Welcome to the St. Olaf Dance Department
While
we can give you a glimpse of the St. Olaf Dance Department through
our web site, we welcome you to campus for a visit and tour of our
beautiful new facilities. Please contact us if you have any questions
about our program or performance schedule.
The Dance Department at St. Olaf College is a charter member and
accredited institutional member of the National
Association of Schools of Dance, and is one of only two schools
in the state of Minnesota to be an accredited institutional member.
We believe that dancing is moving, exploring, creating, AND knowing
ourselves as whole people. Since time began, dance has threaded
itself through the fabric of personal, social, cultural and religious
traditions. It excites, invigorates, and entices us — echoing
our life experiences. Dance reflects our human desire to shape feelings,
ideas, and images with an artistic sensibility.
Creating dance opens up new connections within ourselves, with others,
and with entire communities. At St. Olaf we lace together a dance
experience which emphasizes the American modern dance tradition
in its technical training while encouraging study and performance
of styles and dances from world cultures. Performance opportunities
range from mainstage productions to off campus events, from chapel
services to informal showings.
In combining studio and theory work, the Dance major prepares students
for a variety of career possibilities. Recent graduates have performed
with professional companies in the Twin Cities and also with companies
or free-lancing, on either coast. Others have pursued post-graduate
study in dance therapy or the somatic disciplines. The emerging
field of dance medicine will beckon many in the future, as will
careers in arts/dance administration or teaching in public schools,
private studios, or community service agencies. Dance in the church,
either as a part of formal worship or through social-recreational
events for youth, also provides a compelling career option for a
number of St. Olaf graduates
