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Spring 2008
Dear Prospective Dancer,
Thank you for letting us know of your interest in Skidmore
College's Dance Department. We do not require an audition
but you are welcome to observe and/or participate in any of
the dance technique or theory courses when you visit.
You can access information on our Class and Performance schedules
for this academic year, as well as biographies on the Dance
Faculty and our Dance Newsletter on our web site- www.skidmore.edu
(a-z site index click on “d” then click on “dance”).
The following brief over view of our Dance Department will
help to answer some of your questions. We offer a B.S. in
dance and dance/theater, and a dance minor. Many of our dancers
are double majors. However, you do not need to be a major
or minor to take our dance classes or be involved in performances.
The focus of the Dance Department encompasses both classical
ballet and modern/ contemporary dance. With our own Dance
Theater the students are performing often in both faculty
and student productions each semester. There are 5 active
dance clubs, “Terpsichore” (Ballet & Modern)
“Stompin Soles” (Tap), “Rithmos” (Hip-Hop),
“Irish Step” (Irish Dance) and “Swing Fever”
(Social Dance) which perform each semester.
Currently, over 500 students are enrolled in various dance
technique (beginner-advanced) and theory courses, as well
as liberal studies courses, which examine the critical relationship
of dance to other disciplines. The Dance Department offers
academic as well as technical study, including Ballet, Modern/Contemporary,
Ethnic, Jazz, Improvisation, Choreography, History and Repertoire
of Dance, Dance Production, Music for Dancers, Performance
Elements, Dance for the Child, Ballet Pedagogy, Independent
Study, Seminars, and special dance forms of both the Western
and Eastern worlds (such as Pointe, Character, Yoga, and African).
A dancer at Skidmore can be a member of the corps de ballet
or a soloist in Swan Lake by Petipa; a character dancer in
the “Mazurka” from Coppélia; a performer
in a reconstruction of the modern classic Dances to Schubert
by Isadora Duncan; a member of a Jazz Night Cabaret; a dancer
in a multimedia event in a museum; or a dancer in original
choreography by faculty, students, and guest artists. Students
are encouraged to participate in dance productions of modern
and ballet repertory as performers as well as choreographers
and/or technical assistants. Independent study and seminars
allow advanced students to pursue individual interests in
depth. Senior dance projects have varied from a full evening
production of original works, to a research paper on Imagery
and Dance Movements collaboratively written by dance and psychology
students and faculty, to a reconstruction of Perrot's famous
ballet of 1842, Pas de Quatre.
The Dance Department has four full-time, and six part-time
dance faculty, an artist-in-residence, three dance musicians,
and a full-time technical director of the Dance Theater. Guest
Artists are invited to choreograph, offer workshops, performances,
and lectures throughout the year for the campus community
and the general public. Recent teaching artists include Kirston
Simone (Royal Danish Ballet), Susan Griss (Dance Educator),
Deborah Hay (Post-Modern), Kenneth Topping (Skidmore Alum
and Graham Co.), Tina Baird (Jazz/Tap), and Odadaa (African).
During the past few years the following companies have been
in residence: Pearson/Widrig Dance Theater, Dance by Neil
Greenberg, Taylor 2, Shapiro & Smith, Battleworks, and
Martha Graham Dance Companies.
Most of the work in dance takes place in three spacious studios
and the Skidmore Dance Theater. We present guest artist, student,
and faculty performances regularly throughout the year. The
students have the opportunity to perform in 2 to 3 faculty
and student concerts per semester.
During the summer, Skidmore has hosted major dance residencies
for the past 20 years: José Limón, Twyla Tharp,
Dan Wagoner, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, Trisha Brown, Mark
Morris, Lar Lubovitch, Martha Graham, Garth Fagan, David Parsons,
Ballet Hispanico, Doug Varone, and Ronald K. Brown. The Martha
Graham Dance Company will offer their 2nd student workshop
in June 2008.
Our graduates are involved in diverse areas of the dance
field. Some are members of professional companies in New York
City, Florida, New Hampshire, and California. Others have
become dance therapists, arts administrators, dance company
managers, directors of international dance institutes, and
teachers in the dance field.
Best of success in your dance endeavors!
Warm wishes,
Mary DiSanto-Rose Ed.D.
Associate Professor & Chair of the Dance Department
mdisanto@skidmore.edu
(518) 580-5375
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