In 2022, Lleyton Ho was at a crossroads. He’d just wrapped up his first full season as a corps de ballet member with San Francisco Ballet (the previous two seasons’ programming had been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic), and he was eager to continue dancing with the company. Ho had completed his freshman year at […]

We’ve all seen the viral videos—college dance teams are more technically advanced and artistically engaging than ever. Even if you’ve been strictly a studio dancer, you might be curious about what a college dance team has to offer. The good news is that the technique you spent years perfecting in the studio will serve you […]

An award-winning performer, choreographer, artistic director, and educator, amara tabor-smith taught at University of California, Berkeley, for more than a decade and, since 2017, has been an artist in residence at Stanford University, designing both courses and productions. “Everything is connected,” says tabor-smith about balancing priorities as a teacher and an artist. Expanding on the common […]

For competition kids, pursuing a dance degree is a natural extension of the years of dedication they’ve put into their craft. But the transition from the fast-paced buzz of the competition and convention scene to the college classroom isn’t always seamless. As two former champions and a college dean share, once on campus, competitive dancers […]

Growing up, Tamara Houck trained in the pre-professional division of Dance Theatre of Harlem and then at Ballet Hispánico, taking a full load of classes in ballet, modern, and more. But when applying to college, she knew she didn’t want to major in dance. “As much as I love it, I didn’t see myself having […]

The first semester teaching in a university dance program brings new challenges: syllabi to write, office hours to hold, students with questions that extend beyond technique. For educators used to a private studio setting, stepping into higher education builds on familiar skills while introducing new facets to how dance is taught, discussed, and contextualized. “When […]

What does it mean to teach choreography in a university setting? The answer has always been complex and multifaceted, but it’s shifting in new ways. While composition courses used to focus on the craft of designing movement, today’s professors are expanding the conversation, not only about how it’s taught and what is prioritized, but even […]

The study of tap takes many different forms across college campuses. Some schools have multilevel programs with full-time faculty, while others are known for their student-run groups and showcases. Whether the goal is to pursue tap professionally, become a tap teacher, or simply keep percussive dance part of the college experience, students can find a […]