<p>How are is the dance department at Richmond? Does it have a ballet or modern emphasis?</p>
<p>I wasn’t a dancer at UR but I was friends with quite a few and worked on the annual dance concert in February.</p>
<p>Richmond’s dance department offers a lot of different classes that are open to anyone and everyone–jazz, tap, ballet, modern, and others, depending on guest artists. </p>
<p>If you become a University Dancer, you’ll have required company classes–three a week, I think, jazz, ballet, and modern. Most of the dance concert is more modern, but pieces are often choreographed depending upon the different strengths of the company as a whole. Some years, there are a few dancers who are incredible ballerinas or tappers. Those years, there will be a great ballet piece or tap piece. </p>
<p>Anne Van Gelder is the current director of dance. I highly recommend you get in touch with her if you have more questions about the program. She is a lovely woman!</p>
<p>I don’t think their program is for aspiring professionals. Richmond Ballet is not far, if you want to keep your skills up.</p>
<p>@Equity - If dancing ballet professionally is your goal, then yeah, UR probably isn’t where you want to be spending dancing years. Much more modern/lyrical. In the past few years, most University Dancers don’t continue dancing professionally after graduating. Some do, though, and work as teachers, choreographers, ballerinas and modern dancers.</p>