Performing arts colleges are easy to find, but a top-notch dance program or major within a liberal arts college where students can pursue both dance and other academic interests in an interdisciplinary fashion is not. Below we’ve found a combination of small liberal arts schools and creatively-oriented small colleges that offer rigorous and comprehensive dance programs.
Barnard
Dance majors at Barnard must complete a series of academic requirements in the following areas as a part of their major completion: dance history (two courses), movement science (one course), dance composition (one course), and two semesters of senior work. Senior work involves a 25-30-page thesis and an oral presentation and then either one or two senior projects with a research or repertory focus depending on the student’s focus and thesis specifics. The dance program has a competitive and immersive study abroad program in Paris.
Oberlin
Oberlin is directed in their commitment to cultivating their students’ sense of experimentation and helping them cultivate original work. Oberlin’s annual “Winter Term” within the dance department means that the department brings in master teachers and guest choreographers for students to work and collaborate with on independent projects during an intensive 2-3 week period. Oberlin also offers numerous partnership programs through NYU, Trinity/LaMama, and the Great Lakes Colleges Association, that enable students to dance and extend their studies in New York City.
Wesleyan
Wesleyan encourages students to cultivate a global perspective regardless of their major, and dance is no exception. All majors also complete a Capstone project, either a one-semester project or a two-semester thesis. Wesleyan is all about the fusion of classic and experimental and they bake that combination into the major requirements. All students are required to develop skills in two or more of a variety of dance techniques and genres, including: modern/contemporary, Bharata Natyam, West African, ballet, black vernacular forms/hip hop, and Southeast Asian dance.
Middlebury
All dance majors at Middlebury must complete a set of eight foundational courses. In addition, each student must choose one of three “tracks” to focus their studies within during their time studying within the Dance Department: 1) Choreography and Performance; 2) Production and Technology; or 3) Theory and Aesthetics. In addition, Middlebury prides itself on its Dance Company, open to students who are at least sophomores and who qualify after completing an audition. The focus and style of the dance company change each year under the direction of a different dance faculty member or guest artist. The company begins collaborating and working in the fall, presents informally (for feedback) in December, and then performs two full concerts in January once the works are finalized before the course culminates in a regional, national, or international tour.
Skidmore
Skidmore dance majors not only have to complete diverse and intensive specializations in the movement, research, performance, and choreography of dance, but the written components of dance as well. Students take courses to hone their writing in three distinct categories: 1) description of observed dance; 2) expression of the creative experience of dance itself; and 3) critical and analytical research. Students also choose to focus on either the Performance & Choreography track (emphasis on technical training and choreography/performance) or the Dance Research (emphasis on interdisciplinary, independent research opportunities; great for double-majors) track.
Kenyon
The Fine Arts Division of Kenyon is the home department for dance, film, and drama majors. There are a number of core courses, and the Kenyon curriculum has a unique emphasis on kinesiology and labanotation courses. Kenyon believes it’s important for dance majors to not only understand the technicalities and theory of performance and choreography, but to have an additional understanding of the technicalities of human movement from a physiological perspective.
Muhlenberg
Dance majors at Muhlenberg are not only charged with specializing in dance but in understanding the connection between dance and its context within the larger world. The curriculum is just as focused on the science of dance as it is the art of dance. Students can choose to concentrate in one or more of the following areas: performance, choreography, dance science, and dance education. Muhlenberg also offers students who are interested in dance science and physical therapy the opportunity to participate in a very cool Physical Therapy Co-Op Program with Thomas Jefferson University: students spend three years at Muhlenberg and three years at Thomas Jefferson and graduate with a B.A. in dance and a Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
Bennington
Dance majors at Bennington begin creating and producing original works immediately. From the start of freshman year, students are encouraged to participate in the school’s weekly Dance Workshop, where students can collaborate with and perform for the full faculty to assess dance works-in-progress. Bennington’s annual Field Work term, during which students work for outside organizations and companies for six weeks at a time, enables students to connect with a host of competitive choreographers and dance companies throughout the country.
Connecticut College
Dancers at Connecticut College are charged with not just becoming expert dancers and furthering their creative craft, but also with investigating dance with a critical lens and an eye towards socio-political implications. There is no shortage of dance opportunities--majors are able to participate in up to six performances a year, and senior majors are able to produce their own concert, which involves everything from creating a budget and original choreography to publicizing and marketing the show to the public.
Please let us know if you have any questions or need a bit more guidance to determine which dance program and format is best for you. We’re here to help--we’d love to hear about your passion for dance and goals.