Photos by Denise Applewhite, Student Dance Thesis, Berlind Theatre, 2006.

The Program in Dance at Princeton exposes students to professional artists and scholars in dance through courses, special workshops and guest choreographers. The emphasis of the program is Modern and Contemporary Dance. Each studio course embodies three varied approaches to learning: kinesthetic, creative and cognitive. In classes, students perform highly varied and rigorous works of faculty and contemporary choreographers, are challenged to create dances of their own, and learn to analyze the leading schools of thought of the 20th Century, placing contemporary dance in a cultural and historical context. Courses such as Introduction to Movement and Dance, Dance Performance Workshop: Repertory and Choreography, African Dance, and Topics in Dance History: Criticism and Aesthetics complement the ongoing three levels of classes offered in technique and choreography. Daily intermediate/advanced level ballet classes are taught extracurricularly by professional ballet instructors accompanied by excellent musicians. Students pay for these classes at the rate of $5.00 per class.

The Program in Dance produces one major concert a year, the Spring Dance Festival, at the Berlind Theater in the McCarter Theatre Center. This concert features works created during the Fall semester by faculty, guest choreographers and selected student choreographers. Informal showings of students' work take place at the end of each semester, and during Junior and Senior years, students may create independent work with faculty advisement. Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to attend dance performances of major dance companies at the McCarter Theatre Center and smaller, experimental groups at the Hagan Dance Studio. The Program also sponsors group trips to New York City to see performances ranging from cutting-edge to established dance companies.

In addition to the daily classes offered by the Program in Theater and Dance, serious ballet students may choose to attend the Princeton Ballet School. This school, and its associated company, American Repertory Ballet, provides excellent professional instruction, is located close by and welcomes our students. Over the years, a few Princeton students have auditioned for and joined ARB's pre-professional track, which includes some public performances. Because the Princeton Ballet School and ARB Apprentice Company are separate entities form the Princeton Dance Program, please contact them directly for further information.

Letter to Prospective Students