Think, learn and grow as a student and person with a major or minor in Dance, or as part of your liberal arts education. The department offers courses and performance opportunities in modern dance, jazz, ballet and African Diasporice dance forms and theory courses in dance history, improvisation, composition, pedagogy, kinesiology and somatics to support our four major tracks. Prior dance experience is not necessary and students can study a wide variety of disciplines including African Diaspora, ballet, jazz, modern and more. More so, many Dance majors take advantage of the learning opportunities available to them at HWS by double majoring in other fields such as, but not limited to, Biology, Pyschology or Education. The Dance faculty are expert somatic educators, choreographers and performers with diverse scholarly interests. Students are often invited to participate in their research and encouraged to pursue independent projects. The department hosts world renowned choreographers and dancers and students have the opportunity to work one-on-one with them.
Dance students can complete independent research projects and Honors in their chosen topic with the guidance of a faculty member.
Past examples of Honors projects include:
In the Dance department, learning often goes beyond textbooks and lectures into embodied practice. You’ll gain high-impact practical experience that deepens learning and opens doors. Create choreography, perform in dance concerts on campus or regionally, teach dance in the community, and develop skills in dance administration and dance production.
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Continue to dance abroad by studying traditional cultural dances, performing, or sharing American dance in Ireland, Argentina, Bali, South Africa, Italy, Germany, England or Viet Nam, to name a few destinations where HWS students pursue dance studies.
Wherever you go, our top-ranked global education program will allow you to apply classroom knowledge, develop cultural understanding and build global connections that expand your personal capacity and sense of purpose.
The Dance department has been committed to diversity, inclusion and belonging since its inception. Since the movement of the body is at the center of dance, all bodies are invited and welcomed into those movement experiences. Students from all dance cultures are encouraged to study dance at HWS.
Diversity, equity and sense-of-belonging show up within all dance courses through accessible content and teaching methods and are focal points of multiple courses.
As a dance student, choose your own path:develop artistry, skills and knowledge, and connect dance to other fields of study.
Examine the relationship between the arts, wellness, and social justice, and promote multiple forms of activism.
Explore the ways in which the arts serve human development
Providing high quality lighting, sound and visual effects, the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts serves as the home of the Dance department.
The department takes advantage of two studios in particular:
The Dance department also utilizes a studio in Winn-Seeley Gymnasium for glasses, rehearsals and student dance clubs.
Shaahida arrived at HWS planning on majoring in the sciences. After taking courses in Dance and with the guidance of the department's professors, she set herself up for a career in dance education.
Drew got involved with Dance at HWS first by joining a student dance club, later by auditioning for the Faculty Dance Concert, and, eventually, declaring a dance major. A triple major at HWS, Drew let his interests define his academic path and was encouraged by his faculty advisers at every turn.
