Martha Graham and Erick Hawkins stand on the lawn at Bennington's campus. Hawkins embraces Graham's head as she she poses with an arm around him.

Martha Graham Dance Company Returns to Bennington College

“This was long in the making,” says Michael­ Wimberly about a Martha Graham Dance Company residency at Bennington College­ in Vermont. “I think it was three Bennington­ presidents ago I asked, ‘What’s the possibility of us having the Graham company here?’ This was long before GRAHAM100. But it all lined up with the company’s centennial.” […]

Anderson Da Silva jumps in the air with one leg extended, the other tucked, and his upper body spiraled right. He wears grey pants.

A College Ballet Dancer’s Guide to Professional Auditions

Looking back at the spring semester of my senior year at Butler University, one thing immediately comes to mind: auditions. On top of schoolwork, rehearsals, jobs, and other obligations, my fellow dance majors and I spent any remaining hours in pursuit of a contract. Audition seasons are tough for anyone, especially the first time around. […]

A dance team standing on the field with the band. They wear white leotards and gloves while holding their arms in an "L" position

A Dancer’s Guide to Joining a College Dance Team

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 […]

amara tabor-smith dancing outside. She stands in front of a fence with barbed wire.

At Stanford, amara tabor-smith Explores a More Expansive Vision of Dance Education

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 […]

Kiesha Lalama addressing a group of young students in a rehearsal room.

Navigating the Adjustment From Comp Star to College Student

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 […]

Francesca Dominguez teaching a group of students. She leans left and reaches her arm long.

How to Start the Semester Strong as a New Professor

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 […]

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