Dance
Areas of Study
The Department of Theatre and Dance offers a minor with a six-course curriculum. Students do not need to audition to become dance minors.
- Jazz
- Modern Dance
- Ballet
- Hip-Hop / Breaking
- Afro-Haitian Dance
- Balinese Dance
- Choreography
- Performance
Requirements
- One introductory class (Basic Dance, Modern Dance, Ballet or Hip Hop/Breaking).
- One advanced workshop (Dance Performance).
- One class in choreography (Composition).
The three electives can include any of the following:
- Modern Dance 1-2-3-4, Ballet 1-2-3-4, Hip Hop/Breaking 1-2-3-4
- Acting 1
- Design and Technical Production/Lighting Design
- Stage Combat
- Voice in Acting
- Balinese Dance
- Body Stories
- Afro-Haitian Dance
- Decolonizing Dance
- Create Lab
- Story / No Story
Meet Your Program Director
Opportunities
Mainstage Auditions
Open auditions are held twice a year for mainstage productions. Students, faculty and members of the Holy Cross community are welcome.
Balinese Arts Program
Holy Cross is one of just a handful of colleges in the country that has a Balinese gamelan orchestra. Through courses in gamelan and dance, students can experience the rich traditions of Balinese culture. Gamelan Gita Sari performs twice a year in Brooks Concert Hall and their concerts are free and open to the public.
Performances
Students can study ballet, jazz and contemporary dance at either the introductory or advanced level. Each year, a major dance concert is produced on the main stage at the Prior Performing Arts Center. In addition, students can join a series of dance groups on campus, ranging from ballroom dancing to hip hop.
Stage Involvement
The department hosts multiple productions each year and offers interested students a variety of backstage and acting opportunities, including acting, dancing, directing, stage management and design.
Alternate College Theatre
The student-run theater group offers the opportunity to direct, perform, design, produce, stage-manage or work within any other production aspect of theatre! ACT hosts a variety of events throughout the year and produces both a play in the fall and a musical in the spring under the auspices of the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Film Studies
In conjunction with the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, the department sponsors students seeking a concentration in Film Studies. Students learn the history of film and acquire the analytical tools to critique a wide range of cinematic genres.
I embrace movement as a universal language, fostering a safe environment for experimentation where vulnerability is blended with vigor. I want my classes to be a place not only to learn dance skills and critical thinking but also to celebrate the diverse narratives [that] individuals bring to our community.
Venues & Facilities
Holy Cross is home to a number of arts facilities that support and foster the creative endeavors of our students and faculty, as well as the many artists, musicians and other creative professionals that visit our campus. Facilities and venues include impressive performance spaces, in addition to several locations for classes, rehearsals, studying and creating.
