, choreographer or dance educator. The Bachelor of Arts program is designed for dancers who are interested in a broad general education while continuing their dance studies, and provides a solid foundation for launching a career in dance history, therapy, kinesiology or library science. The master's degree programs present opportunities to develop creative and production skills while enriching philosophical and theoretical perspectives in a close mentoring relationship with the dance faculty.

Students in all of these programs are immersed in their art from the moment they arrive on campus. The intimate conservatory approach available at Shenandoah provides a focused environment for study, while the supportive atmosphere encourages individual growth and creativity.

Technique courses in ballet, modern dance, jazz and tap have small classes, that permit individualized attention and maximum progress. Choreography and performance are emphasized. The Dance Division presents three main stage concerts yearly in the 600-seat Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre, as well as numerous outreach activities and showcases for student choreography. Facilities include two large, air-conditioned studios, one of which is a 150-seat performance space. Video equipment permits dancers to record and analyze their work on a frequent basis. All ballet and modern dance technique courses have live accompaniment. Masterclasses and workshops with guest artists are frequent as are opportunities to work with nationally recognized choreographers.

Undergraduates take courses in dance history, the dance sciences, dance composition and dance production. Supportive coursework in art, music, theatre and teaching is offered, providing a strong foundation upon which students can build artistic expression as well as a scholarly awareness of dance as an art form.