Editor's Introduction

Getting Into The College Groove

By Janet Weeks

Some people can’t wait to go to college. One of my best friends was so ready to start that he packed his bags as soon as he got his acceptance letter and lived out of suitcases until he left for school in the fall. Not all of us are that eager. Going to college means big changes—new friends, new teachers, new dance styles. It can seem overwhelming. Even those who welcome a blank slate and brand new experiences can feel some trepidation at the start of their first college dance class.

Entering a college dance program may stretch you in unfamiliar directions. Perhaps you come to university with a solid knowledge of ballet or jazz from years of training at a single studio. Suddenly, you’re faced with new dance styles and unfamiliar methods of teaching. In her story, “Turning Pointe,” (see page 18) Laura De Silva describes differences between studio and dance department life and offers advice on how to prepare.

One new experience many dancers face is modern dance class. Cari Cunningham, remembers the sinking feeling she got as she bared her feet for the modern dance portion of her college audition. (See “Modern Marvels,” page 20) Before long, Cari was completely taken with contemporary dance and now teaches it at University of Nevada.

And college isn’t just for dancers starting out. In “Professional Students” (see page 37), longtime Paul Taylor dancer Rachel Berman describes why she decided to earn her M.F.A. and how she made the switch from performer to scholar.

Embracing the new isn’t easy. But today when choreographers create pieces that appear in the repertoire of both ballet and modern companies, familiarity with multiple techniques is essential. College dance programs, with their diverse faculty and artist-in-residence programs, are places where it’s possible to experience a vast array of styles.

College also allows you to try dance from different points of view. Dance programs offer classes in choreography, some in movement therapy, dance technology, or dance administration. In his story “Star/Tech,” (see page 32) University of Nevada production and design professor Peter J. Jakubowski gives advice on how to gain lighting and costuming skills while earning a performance degree. These specialized areas give dancers experiences that can be channeled into part-time work that supports a performance career or full-time work that can keep you in the dance arena even after your stage life ends.

How to use this Guide:
To compare details like tuition and school size, or to see what types of degrees or dance styles schools offer, check out the Dance Finder chart. If location is your first concern, go to the Address Book. Both will direct you to the dance program profiles where you can get more information.

So dig in! Launching into something new can be unnerving—but, once you’re over the first few butterflies, you’re likely to be nothing but excited. As Martha Graham once said, “Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery.” College is the perfect place to advance your investigation!