Companydance ®

Companydance is an amoeba-like structure which offers students a range of dance performing opportunities. The company's primary aesthetic is grounded in the modern dance tradition, but is by no means restricted to it. The structure is fluid enough to allow for the evolving interests and needs of a broad spectrum of students (dance majors and non-majors).

The structure of Companydance has consistently included performing opportunities in:

  • works choreographed by faculty, students, and guest artists
  • improvisational dance pieces
  • site specific dances
  • special project dance (dedication of administration building, Presidential Inauguration, Peace Prize Forum)
  • works-in-progress showings
  • lecture-demonstrations

in settings such as:

  • public schools
  • formal and informal performance spaces on campus
  • church spaces

Companydance is organized in concentric circles of involvement with some students in the inner rings being more intensely involved and those choosing to do only one dance project during a given year falling in the outer rings. The rings of involvement also carry expectations for student's participation beyond just dancing (i.e. technical work, publicity, etc.).

All of the freshman dance majors are involved in a project which gives them an opportunity to work together, to become familiar with St. Olaf's dance program, and to develop a sense of commitment and responsibility toward each other. This project also welcomes and encourages participation by upper classmen, which further draws new students into a familiarity and relationship with the larger Companydance.

The Companydance experience is designed to give students opportunities to:
  • share one's love of dance through performing
  • develop a sense of commitment and responsibility to a group of peers
  • experience a bit of the performing option as a dancer
  • build strong relationships with other student dancers

Veselica

Veselica® is open by audition to all students. Its objectives are:

  • In keeping with the college's emphasis on a global perspective, to introduce both student performers and audiences to dance as a global art, expanding their awareness of the spectrum of dance forms (and contexts) in the world.

  • To give students an opportunity to develop skills in performing (and, where appropriate, choreographing or staging) international dance forms, with a greater emphasis on developing proper styling than is possible in the technique classes.

  • To have students experience the process of working together in a group to create quality performances through discipline and dedication/commitment.

  • To expose the campus and community to varied world dance traditions performed in costume and to give them some background or understanding about the cultural significance of the forms.

  • To provide opportunities for both children and adult audiences to experience some international dance forms themselves (through lecture-demonstrations and audience-participation at the close of concerts).