Dance Program

This page contains important information for prospective and current students.

Dance is a component of the Department of Drama and Dance, operating within the liberal arts philosophy with beginning to advanced courses. Our students can fulfill the arts distribution requirement, achieve a minor, supplement drama studies, fulfill requirements in other programs, and earn elective credit. Events vary by semester, including informal presentations of faculty/student/guest work. Creativity and critical thinking are stressed in classes. The program serves the liberal arts goals rather than having a conservatory orientation even though a number of our courses offer opportunities for students to continue with advanced skills. Modern dance and creative work are the core curricular elements along with several non-western forms offered during the year. Faculty positions include: Associate Professor/Director, Senior Lecturer, Half-time Lecturer, Part-time Lecturer, and cross-over Associate Professor from Music for the African forms.

The dance courses offer a liberal arts perspective that provides expanded movement choices, compositional techniques, the understanding of a variety of genres, and problem-solving skills which are transferable to non-arts activities. Although pre-professional dance training is not the focus, there are curricular options for many advanced students. Students may complete the department’s minor with an emphasis on dance, or they may apply dance courses to the Drama, American Studies, or the Plan of Study concentrations. During each semester, the dance program sponsors some combination of extra-curricular events, and informal performances. There are regular opportunities to dance in faculty choreography or in student work sponsored by the department. Extra-curricular groups are also widely available as is our own co-curricular group Jumbodance, sponsoring introductory sessions in forms such as tap, salsa, hip hop, flamenco, jazz, and others, pending teaching volunteers.

Prospective Students
Although there are no dance classes on Friday or during the summer, with advance notice you may be able to schedule a meeting with the Dance Program Director (M-F) or view a class (M-Th) during a regular academic semester. Most advanced classes are at the end of the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We do not review videos/DVDs as we serve both experienced and beginner students. (Ignore the common application on this point.) Let us know if you are considering a minor in dance. The academic profile of all dancers seeking admission to Tufts must be within the range established by Admissions.

Experienced dancers: before scheduling a visit

• Read this page, including all relevant links, so that you can ask follow-up questions. Consider whether you are simply looking for some classes, or is the dance minor of interest. Let us know if you are a potential minor.
   
• Consider the difference between a liberal arts and conservatory program, including the fact that class frequency may be less than what you experience in high school if you dance five or more days a week.
   
• At Tufts, curricular dance focuses on art-dance and non-western forms rather than vernacular or competitive dance. Extra-curricular student dance groups offer different experiences.
   
• Tufts technique classes emphasize correct placement and safety. They occasionally prompt creative choices from students. They are not competitive, nor do they emphasize pyrotechnics over artistry.
   
• Students who want to transition from a pre-professional focus on dance toward their eventual major/career path and who are open to new experiences should find Tufts to be a compatible university. We respect the devotion to dance and training that so many of our students bring.

If these aspects of the Tufts Dance Program appeal to you as an experienced dance student, and if you plan to visit, then contact the Director to schedule an appointment. Also, review directions to the dance facilities and offices in Jackson Gym. If you can't visit and have a follow-up question after reading this site, then email the Director.