Can anyone comment on the dance programs at Davidson, skidmore, Oberlin,Vassar, Brandeis, Emory , wm and mary or richmond? Looking for info beyond the website. Studio quality, teachers, performance opportunities. Thanks!
I’m a dance minor at Richmond. The teaching is good quality! We have 3 main dance studios (two in the Modlin Center for Performing Arts), one of which was just finished this past summer. Most of the dance majors and minors are part of University Dancers (UD), the main company on campus (I am not, as it conflicts with my music commitments; there are also members of UD that are not majors/minors). UD members get academic credit, take class 3 days a week together (I believe it’s ballet, modern, and jazz technique in the classes), and get to work with various guest choreographers. They have class and rehearsal anywhere from 10-24+ hours a week, depending on how many pieces they’re in and whether it’s part of the busy season or not.
In terms of performance opportunities, UD has a big show in the spring, as well as at ACDA (American College Dance Association Festival). They have other smaller performances throughout the year. This past fall, Doug Varone and his company came and performed, and members of UD performed his famous Bench Quartet as part of it. Senior capstones sometimes also use dancers, we have a performance that anyone can sign up for in the fall called Celebration of Dance, and there are other dance clubs/companies as well (we have several hip-hop, both Latin and Standard Ballroom, Bollywood, and African dance groups on campus; I may be missing some as well).
Thanks!