Dance

The Division of Dance offers professional dance training within the context of a comprehensive liberal arts education. The B.F.A. in Dance Performance is designed to develop the disciplined, versatile dance artist through a balanced study of ballet, modern, and jazz techniques, complemented and reinforced by a broad range of theoretical studies and performance opportunities.

Meet Our Faculty

Dance Professor, Students Attend International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference

Professor of practice Michelle N. Gibson and eight B.F.A. students traveled to the 35th International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference, “The Bridges We Build: From Revolution to Legacy.”

Featured Courses

Danc 3374

The Evolution of American Musical Theatre

Study the evolution of American musical theatre, from its roots in the popular entertainment forms of the 19th century to its maturity as a codified art form in the 20th century. Students examine the integration of dance, music, and drama into the form known as musical theatre and figures of the 20th century who refined this integration on Broadway and in Hollywood.

DANC 4375

Dance History III: Jazz History

Chronologically follow the origins of jazz from its roots in African music and dance through the present. Students develop an understanding of how socio-political and cultural contexts inform jazz dance in 20th and 21st century America and how race, gender, and the dynamics of power and privilege inform the genre.

DANC 3366

Dance Pedagogy

Students focus on the theory and practice of teaching methodologies in multiple dance genres. Examine pedagogical theories, standards, and goals for teaching dance, with hands-on experience in teaching modern/contemporary, ballet, and/or jazz-based technique classes.

Student Work

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Dance

“This video was intended to be a personal commercial that reflects me and my passions, visual art and dance, made as a part of the Introduction to Creativity class.“ – Anika Crouser, Dance B.F.A '23

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Dance

Ke’ala O’Connell, Dance B.F.A. '20, Embers to Ash.

Figure 1: "This Time Tomorrow" follows five pairs of dancers navigating the ins and outs of relationships, evoking the guttural emotions of love.

Meadows Dance Student Self-Produces Show Inspired by Emotional Films

Students
Sophomore Colin Gross brings love and vulnerability to the stage in his full-length original production “This Time Tomorrow,” which featured several of his Division of Dance classmates.

August 27, 2025
Figure 2: Silas Farley accepted the 2025 John Neumeier Prize for Choreography in Germany earlier this summer, which comes with the opportunity to create a new ballet for the National Youth Ballet of Germany, among other prizes.

Creative Momentum: Summer Highlights from Meadows’ Innovative Faculty Members

Faculty
This summer, 51�� Meadows’ faculty have earned global recognition, published new works, secured new creative roles and brought bold ideas to life across a variety of disciplines.

July 29, 2025
Figure 3: Students in Meadows' year-long MMIAM program culminated their work together in Rome, Milan and the Italian countryside.

Meadows on the Move: Students Embrace Transformative Summer Opportunities Around the Globe

Students
51�� Meadows students have been pursuing a variety of opportunities all over the world this summer, from impressive internships and international programs to leading young artists and producing their own work.

July 11, 2025
Figure 4: Graduates across all 13 areas of study at 51�� Meadows were honored at the Degree Recognition Ceremony.

Class of 2025 Graduates Celebrated in 51�� Meadows Degree Recognition Ceremony

Campus
Meadows faculty and staff, along with family and friends of the graduates, celebrated the Class of 2025 in Saturday’s Degree Recognition Ceremony.

May 19, 2025

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Dance

Dance

Meet Our Faculty

Carter Alexander

Christie Bondade

Julia Buckelew

Brandi Coleman

Christopher Dolder

Silas Farley

Michelle N. Gibson

Heather Guthrie

Christopher M. Ham

Parisa Khobdeh

Leslie Peck

Alvon Reed

Anne Westwick

Dance Professor, Students Attend International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference

Featured Courses

Student Work

Dance News

Meadows Dance Student Self-Produces Show Inspired by Emotional Films

Creative Momentum: Summer Highlights from Meadows’ Innovative Faculty Members

Meadows on the Move: Students Embrace Transformative Summer Opportunities Around the Globe

Class of 2025 Graduates Celebrated in 51�� Meadows Degree Recognition Ceremony

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